ACC ~ Matthew 4 v2
FORTY DAYS, THEN HUNGER
ORIGEN: For the number âforty daysâ is composed of four groups of ten. [1] This may be akin to the four aspects of physical reality, because the sensible world is formed out of four elements. Or it may be because a human being is formed in forty days in the womb. [2] And so that he might not, by fasting any longer than this, give anyone the notion that he had not taken on flesh in truth, he afterward was hungry, sharing all that we have âexcept for sinâ [3] and participating in our condition through his own suffering. FRAGMENT 61. [4]
[1] In this passage is an example of numerical exegesis, which constructs an allegorical interpretation on the symbolical meaning attributed to numbers. The belief that numerical combinations contained hidden inner meanings was widespread in the ancient world.
[2] This does not imply that before these forty days there is nothing human about the developing baby but only that its formation is clearly evident by the fortieth day. In any event, Origen grasped the analogy between the forty days of temptation in forming the new creation and the forty days of embryonic development to form the original creation of the person in the womb.
[3] Heb 4:15.
[4] GCS 41.1:39.
ELIJAH FASTED FORTY DAYS
THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: When Christ âhungered,â as it is written, then the devil made his move to tempt him; for he was not wholly amazed at the fact of his fasting for forty days, since he knew that Elijah had fasted for the same length of time. [1] For this reason he took courage to attack him, thinking him to be a person of this kind, and not God. FRAGMENT 18. [2]
[1] Cf. 1 Kings 19:8.
[2] MKGK 203.
JESUSâ HUNGER WAS VOLUNTARY
ANONYMOUS: He therefore fasted for forty days, and he did this for two reasons. First, that he might give us an example of fasting to ward off temptations. Second, that he might set the measure of forty days for our fasting. He hungered, furthermore, so that by not overdoing his fasting God might be manifestly understood and he might dash the devilâs hope in temptation and thwart his victory. After the devil beheld him fasting for forty days, he gave up hope. It was when he realized that Christ was hungry that hope was restored. He approached him as he hungered outwardly but found that inwardly he was never hungry. And while he tempted the hungry Christ, he was conquered by the Christ who was not hungry.
To be hungry and not to eat is proper of human patience, but not to be hungry is proper of a divine nature. Therefore he who was not hungry for forty days and then became hungry demonstrates that his hunger was voluntary and not necessary. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 5. [1]
[1] PG 56:664-65.
LENTEN FASTING ANTICIPATED
PETER CHRYSOLOGUS: So you see, my friends, the fact that we fast during Lent is not of human invention. The authority is divine and mystical and not taken for granted. Nor is it based on an earthly custom but on heavenly secrets. Lent [Quadragesima] contains the four-sided teaching of four decades of faith, because perfection is always four-sided. The number forty [quadragesimus] and the number ten [denarius], which hold sacraments both in heaven and on earth because a square is not free to open, are used to explain the undertaking of the Lordâs fast. SERMONS 11.4. [1]
[1] CCL 24:74; FC 17:58*. Christ permitted the devil to tempt him for forty days, that the devil might become entangled by the means by which he thought he might make a catch and thereby to establish for the liturgical year the pattern of forty days of penitence.
Mt