ACC ~ Matthew 4 v3

THE DEVIL’S INTERROGATION

CHROMATIUS: The devil provokes that he might tempt him, and the Lord follows up that he might win. The battle over this temptation is thus engaged, as the devil says to the Lord, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” Unaware of the mystery of the divine dispensation, he frames as a question what he does not know. [1] With the voice of a doubter, he interrogates Christ and says, “If you are the Son of God …” Now let us see why he inquires when he doubts and why he questions when he does not know. He heard that it had been announced by the angel to the Virgin that she would give birth to the Son of God. He saw the magi, who had left behind the error of their limited knowledge, in humble adoration of the Child that was born. He saw, after the baptism, the Holy Spirit descending like a dove. He also heard the Father’s voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son.” [2] He heard John with a loud voice proclaiming, “This is he who takes away the sin of the world.” [3] Disturbed by so much testimony therefore and now troubled by this voice, this is what he feared most of all: that after he had filled the world with sins, he heard there would now come someone to take away the sins of the world. He was frightened indeed by all these utterances, but he did not yet fully believe that the Son of God whom he had heard, whom he now beheld as a man in the flesh, would take away the sins of the world. In a terrible state of fear he seeks to find out whether these things he had heard were true. He sees the Lord fasting “forty days and nights,” but he was loath to believe that this was the Son of God. He recalled that both Moses and Elijah also fasted for forty days. And so he asked to be given some sign that this was truly the Son of God. He therefore said, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 14.2. [4]

[1] On the level and importance of the knowledge possessed by the devil, the ancient exegetes were highly uncertain. In interpreting the temptation of Christ they usually maintained that the devil could have an inkling of Jesus’ actual identity but could not be certain. This assumption directed their interpretation of the account in Scripture.

[2] Mt 3:16-17; cf. Mk 1:10-11.

[3] Jn 1:29.

[4] CCL 9a:251-52.

THE FIRST POINT OF ATTACK

CHRYSOSTOM: What does the devil first say? “If you are Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” The focus is not upon hunger but divine Sonship. Thinking to cheat him with supposed compliments, the devil suggested, “If you are Son of God,” remaining silent about his hunger in order that he not seem to allege that he indeed was hungry and not upbraiding him for it. For unaware of the greatness of the economy which was unfolding, he supposed hunger to be a reproach to him. So flattering him smoothly, he makes mention of his dignity only.

How then did Christ respond to this? In order to put down the devil’s pride and signify that there was nothing shameful in Jesus’ hunger nor unbecoming to his wisdom, he brings forward precisely the point that the devil had passed over in silence to flatter him. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone.”

In this way the devil begins his temptation with the necessity of the belly. Mark well the craft of that wicked demon. Note at what precise point he begins his struggling and how well he remembers what he does best. For it was by this same means that he cast out the first man and then encompassed him with thousands of other evils. Now by the same means here he again weaves his deceit: the temptation to indulge the belly. So too even now one may hear many foolish people say their bad words by thousands because of the belly. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 13.3. [1]

[1] PG 57:210; NPNF 1 10:81*. The first point of attack in demonic temptation is, as usual, the temptation to satisfy the belly, in response to which Jesus quotes Scripture in defense.

COMMAND THESE STONES TO BECOME LOAVES

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Wanting to draw Christ into the passion of vainglory, [1] Satan did not say to him “eat” but “work a miracle.” This he did, not so that Christ would be helped, but, as I said, in order to draw him to a pretentious act. But Christ, knowing this, did not obey him. Later he would not comply with the Pharisees when they wanted to see a sign from him. For they did not approach him with an undoubting heart, as to God, but were tempting him as a man. Let this therefore be an unfailing rule for the saints, not to show off before unbelievers upon any pretext of utility. [2] FRAGMENT 32. [3]

[1] Ambition, the lust for glory, showing off.

[2] However useful it may seem.

[3] MKGK 162.