ACC ~ Matthew 8 v1 - 4

OVERVIEW:

The leper knew that if the Lord willed, he could cleanse him. He was not reproved for making this assumption. Rather, Jesus confirmed the assumption about his own glory and authority that lay hidden underneath the leper’s question (CHRYSOSTOM). We are here taught that the whole person has been transformed in contemplation, action and behavior when touched by divine things (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). The leper when cleansed was not to entrust the recognition of his cleansing to private judgment but to show himself to the priests, who could bear witness that Jesus did not transgress the law (CHRYSOSTOM).

8:1 | Descending the Mountain

WHEN HE CAME DOWN

CHRYSOSTOM: When Jesus came down from the mountain, a leper came to him and said, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” How respectful was the understanding and faith of the leper in drawing near. For he did not interrupt the teaching or break into the gathering. He waited for the proper time and approached him only after “he came down.” THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 25.1. [1]

[1] PG 57:328; NPNF 1 10:172**.

8:2 | A Leper Asks for Cleansing

LORD, IF YOU WILL, YOU CAN

CHRYSOSTOM: With great fervor before Jesus’ knees, the leper pleaded with him [1] with sincere faith. He discerned who Jesus was. He did not state conditionally, “If you request it of God” or “If you pray for me.” Rather, he said simply, “If you will, you can make me clean.” He did not pray, “Lord, cleanse me.” Rather, he leaves everything to the Lord and makes his own recovery depend entirely on him. Thus he testified that all authority belongs to him.

One might ask, “What if the leper had been mistaken in this assumption?” If he had been mistaken, wouldn’t it have been fitting for the Lord to reprove him and set him straight? But did he do this? No. Quite to the contrary, Jesus established and confirmed exactly what he had said. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 25.1. [2]

[1] Mk 1:40.

[2] PG 57:328; NPNF 1 10:172**.

8:3 | Immediate Healing

JESUS’ AUTHORITY TO HEAL

CHRYSOSTOM: Jesus did not say, “Be clean,” but rather responded to the leper’s assumption, saying, “I will. Be clean.” This left no doubt as to whether the leper’s assumption was correct. Jesus simply approved it.

The apostles would speak from an entirely different assumption when they later said to the amazed crowd, “Why do you stare at us as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?” [1] The Lord, who often spoke with modesty, obscuring his own glory, speaks here in a way so as to establish the opinion of those who were amazed at his authority: “I will. Be clean.” Many and great were the signs that he would offer, but only here has he uttered this distinctive word about his own authority. Jesus confirmed the assumption with respect to his authority by purposely adding, “I will.” The important thing was not that he said this but that he responded approvingly to what was being said and confirmed it. The cleansing followed immediately. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 25.1. [2]

[1] Acts 3:12.

[2] PG 57:328; NPNF 1 10:172**.

8:4 | Going to the Priest

PRIESTLY CORROBORATION

CHRYSOSTOM: It was an ancient law that the leper when cleansed should not entrust the recognition of his cleansing to private judgment but should show himself to the priest. By this means it would be confirmed in his own eyes, and he could then be numbered among the clean. For if the priest had not corroborated it, he would have remained outside the camp among the unclean. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 25.3. [1]

[1] PG 57:330; NPNF 1 10:173**.

LET THE AUTHORITIES JUDGE

CHRYSOSTOM: Jesus did not imply that showing the healing to the priest was something he needed. Rather, he temporarily remits him to the law. This stopped every mouth. He did this lest others might claim that Jesus had arrogated to himself the priest’s honor. He performed the miracle himself, yet he entrusted its examination to the authorities and caused them to sit as judges of his own miracles. He was saying in effect: “I am so far from struggling against Moses or the priests that I even guide those cleansed to submit themselves to the priests.” THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 25.3. [1]

[1] PG 57:330; NPNF 1 10:173-74**.

THE GIFT THAT MOSES COMMANDED

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: What then was the gift that was to be brought by the leper according to the law? “Two small birds,” [1] one of which the priest killed “over running water.” Taking “cedar wood and broken scarlet and hyssop” and the living bird, he dipped them “in the blood of the slain bird, over running water.” He anointed the right ear, hand and foot of the leper who was cleansed. [2] He sent the living bird outside the city, “into the open field.” [3] Observe, therefore, how perfectly Christ depicts these things for us. By the living bird you may understand the living, heavenly Word. By the blood of the slain bird, you should understand the blood of our suffering Lord, for whom we say that he suffered “in the flesh,” rather than “in his own body.” The cedar is a wood not prone to rot. The incorruptible flesh, the body of Christ, “did not see corruption.” [4] Hyssop symbolizes the effervescence, activity and power of the Spirit. Scarlet intends the confession of the covenant made with blood. The running water signifies the life-creating gift of baptism. … Through this baptism, whoever has become a leper through sin may be cleansed. The sending of the living bird outside of the city teaches us to abandon this world, as did Christ in his ascension into heaven. Having thus come into the presence of God the Father, he makes intercession for all of us, and we therefore shall be cleansed. By the anointing of the leper’s right ear, hand and foot, we are taught that we must be, in contemplation and in action and in our way of life, in touch with divine things. FRAGMENT 93. [5]

[1] Lev 14:1-7.

[2] 9.

[3] Lev 14:7.

[4] Acts 2:31.

[5] MKGK 181-82.

JESUS DOES NOT TRANSGRESS THE LAW

CHRYSOSTOM: What is meant by “a proof to the people”? It was for their reproof, or as a demonstration or for accusation if they should prove fickle. For since the religious professionals would call him a deceiver and imposter and persecute him as an adversary of God and transgressor of the law, he was prepared to say, “You shall bear witness to me that I am not a transgressor of the law.” THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 25.3. [1]

[1] PG 57:330; NPNF 1 10:174**.