ACC ~ Matthew 22 v44

THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: The judgmental Jewish leaders were tempting Christ the man. They would not have tempted him if they had believed that he were the Son of God. Christ therefore was ready to show himself to them. He knew the dishonesty in their hearts. He was ready to show them that it was not a man who was tempted but God, whom no one is able to tempt. He was not able to say straightforwardly the truth about himself or to keep silent. He was not able to speak openly, lest the Jews, in finding a greater occasion for blasphemy, be all the more enraged. However, it was not possible to silence the truth that had come to him in order that he might let this same truth be known. And it was for this reason that he propounded this ingenious question to them, in order that while he was silent his question itself might show them that he was not a man but God. So he asks directly, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him Lord?” For how was it possible for him to be his Lord who was yet to be born from David? I think that he posed this question not only against the ancient Pharisees but against our contemporary heretics as well. For he was the Son of David according to the flesh but Lord according to his divinity. HOMILY 42. [1]

[1] PG 56:875.

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