ACC ~ Matthew 24 v18

WHAT ROOF?

WHAT FIELD?

ORIGEN: Whoever is in Judea, that is, “in the letter of the old law,” should flee to the mountains of the new things of the Spirit. And whoever is found to have gone up onto the roof, which is the Word, and stands high above his home should not descend to retrieve anything from within his house. For he who remains on the roof and denies himself will never need to come down.

Whoever is in the field must not turn back. If he is in the field in which the treasure is hidden, as the Lord taught in his parable, [1] he must not turn back. If he is in the field to which Jacob was compared when his father blessed him, saying, “Behold, the smell of my son is like the smell of a bountiful field which the Lord has blessed,” [2] in which everyone who lives according to the law will be blessed with the spiritual blessings of the law, he still must not turn back. As the Scripture says, “You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the field.” [3] Whoever therefore is in the field of “every plant which the heavenly Father has planted,” [4] he too must not turn back. Just as he who puts his hand to the plow and turns back is unfit for the kingdom of God, [5] so also the one in the field who turns back on account of those things which he ought to have forsaken will undoubtedly incur the abomination of desolation which is deception. This is especially true of those who had previously stripped off their old tunic (that is, “the old nature with its practices”) [6] and return again to retrieve it. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 42. [7]

[1] Mt 13:44.

[2] Gen 27:27.

[3] Deut 28:3.

[4] Mt 15:13.

[5] Lk 9:62.

[6] Col 3:9.

[7] GCS 38.2:85-86.

TO TAKE HIS MANTLE

CHRYSOSTOM: Under these conditions one would do well merely to escape with one’s naked body. So if anyone is on a housetop, he should not take time to run back into the house to get his clothes. For the evils are inevitable. The calamity is without end. Anyone nearby will surely perish. Therefore he adds also, “if one is in the field,” saying, “do not try to take cover or turn back to find your belongings.” For if those who are indoors flee, much more ought they that are out of doors not take refuge indoors. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 76.1. [1]

[1] PG 58:694; NPNF 1 10:456.

DO NOT TURN FROM THE CHURCH

EPIPHANIUS THE LATIN: The holy reading continues: “Let him in the field not turn back.” This field represents the church, as was demonstrated by the blessing our blessed patriarch Isaac gave to his son Jacob: “Behold, the smell of my son is like the smell of a bountiful field which the Lord has blessed.” [1] The field was replete with a multitude of flowers and was redolent with the sweetest aroma. Clearly this signifies the church where the Lord’s flowers—that is, virginity, chastity, continence, confession, faith, mercy, justice, truth and martyrdom—are perfected. These are the flowers of the field, which is the church; the flowers in which the Son of God rejoices, which have merited God’s blessing. Therefore he said, “Let him in the field not turn back.” Likewise, the same Lord once said, “Remember Lot’s wife.” [2] While fleeing the conflagration of Sodom, she looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt, leaving an example of foolishness behind her. Therefore the Lord admonishes us that clinging more fully to his love and faith, we would not turn back, yet rather would save our souls for eternal life. INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 33. [3]

[1] Gen 27:27.

[2] Lk 17:32.

[3] PL Supp 3:882.