ACC ~ Matthew 19 v11

NOT ALL WILLING TO RECEIVE THIS SAYING

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: Then the Lord did not say that it was expedient, but instead he agreed that it was not expedient. But looking to the weakness of the flesh he said, “Not all men can receive this precept but only those to whom it is given.” The meaning is that not all men in fact do receive this, even if they are able to. All can indeed receive it, but not all are willing to receive it.

The prize of glory has been laid out. Anyone who desires glory does not think about the toil. No one would win if all were afraid of the danger of the battle. Some are unable and fall from the goal of continence, but we ought not for that reason to become less earnest about the virtue of chastity. For if some who fall in the fight do not dispirit the others but say to them that that is their given lot, they do not apply the matter to the fight but to the person. All the more ought we to impute their fall to the negligence of the fallen and not to the difficulty of virginity.

But he says, “To whom it is given.” By this he does not mean that to some it is given and to some it is not given. Rather, Jesus shows that unless we receive the help of divine grace, we have no power on our own account. But since grace is not denied to those who are willing, the Lord says in the Sermon on the Mount: “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks, receives, and every one who seeks, finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” [1] We must first will to ask, and then grace follows. For grace cannot achieve anything without will, nor can will have any power without grace. The earth too does not germinate unless it receives rain, nor does rain bring forth fruit without the earth. HOMILY 32. [2]

[1] Mt 7:7-8.

[2] PG 56:803.

Mt