Commentary on Matthew

Chapter Two

48 CHAPTER TWO nce Herod was dead, Joseph was later instructed by the angel to return to Judea with the boy and his mother.1 And as he was returning, he learned that the son of Herod, Archelaus, was ruling, so he feared to enter there and is warned by the angel to cross over into Galilee and to live in Nazareth, a town of that region.2 So [we learn that] Joseph is instructed to return to Judea, and having returned, he is afraid; then being admonished in a dream, he is told to cross over into the land of pagans. But it is strange that he should be afraid once he was encouraged to go, or that the initial instructions conveyed by an angel should be changed so readily. In this case, however, a figurative principle3 has been observed here. Joseph provides an image4 of the apostles to whom Christ5 was entrusted for dissemination far and wide. These men were commanded to preach to the Jews, because even as Herod was being overtaken by death, his people were becoming lost as to the meaning of the Lord’s Passion. The apostles had been sent to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,”6 but because the domination of a hereditary infidelity persisted, they were afraid and drew back. Joseph was warned in a dream, by which we understand how the gift of the Holy Spirit was directed to the pagans.7 The apostles now have announced life and salvation for the pagans, introducing them to Christ, who was sent to the Jews. 1. Mt 2.19. 2. Mt 2.22–23. 3. typica ratio. See the Introduction on Hilary’s use of allegorical and figurative interpretation. 4. species. 5. That is, the Gospel of Christ. 6. Mt 15.24. 7. Cf. Tertullian, De anima 47.2, who refers to Acts 2 and the Joel 2 prophecy when discussing the way the Holy Spirit is revealed by dreams. ON MATTHEW, CHAP. 2 49 2. In those days John8 came preaching in the desert of Judea, saying, “Repent,9 for the Kingdom of heaven has arrived,”10 etc. With John, the location, the preaching, the clothing, and the food must be carefully considered in such a way that we should become mindful of the truth of the facts without distortion, since the principle of an interior understanding11 underlies the realization of these facts. Surely there was a more suitable location for his preaching, and there was more practical clothing and more appropriate food. A pattern,12 however, underlies these events as they occurred, and in this (pattern) there is a deliberate operation at work,13 which is itself a preparation.14 So it was that John came to a deserted Judea; deserted by the visitations of God, though not of the people; emptied of the Holy Spirit’s dwelling,15 though not of men so that the location of his preaching should bear witness to the barrenness of those to whom it was directed. John also called for repentance in light of the approaching Kingdom of heaven, by which one is turned from error, restored from guilt,16 and, due to the shamefulness of sins, decides to give them up.17 In her deserted condition, Judea should have recalled that she could have received him in whom is the Kingdom of heaven. She might not be empty now, if she had purified herself from her ancient sins through the confession of repentance.18 Moreover, a garment woven of camel hair indicates the strange19 clothing of John’s prophetic preaching. With the garments of unclean animals20 —to which we bear a resemblance21 — the preacher of Christ is clothed. Whatever emptiness or filth there once was in us, has become sanctified by the prophetical22 8. Some MSS add baptista (“baptizer”) in accord with Mt 3.1–2. 9. I am following the typical English usage, which is based on the Greek, but the Latin literally means, “Do penance” (paenitentiam agite). 10. Mt 3.1–2. 11. interioris intelligentiae ratio. 12. exemplum. 13. operatio. 14. meditatio, i.e., for a deeper understanding than just the facts of the narration . 15. Cf. Mt 3.9–11; Lk 3.7–9, 21–22; Jn 8.39–47. 16. crimine. 17. professio desinendi. 18. Mt 3.6. 19. peregrinum. 20. Cf. Lv 11.4; Acts 10.12–15. 21. Cf. Tertullian, De anima 32.8; Novatian, De cib. Iud. 3. 22. prophetali; a neologism of...