ACC ~ Matthew 27 v50

HE GIVES UP HIS SPIRIT

ORIGEN: If giving up the spirit or (according to John) handing over the spirit were simply tantamount to dying, it would be easy to understand the passage which states “he gave up his spirit.” However, since discerning minds define death to be nothing other than the separation of the soul from the body, we can see that yielding up one’s spirit is something more than simply dying physically. It is quite something else to “cry out with a loud voice and give up the spirit” (as in Matthew) or to commit one’s spirit to the hand of God (as in Luke) [1] or to bow one’s head and hand over his spirit (as in John). [2] It is for all people to die, including the evil, because the soul of every person, including the unrighteous, will be separated from the body.

But to cry out with a loud voice and give up the spirit, which is equivalent to committing the spirit to the hand of God, or to bow the head and hand over the spirit is reserved only for the saints who, like Christ himself, have prepared themselves for God through good works so that when they leave this world they might with confidence commit themselves to the hand of God, or hand over their spirits.

If therefore we now understand what it means to cry out with a loud voice and thus to give up the spirit, that is, to commit oneself to the hand of God (as we have explained above in accordance with Luke’s Gospel), and if we understand what it means to bow the head and hand over the spirit, let us hasten to guard the conduct of our lives so that, upon our deaths, we also, like Jesus, might be able to cry out with a loud voice and thus to give up our spirit to the Father. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 138. [3]

[1] Lk 23:46.

[2] Jn 19:30.

[3] GCS 38.2:283-84.

HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE

CHRYSOSTOM: “When Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, he yielded up the spirit.” This refers to what he had earlier said: “I have power to lay down my life, and I have power to take it again,” and “I lay it down of myself.” [1] So for this cause he cried with the voice, that it might be shown that the act is done by his own power. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 88.1. [2]

[1] Jn 10:18.

[2] PG 58:776; NPNF 1 10:521.

SOULS BEING RECEIVED IN HEAVEN

APOLLINARIS: This is also the beginning of the translation of souls into the heavens. For whatever souls follow Christ are translated. Stephen made this plain when he said, “Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit.” [1] Paul also writes, “It is better to depart and be with Christ.” [2] Such was not the case with those of ancient times. It was said concerning the dead that each was handed over “to his people.” [3] This proceeding was below, as was the detention of souls. The Lord changes the direction of the journey from below to above by means of himself. FRAGMENT 143. [4]

[1] Acts 7:59.

[2] Phil 1:23.

[3] Gen 25:8.

[4] MKGK 51.