ACC ~ Matthew 24 v3

HE SAT ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

ORIGEN: I regard the allegory of the Mount of Olives to refer to the churches of the Gentiles, among whom olive trees were planted. Each church is able to say, “I am like a fruitful olive tree in the house of God.” [1] Perhaps also in this Mount of Olives, where the roots of good olive trees live, [2] branches of a wild olive tree were grafted into the good tree in the place of those branches which had been “broken off for their unbelief.” [3] The farmer residing on the Mount of Olives is the Word of God as professed in the church, which is Christ, who continually grafts wild olive branches into the good tree of our father Moses and the other prophets, so that having been strengthened by the holy prophets (whose prophecies they understood to refer to Christ), these new branches might offer more abundant, richer fruit than the first olive branches, which had been cut off and made useless on account of the curse which was in the law. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 32. [4]

[1] Ps 52:8 (51:10 LXX).

[2] The symbolic meaning which Origen applies to Jesus’ stay on the Mount of Olives springs from the connection with Romans 11:17-24; the pagans are like the wild olive branch grafted onto the good domestic tree (the Jews).

[3] Rom 11:20.

[4] GCS 38.2:57.

THEY QUESTIONED FOR OUR BENEFIT

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: Here the disciples were asking, “When will this be that no stone of the temple stands upon another, as you said?” With these questions and others, they asked Jesus also to indicate to them the end of the age, which he had not mentioned. They asked questions about the temple for their own benefit, but those questions concerning the end of the age were asked for our benefit. We never saw the destruction of the temple, nor did they see the end of the age. It was expedient therefore that they hear about the signs of the temple’s destruction and that we learn to recognize the signs of the world’s consummation. The work’s completion is sweet to every laborer, and the traveler eagerly awaits his arrival at home. The mercenary frequently counts the days to year’s end, and the farmer constantly looks forward to harvest time. The merchant examines his purse day and night, and an expecting mother continually thinks of her delivery date. In a similar way, the servants of God eagerly anticipate the consummation of the age, for it is written, “Wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” [1]

If you have a certain quantity of valuable property stored away in your house, when you come in from the street, you will naturally direct your gaze in the direction of those valuables before you look anywhere else. Likewise, the saints fix their gaze there where their crown has been laid up for them. It is also of some benefit to be able to recognize the end of the age, for when a man is on a journey, the closer he gets to home, the more he begins to celebrate. HOMILY 48. [2]

[1] Mt 6:21.

[2] PG 56:900.

THE DISCIPLES CAME TO HIM PRIVATELY

CHRYSOSTOM: Since they meant to inquire about confidential matters, the disciples came to him privately. They were deeply troubled about when the day of his coming would be. They eagerly desired to behold that glory and the countless blessing that will accompany it. Yet they asked him two things. When will these things come to pass—especially the overturning of the temple? And what will be the sign of his coming at the close of the age? THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 75.1. [1]

[1] PG 58:686; NPNF 1 10:450.