ACC ~ Matthew 27 v25

ALL THE PEOPLE ANSWERED

CHRYSOSTOM: Look how high the contrary evidence is piling up. The accuser and traitor condemns himself. The judge who sentences tries to absolve himself of guilt. The dream of warning comes that very night. Even at the point of his condemnation Jesus is evidently innocent. What kind of plea will his murderers have? Even if they were not willing to let him be acknowledged as innocent, at least they should not have preferred a robber to him, and especially a notorious robber, known to be such. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 86.2. [1]

[1] PG 58:765-66; NPNF 1 10:513.

AND ON OUR CHILDREN

CHRYSOSTOM: What then did they do? When they saw the judge washing his hands and saying, “I am innocent,” they cried out, “His blood be on us and on our children.” They were rendering a sentence against themselves. He was yielding himself up that all should be done.

Note how great is their madness. For passion and evil desire work on us like this. They did not permit anyone to see anything of what was right. They not only curse themselves, they draw down the curse upon their own children as well. They acted with unutterable madness. They acted both against themselves and against their children!

Yet this lover of humanity did not hold their own sentence against them. He did not confirm it upon their children or even upon them. Rather he received both from them and from their children those who repented. He counted them worthy of good things beyond number. Think of who might have been among them! Even Paul perhaps. Even some among the thousands that believed in Jerusalem, for it is said, “You see, brothers, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed.” [1] And if some continued in their sin, to themselves let them impute their punishment. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 86.2. [2]

[1] Acts 21:20.

[2] PG 58:766; NPNF 1 10:513.