ACC ~ Matthew 20 v23

THE ACTUAL DEATHS OF JAMES AND JOHN

JEROME: It is asked how the sons of Zebedee, namely, James and John, drank the cup of martyrdom when Scripture says that such an apostle as James was beheaded by Herod, [1] but John ended life with a natural death. But if we read the ecclesiastical histories, we see it related that even John himself for the sake of martyrdom was sent into a vat of boiling oil and from there proceeded as an athlete to win the crown of Christ. [2] Immediately he was sent away to the island of Patmos. So we shall see that the spirit of martyrdom was not lacking and that John drank the cup of confession, which even the three boys in the furnace of fire drank, [3] although their persecutor did not shed blood. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.20.23. [4]

[1] Acts 12:2.

[2] See Tertullian Prescription Against Heretics 36; ANF 3:260.

[3] Dan 3:23.

[4] CCL 77:178.

FOR THOSE FOR WHOM IT HAS BEEN PREPARED

JEROME: “To sit at my right and at my left is not mine to grant to you, but to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father” must be understood as follows: the kingdom of heaven does not belong to the one giving but to the one receiving. “For there is no respecting of persons with God.” [1] But whoever has proven himself in such a way that he is made worthy of the kingdom of heaven will receive what has been prepared, not for a person but for a life. If therefore you are such that you pursue the kingdom of heaven which my Father has prepared for the triumphant and victorious, you also will receive it. Others wish that it was spoken about Moses and Elijah, whom they had seen speaking with him a little earlier on the mountain, [2] but this view does not seem at all plausible to me. The names of those sitting in the kingdom of heaven are not spoken, lest the rest be considered excluded by the few who are named. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.20.23. [3]

[1] Acts 10:34.

[2] Mt 17:3.

[3] CCL 77:178-79.

NOT MINE TO GRANT

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: And he says to them: “Indeed you shall drink my cup, and you shall be baptized by the baptism by which I am baptized, but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to grant to you, but to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” [1] Did he not have the power to appoint whomever he wished, since it was written, “The Father loves the Son and gave all things into his hand?” [2] But Jesus did not thus reprove their request. He did not want to make them dispirited and fainthearted. For it is not easy to restore one’s strength for hoping about the future once one falls from that for which he had hoped. Moreover, the Lord did not wish to accept their request, in order not to sadden all the others. For it was necessary, to the extent that they even considered such things, to this extent that they be strengthened without the help of the Holy Spirit. If the society of that entire kingdom should be divided among these two, if John is secure at his right and James at his left, what then are we to do? For what do we now hope? For this reason we have followed him, so that we may be found remaining with those chosen from our midst. In labor we have been like them. But it is better that we be not like them in seeking honor. For it was necessary that they who had not yet been made spiritual should think of carnal things. For if their request was not accepted and they all were disturbed, why did they even dare to seek this very thing? How much more would the others have been disturbed if their request had been accepted? Thus he neither said “You will not sit” in order not to confuse the two; nor did he say “You will sit” in order not to anger the rest. But what did he say? “This is not mine to grant to you, but my Father.” Although kind and provident, the Father thus arranges and ordains all things so that among like-minded brothers the love of the brotherhood is not broken. See how he neither disturbed any of them or made them hopeful, saying, “It is not mine to grant to you, but my Father.” For what is not promised specifically to one or two is hoped for by all. HOMILY 35. [3]

[1] Mk 10:39.

[2] Jn 3:35.

[3] PG 56:828-29.