ACC ~ Matthew 5 v1 - 2

OVERVIEW:

Why did the Lord ascend the mount to deliver his teaching? That he might give the heavenly commandments to his disciples, leaving the earthly and seeking the sublime (CHROMATIUS); that he might bring the people with him to a higher life (JEROME); that the highest teaching of the Father and the Son might be made known (AUGUSTINE); to show us that whoever teaches God’s way of justice must embody his own teaching from the heights of spiritual virtue. Hence whoever today wishes to learn the mysteries of truth must go up to the mountain of the church (ANONYMOUS). Jesus taught them according to their readiness to hear, both by his silence and by his speech (CHRYSOSTOM). The severity of the law was first given by Moses on the mountain, but the people were forbidden to draw close. Now with Jesus, all are invited to draw near to him to hear of the gift of the gospel (CHROMATIUS).

5:1 | Jesus Ascends the Mountain

BRINGING THE GREAT CROWD TO A HIGHER POINT

JEROME: The Lord went up the mountain that he might bring the crowds with him to higher things. The crowds were unable to go up, however, and he was followed by the disciples to whom he spoke, not standing but sitting together. For they were unable to understand this brilliant man in his majesty. Many of the simple believers literally believed that he taught the Beatitudes and other things on the Mount of Olives, but this is not really true. [1] From the events that went before and followed, the place in Galilee has been shown to be what we believe is either Mount Tabor or some other high mountain. After he finished speaking, the Evangelist says, “Now when he had entered Capernaum.” COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 1.5.1. [2]

[1] The localization of the mountain here rejected by Jerome must have been widespread. We also find it in Chromatius’s interpretation of this passage.

[2] CCL 77:23-24.

ASCENT TO THE HEIGHTS

CHROMATIUS: From the low and humble to the high and exalted places, the Lord, ready to instruct his disciples, went up the mountain—specifically to the Mount of Olives—so that according to the very meaning of this word, he might present the gift of his divine mercy. The Lord went up the mountain that he might give the precepts of the heavenly commandments to his disciples, leaving the earthly and seeking the sublime things as though already placed on high. He went up that he might now give the divine gift of the long-promised blessing, according to what David had once declared: “For indeed he who gave the law will give blessings.” TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 17.1.1-2. [1]

[1] CCL 9a:268.

THE MOUNT OF MOSES AND THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

AUGUSTINE: If we ask what the mountain signifies, it is rightly understood to point toward the gospel’s higher righteousness. The precepts given to the Hebrews were lower. Yet, through his holy prophets and servants and in accordance with a most orderly arrangement of circumstance, the same God gave the lower precepts to a people to whom it was fitting to be bound by fear. Through his Son he gave the higher precepts to a people to whom it is fitting to be set free by love. SERMON ON THE MOUNT 1.1.2. [1]

[1] PL 34:1231; FC 11:20*. Like Moses, Jesus delivers the new law from a mountain. Both are given by the same Lawgiver, the first to bind by fear, the second to set free by love.

EMBODIED SPEECH FROM THE HEIGHTS OF SPIRITUAL VIRTUE

ANONYMOUS: Wasn’t he able to teach right there where the people were? He went up on the mountain for two specific reasons. First, that he might fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah, who said, “Go up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings.” [1] Next, that he might show the mystery of love. For his ascent signifies the height of virtue. He therefore went up the mountain to show us that whoever teaches and whoever hears God’s way of justice must stand on the height of spiritual virtues. The one who teaches must himself be an example of his words, so he may teach more by his works than his words, as the apostle says to Timothy: “Set the believers an example.” [2] The one who walks in the valley of earthly life, however, treads on obscure pathways and speaks high-flown words: He does not teach anyone but chastens himself. For no one can stand in the valley and speak from a mountain. Speak from where you take your stand. Take your stand from where you are speaking. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 9. [3]

[1] Is 40:9.

[2] 1 Tim 4:12.

[3] PG 56:679.

LOOKING TOWARD THE CHURCH AS THE MIGHTY MOUNTAIN

ANONYMOUS: The church is called a mountain. It is pictured in Scripture as the “mountain of God, a mighty mountain.” [1] Christ therefore went up the mountain to reveal there the mysteries of truth to his disciples. He showed that whoever wishes to learn the mysteries of truth ought to go up the mountain of the church—not to just any mountain, but to the mighty mountain. For there are mountains of heretics that are not mighty but swollen. On these mountains are revealed not the mysteries of truth but lies that fly in the face of the truth. That is why the Holy Spirit scolds those who go up such mountains when he says through the prophet: “Why do you look with envy, O swollen mountains?” [2] Heretical assemblies are called swollen because their heart is swollen like fat. [3] INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 9. [4]

[1] Ps 68:15 (67:15 LXX).

[2] Ps 68:16 (67:16 LXX).

[3] Ps 119:70 (118:70 LXX). They swell beyond the limits of revealed teaching.

[4] PG 56:680.

ALL ARE INVITED TO COME

CHROMATIUS: And that he might more openly show the grace of the apostles and the author of this very great blessing, he added, “They shall walk from strength to strength; God shall look down upon Zion.” [1] That is to say, the Son of God, who gave blessings to the apostles on Zion. On this mountain he also gave his apostles a blessing. He is the One who had once handed down the Mosaic law on Mt. Sinai, showing that he was the author of both laws. … When the law was first given on the mountain, the people were forbidden to draw close. But now, as the Lord was teaching on the mountain, no one is forbidden. Rather, all are invited that they may hear, because there is severity in the law and grace in the gospel. In the former case, terror is instilled in the unbelievers. In the latter case, a gift of blessings is poured out on the believers. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 17.1.3-4. [2]

[1] Ps 84:7 (83:7 LXX).

[2] CCL 9a:268-69.

5:2 | Jesus Teaches His Disciples

ACCORDING TO THEIR READINESS TO HEAR

CHRYSOSTOM: And for what reason is the clause added, “He opened his mouth”? To inform you that in his very silence he gave instruction, and not only when he spoke. At one time he taught by “opening his mouth,” while at another by the works that he did. [1] But when you hear that he taught them, do not think of him as discussing matters with his disciples only, but rather with the entire group through his teaching to them. For since the crowd was just like any crowd always is, including as it did those who live on a very low level, he withdrew the group of his disciples and addressed his teaching to them, but in his conversation with them he also provided for the rest, who were at this point very far from being ready to hear his sayings on self-denial without being offended. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 15.1. [2]

[1] His speech was not only through words but also actions.

[2] PG 57:223; cf. NPNF 1 10:91**. The general public was not yet ready to discern the meaning of Jesus’ teaching. Later they will be taught by the disciples.