ACC ~ Matthew 23 v11

WHOEVER HUMBLES ONESELF WILL BE EXALTED

CHRYSOSTOM: For nothing is as crucial as the practice of modesty. This is why he is continually reminding them of this virtue, both when he brought the children into the midst and now. Even when he was preaching on the mount, beginning the Beatitudes, this is where he began. And in this passage he plucks up pride by the roots, saying, “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” [1]

See how he draws off the hearer right over to the contrary thing. For not only does he forbid him to set his heart upon the first place but also requires him to follow after the last. For so shall you obtain your desire, he says. So one who pursues his own desire for the first must follow after in the last place: “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

And where will we find this humility? Go to the city of virtue, to the tents of the holy men, to the mountains, to the groves. [2] There you may see this height of humility.

For these persons, some illustrious from their rank in the world, some having had wealth, in every way put themselves down, by their vesture, by their dwelling, by those to whom they minister. As if they were written characters, they throughout all things are writing the story of humility. [3] THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 72.3. [4]

[1] Lk 14:11.

[2] To the ascetic life.

[3] Chrysostom evidently alludes to persons of high social rank who had renounced all the prerogatives of their rank to become monks. He himself was one of these.

[4] PG 58:670-71; NPNF 1 10:438.

CULTIVATE HUMILITY

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Since those who have arrived teaching new beliefs for the most part do so from conceit and arrogance, I will say something concerning the value of the teaching. The Lord cuts short this opinion and way as leading to destruction. He says, “You love glory and the places of first importance.” Meanwhile he desires the servant’s role and cultivates humility. FRAGMENT 255. [1]

[1] MKGK 239.

ONE WHO EXALTS WILL BE HUMBLED

ORIGEN: I wish everyone might hear this, and most of all deacons, priests and bishops, especially those who think to themselves that these were not the words written: “He who exalts himself will be humbled.” On this basis, they then act as if they do not know that he said, “He who has humbled himself will be exalted.” They do not hear him who said, “Learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly of heart.” [1] They thought themselves to be self-inspired and through this inspiration fell “into the judgment of the devil.” [2] They had not thought of critically examining their false humility. They would have done better to have remembered the word of wisdom that says, “The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself, and you will find grace before God.” [3] It was the Lord who provided the pattern for this process. No matter how great he was, he humbled himself. For “though he was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.” [4] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 12. [5]

[1] Mt 11:29.

[2] 1 Tim 3:6.

[3] Sir 3:18.

[4] Phil 2:6-9.

[5] GCS 38.2:24.

PROTOCOL REVERSED AT THE MESSIANIC WEDDING BANQUET

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: In this wedding feast, which is the calling of God, the Jews maintained that they should be first to recline at the table. Instead, they were humiliated and put in last place, after the Gentiles. The Gentiles, … who understood that their invitation was entirely undeserved, were put ahead of the Jews who preceded them to the feast, for what matters is not the priority of the invitation, but the worthiness of the response. The Jews then were invited only to an ordinary meal, but the Gentiles were invited by the Son himself, for whom the feast was held. The Jews were chosen by God on account of their fathers but the Gentiles because of their faith. Christ says elsewhere of the Jews, therefore, “When you are invited to a wedding feast [that is, to the wedding of Christ], do not seek to recline at the head table.” [1] HOMILY 43. [2]

[1] Lk 14:8.

[2] PG 56:880.