ACC ~ Matthew 22 v32

I AM GOD OF THE LIVING

CHRYSOSTOM: It is again by Moses that he stops their mouths. It is they who had brought forward Moses. Jesus says, “And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead but of the living.” He is not the God of those who are not, who are utterly blotted out and rise no more. He did not say “I was” but “I am.” I am the God of those that are, those who live. Adam lived on the day he ate of the tree, then died in the sentence. Even though the progeny of Adam died, they live in the promise of the resurrection. How then does he say elsewhere, “That he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living”? [1] But this is not contrary to that. For here he speaks of the dead, who are also themselves to live. Furthermore, “I am the God of Abraham” is another thing from “That he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.” He knew of another death too, concerning which he says, “Let the dead bury their dead.” [2]

“And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.” Yet not even here did he persuade the Sadducees. They go away defeated, while the crowd, with less vested interests, reaps the benefit. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 70.3. [3]

[1] Rom 14:9.

[2] Mt 8:22; Lk 9:60.

[3] PG 58:658; NPNF 1 10:429.

THE ETERNITY OF SOULS

JEROME: Further, he quotes Moses to explain the eternity of souls: “I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob,” and immediately he adds, “For he is not the God of the dead but of the living.” Thereby he shows that souls live after death. To say that God is the God of the dead is to consign the life of God to those who have no life. The nature of the resurrection and how it is the resurrection of both the good and the evil is pursued by the apostle Paul more fully in the last part of his first epistle to the Corinthians. [1] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.22.32. [2]

[1] 1 Cor 15:1-58.

[2] CCL 77:207.