ACC ~ Matthew 26 v66 - 68

THEY STRUCK HIM

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: This is clearly a reflection of the holy prophet’s words, “Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great fear,” says “the Lord,” [1] the one true God, the king of kings and Lord of lords. He was dishonored by us: first he endured blows, and then he endured laughter from the impious, exemplifying the highest forbearance yet presented to us. How can the one who “examines heart and mind,” the one who illumines prophets, not know “who strikes you”? FRAGMENT 301. [2]

[1] Jer 2:12.

[2] MKGK 261.

THEY SPAT IN HIS FACE

CHRYSOSTOM: Note with admiration the self-restraint of the disciples. Observe how carefully they relate these things. This clearly shows their disposition to love the truth. They relate with all truthfulness the things that seem to be opprobrious. They disguise nothing. They are not ashamed of anything. Rather, they account it as a very great glory, as indeed it was, that the Lord of the universe should endure to suffer such things for us. This shows both his unutterable tenderness and the inexcusable wickedness of those men who had the heart to do such things to him that was so mild and meek. His words were such as to change a lion into a lamb. … All of these things the prophet Isaiah had foretold. He had proclaimed it beforehand: “Like as many were astonished at you, so shall your form be held inglorious of men, and your glory of the sons of men.” [1] THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 85.1. [2]

[1] Is 52:14.

[2] PG 58:757; NPNF 1 10:506.

THEY SLAPPED HIM

ORIGEN: It was necessary for him to teach these things by example, “giving his back to whips and his cheeks to fists” and not turning his face away “from insults and spitting.” [1] Thus would he, by suffering these things in our place, deliver us (as I believe) who were worthy to suffer all that disgrace. Truly he did not “die for us” [2] that we might not die but that we might not die for ourselves. And he was spat upon and beaten for us, so that we who were worthy of all these things because of our sins might not just suffer them but, suffering them for the sake of justice, we might gratefully accept them. Paul makes it clear that the Savior “humbled himself becoming obedient all the way to death, even to the death of the cross.” [3] … “On account of all this, God exalted him.” [4] God not only exalted him because of the death he underwent for our sake but also because of the buffeting and the spitting and all the rest.

Christ did not turn his face away “from insult and spitting,” [5] so his face might be glorified more than the face of Moses [6] —with so much glory that comparatively the glorification of Moses’ face was outshone, even as the light of a lamp is outshone by that of the sun and even as knowledge, which knows in part, is outshone “when that which is perfect has come.” [7] But they also buffeted the holy head of the church. Because of this, they will be beaten by Satan, not that they may not be extolled or may have their power brought to an end but that, once in the hands of the enemy and punisher, they may receive just punishment for the sin they committed in buffeting Jesus.

Not content with spitting in his face and buffeting him, they even struck his face with the palms of their hands, and, mocking him, they said, “Prophesy to us, O Christ! who is it that struck you?” On account of this … they have been struck and punished. Yet they were unwilling to accept any discipline, as Jeremiah had prophesied about them: “You chastened them and they did not grieve; they were unwilling to receive correction.” [8] And now whoever harms anyone in the church and does these things to him spits on the very face of Christ, and, buffeting Christ, they slap him with the palms of their hands. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 113. [9]

[1] Is 50:6.

[2] Rom 5:8.

[3] Phil 2:8.

[4] Phil 2:9.

[5] Is 50:6.

[6] Ex 34:29.

[7] 1 Cor 13:10.

[8] Jer 5:3.

[9] GCS 38.2:235-36.