ACC ~ Matthew 25 v35 - 40

YOU GAVE ME FOOD

CHRYSOSTOM: Then, in order that you may see in another way also the justice of the sentence, he first praises those who have done right: “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food,” and all that follows. Note that the judgment is in effect made by their fellow servants. This has happened before, when the virgins are judged by the virgins [1] and in the case of the drunken and gluttonous servant who was judged by the faithful servant. It happened once again in the case of the man who buried his talent, [who was judged] by the actions of those who produced more. [2] … This is said to bring them to the point of answering, “When did we see you hungry?” THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 79.2. [3]

[1] Mt 25:1-13.

[2] Mt 25:14-30.

[3] PG 58:718-19; NPNF 1 10:475-76.

TEACHING AS FEEDING AND CLOTHING

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: This can also be said of teachers who gave the food of learning to those hungry for righteousness, so they might be fed and grow healthy in good actions; who administered the drink of truth to those thirsty for the knowledge of God. Teaching in the Word, they certainly fed them and also gave to drink, baptizing in the Holy Spirit those who are strangers in the world. For all souls are truly strangers on this earth who can say, “For I am your passing guest, a sojourner, like all my fathers.” [1] Preaching the word of faith, they welcome souls from the spreading of error and make them fellow citizens and family members of the saints. They welcome Christ himself and clothe, by teaching righteousness, those who are naked and even without a garment of righteousness. As is written: “Put on, then, compassion, faith, peace and kindness.” [2] That is to say, they clothe Christ and baptize them in Christ, as is written: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” [3] HOMILY 54. [4]

[1] Ps 39:12 (38:13 LXX).

[2] Col 3:12.

[3] Gal 3:27.

[4] PG 56:944.

A STRANGER OR NAKED?

ORIGEN: In the same way, we have woven a garment for the cold and shivering Christ. We have received the fabric of wisdom from God that we may impart knowledge to some and clothe them with “compassion, chastity, kindness, lowliness” and the other virtues. All these virtues are the spiritual garments of those who have listened to the words of those who teach these virtues, according to him who says, “Put on, then, compassion, kindness, lowliness, gentleness” and so forth, more so Christ himself, who is all these things to the faithful, according to him who said, “Put on the Lord Jesus.” [1] Therefore, when we have clothed with garments of this type “one of the least” who believe in Christ, we have apparently clothed the Lord himself, so that the word of God in the world will not go naked. But we must also welcome the Son of God who became a stranger and the members of his body who are strangers in the world, untainted by all mundane actions, even as he says about himself and his disciples: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” [2] And Christ asks the Father to permit them to be with him where he is. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 72. [3]

[1] Rom 13:14.

[2] Jn 17:14.

[3] GCS 38.2:169.

SICK OR IN PRISON?

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: He who visits the sick and those languishing with the disease of earthly vices, who heals them with the medicine of good doctrine, heals Christ in them. Even as Christ is healthy in souls that are healthy, he is ailing in souls that are ailing. But he is also the one who comes to those who have gone down to the world of the dead alive and are doing infernal work—that is, they are in prison and under guard of the devil. As Scripture says, “Let them go down to the world of the dead alive.” [1] Coming through his word, he leads them out of that infernal prison and frees them from the guard of the devil. They give thanks to him, saying, “O Lord my God, I cry to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from the world of the dead.” [2] HOMILY 54. [3]

[1] Ps 55:15 (54:16 LXX).

[2] Ps 30:2 (29:3 LXX).

[3] PG 56:944.

THE LORD HUNGERS IN HIS SAINTS

EPIPHANIUS THE LATIN: “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.” [1] [Jesus mentions] many other things, which we have recited. Having been given the faith, the righteous say, “Lord, when did see you hungry and fed you, thirsty, and gave you something to drink, naked and clothed you?” [2] Other things also follow. What then, my most beloved? Does our Lord hunger and thirst? Is he who himself made everything in heaven and on earth, who feeds angels in heaven and every nation and race on earth, who needs nothing of an earthly character, as he is unfailing in his own nature, is this one naked? It is incredible to believe such a thing. Yet what must be confessed is easy to believe. For the Lord hungers not in his own nature but in his saints; the Lord thirsts not in his own nature but in his poor. The Lord who clothes everyone is not naked in his own nature but in his servants. The Lord who is able to heal all sicknesses and has already destroyed death itself is not diseased in his own nature but in his servants. Our Lord, the one who can liberate every person, is not in prison in his own nature but in his saints. Therefore, you see, my most beloved, that the saints are not alone. They suffer all these things because of the Lord. In the same way, because of the saints the Lord suffers all these things with them. INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 38. [3]

[1] Mt 25:35.

[2] Mt 25:37-38.

[3] PL Supp 3:900-901.