THEOPHYLACT, ARCHBISHOP OF BULGARIA, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
SOPHRONIUS ON THE EVANGELIST MATTHEW
A Matthew, also known as Levi, an apostle from being a tax collector, first wrote his Gospel in the land of Judea for those who had believed in Christ from the circumcision, using the Hebrew characters and language; as for who it was that later translated this into Greek, it is unknown. To this day, his Hebrew text is carefully preserved in the library of Caesarea, which was diligently assembled by Pamphilus the martyr. To me, from the Nazarenes who live in Beroea of Syria and who use this text among themselves, the opportunity was granted to transcribe it; by which one may be accurately persuaded that wherever the Evangelist, either of his own accord or speaking in the person of Christ the Savior, has utilized testimonies from the Scriptures of the Old Testament, he did not follow the authoritative version of the seventy interpreters, but rather the Hebrew text. As is evident from these passages: "Out of Egypt I have called my Son," and "He shall be called a Nazarene."
SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTERS AND SUBJECTS IN THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
1. Concerning the genealogy of Christ. 2. Concerning the Magi and the children who were slain.
A 3. John the Baptist, the first herald of the kingdom of heaven. 4. Concerning the temptation of Christ in the desert. Concerning the calling of Peter, Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee. 5. Concerning the beatitudes. Concerning not contending with one's neighbor. Concerning not committing adultery. Concerning not divorcing one's wife. Concerning not swearing at all. Concerning the need to endure insults and to resist the devil. Concerning the need to love even one's enemies. 6. Concerning almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. Concerning despising the things of the world. 7. Concerning judging no one. Concerning asking and seeking. Concerning the need to beware of false prophets. 8. Concerning the leper. Concerning the centurion. Concerning Peter's mother-in-law. Concerning those cured of various illnesses. Concerning the one not permitted to follow. Concerning the rebuke of the waters. Concerning the demoniacs whose demons were cast into the herd of swine. 9. Concerning the paralytic. Concerning the calling of Matthew. Concerning the Savior eating with tax collectors. Concerning the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue. Concerning the woman with the issue of blood. Concerning the two blind men. Concerning the deaf demoniac. 10. Concerning the instruction of the apostles. 11. Concerning those sent by John. 12. Concerning the disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath. Concerning the man having a withered hand. Concerning the blind and deaf demoniac. Concerning those seeking a sign. Concerning the mother and brothers [of Christ]. 13. Concerning the parables of the sower and the kingdom of heaven. 14. Concerning John and Herod. Concerning the five loaves and two fish. Concerning Jesus' walking upon the sea. B 15. Concerning the transgression of the commandment of God because of the tradition of men. Concerning the Canaanite woman. Concerning the healed multitudes. Concerning the seven loaves. 16. Concerning the leaven of the Pharisees. Concerning the interrogation at Caesarea. Concerning the rebuke of Peter for refusing that Christ should suffer. 17. Concerning the transfiguration of Christ. Concerning the lunatic. Concerning those asking for the didrachma. C 18. Concerning those asking who is the greatest. Concerning not giving scandal. The parable of the hundred sheep. Concerning the correction of a neighbor. Concerning the power of binding and loosing. Concerning the one who owes ten thousand talents. 19. Concerning those asking if it is lawful to divorce one's wife. Concerning the rich man who questioned Jesus. 20. Concerning the laborers who were hired. Concerning the sons of Zebedee. Concerning the two blind men.
Concerning the withered fig tree. Concerning the chief priests and elders who questioned the Lord. Concerning the parable of the two sons. Concerning the vineyard. 22. Concerning those invited to the wedding. Concerning those who questioned him about the tax. Concerning the Sadducees. Concerning the lawyer who questioned him. Concerning the questions asked by the Lord. 23. Concerning the woes of the Pharisees. 24. Concerning the consummation, the day, and the hour. 25. Concerning the ten virgins. Concerning those who received the talents. Concerning the coming of Christ. 26. Concerning the woman who anointed the Lord with ointment. Concerning the Passover. Concerning the mystical supper. Concerning the betrayal of Christ. Concerning the denial of Peter. 27. Concerning the governor Pilate. Concerning the repentance of Judas. Concerning the scourging, the punishments, and the crucifixion of Christ. Concerning how the body of the Lord was requested for burial, and about the guard stationed at his tomb. 28. Concerning the resurrection of the Lord. Concerning the guards at the tomb and the witnesses of the resurrection. Concerning the appearance of Christ to the apostles and the women in Galilee.
EXPLANATION OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
PREFACE
C Those great and divine men who lived before the law was given to Moses did not learn from letters and books, but, possessing a pure mind, they were illuminated by the illumination of the all-holy Spirit. And in this manner, with God himself speaking to them face to face, they learned what was pleasing to God. Such were Noah, Abraham, Job, and Moses. But after men became worse and were unworthy to be illuminated and taught by the Holy Spirit, the merciful God granted the Scriptures, so that even through them they might be reminded of the will of God. Thus also did Christ speak to the apostles in his own person, and he sent them the grace of the Holy Spirit as their teacher. But since, after these things, heresies were about to spring up and our morals to be corrupted,D