ACC ~ Matthew 5 v6

GOD IS THE TRUE VIRTUE

ORIGEN: But if I must utilize a bold explanation indeed, I think that perhaps it was through the word that is measured by virtue and justice that the Lord presents himself to the desire of the hearers. He was born as wisdom from God for us, and as justice and sanctification and redemption. [1] He is “the bread that comes down from heaven” [2] and “living water,” [3] for which the great David himself thirsted. He said in one of his psalms, “My soul has thirsted for you, even for the living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God?” [4] … “I shall behold your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied in beholding your glory.” [5] This then, in my estimation, is the true virtue, the good unmingled with any lesser good, that is, God, the virtue that covers the heavens, as Habakkuk relates. [6] FRAGMENT 83. [7]

[1] 1 Cor 1:30.

[2] Jn 6:50.

[3] Jn 4:10-11.

[4] Ps 42:2 (41:2 LXX).

[5] Ps 17:15 (16:15 LXX).

[6] Hab 3:3.

[7] GCS 41.1:49.

THE PASSIONATE LONGING FOR JUSTICE

CHROMATIUS: He taught that we must seek after righteousness with earnest desire, not with fainthearted energy. Indeed, he calls those persons blessed who in their search for righteousness virtually burn with passionate longing in their hunger and thirst. For if each one of us really hungers and thirsts for righteousness with eager desire, we can do nothing else but think and seek after righteousness. It is necessary that we eagerly desire that for which we hunger and thirst. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 17.5.1. [1]

[1] CCL 9a:273.

TRANSFERING DESIRE TO A NEW OBJECT

CHRYSOSTOM: Note how drastically he expresses it. For Jesus does not say, “Blessed are those who cling to righteousness,” but “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness”—not in a superficial way but pursuing it with their entire desire. By contrast, the most characteristic feature of covetousness is a strong desire with which we are not so hungry for food and drink as for more and more things. Jesus urged us to transfer this desire to a new object, freedom from covetousness. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 15.4. [1]

[1] PG 57:227; NPNF 1 10:94**.

THIRSTING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

APOLLINARIS: When Luke mentions these blessed ones, he calls them simply those “who hunger.” [1] But Matthew here defines them as those who willingly and from a longing for the good abstain from fleshly pleasures. Both of them speak in a similar way. Whoever longs for the righteousness of God has found what is truly desirable. But the yearning for righteousness is not satisfied by analogy to the appetite alone. For brotherhood in justice is desired not merely as food. That is only half the total picture. But now he has also represented this yearning as analogous to thirst for something to drink. By the passion of thirst he intends to indicate the heat and burning of intense longing. He says that such a person “will be filled.” But such fulfillment does not produce a turning away but rather an intensification of the desire. FRAGMENT 11. [2]

[1] Lk 6:21.

[2] MKGK 4.

THE DOCILE HEART

ANONYMOUS: To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to desire God’s own righteousness. People should hear and do God’s righteousness, not as though they hear or do it unwillingly but from their heart’s desire. Every good that is not done out of this sort of love for righteousness is not pleasing to God. Hence the Lord, through John, does not simply call everyone to drink, but only those who are thirsty, saying, “If anyone thirst, let that one come to me and drink.” [1] Similarly it was not for nothing that he spoke of those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Whoever hungers for righteousness wants to live actively according to God’s righteousness; this is proper for the person with a good heart. One who thirsts for righteousness wants to acquire the knowledge of God that one can gain only by studying the Scriptures. This is fitting for the person with an attentive heart. “For they shall be satisfied.” They are filled with the abundance of God’s reward. Greater are the rewards of God than even the most avid desires of the saints. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 9. [2]

[1] Jn 7:37.

[2] PG 56:682.

THE PROMISE OF FULFILLMENT

CHROMATIUS: Rightly then the One who is the heavenly bread and the fountain of living waters promises in return to those who thus hunger and thirst the fullness of perpetual refreshment: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” This indeed is that righteousness of faith that comes from God and Christ, of which the apostle says, “The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ in all and upon all who believe in him.” [1] TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 17.5.2. [2]

[1] Rom 3:22.

[2] CCL 9a:273.

THEY SHALL BE FILLED

CHRYSOSTOM: Then he designates the prize, again by analogy with things sensible, saying, “for they shall be filled.” Thus, because it is commonly thought that the rich are made wealthy through their own greed, Jesus says in effect: “No, it is just the opposite. For it is righteousness that produces true wealth. Thus so long as you act righteously, you do not fear poverty or tremble at hunger. Rather those who extort are those who lose all, while one who is in love with righteousness possesses all other goods in safety.” If those who do not covet enjoy such great abundance, how much more will they be ready to offer to others what they have. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 15.4. [1]

[1] PG 57:227; NPNF 1 10:94**.