ACC ~ Matthew 4 v14 - 15

GALILEE OF THE GENTILES

ANONYMOUS: As history teaches us, these tribes were the first to cross over into Babylonia. [1] It is appropriate therefore that all those whom the wrath of God has struck should first be visited by God’s mercy and those who have been led into bodily captivity should first be brought back from spiritual captivity. “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” [2] Jews also were sitting in darkness. Even though they were under the law, God’s justice was not being manifested. Although justice was there, it had been covered over with certain figures and mysteries of carnal things. What light of justice is there in circumcision? Indeed the darkness was especially poignant under the law, which was given more to punish the hardness of our hearts than to actually bring about righteousness. As the Lord said, “For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.” [3] The law was not given to save but to chastise them. The law blinded them, so that, inebriated with the law, they were unable to see the great light, Christ, when he came.

There indeed were many lights among the Jews: Moses and Aaron and Joshua and the judges and prophets were all lights. Every teacher is a light to them, whom he enlightens by teaching, as is written: “You are the light of the world.” [4] But Christ is the great light. In the region and shadow of death were seated the Gentiles, either because they were committing iniquities or because they were worshiping idols and demons, the worship of which was leading them to everlasting death. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 6. [5]

[1] Zebulun and Naphtali had been part of Israel and were thus sent by the Assyrians to Babylon (cf. 2 Kings 17) before the same fate befell the inhabitants of Judah.

[2] Is 9:2.

[3] Mk 10:5.

[4] Mt 5:14.

[5] PG 56:672.