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Fragments on Matthew · §218

Matthew 22:2–5

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Those called through the first household servants refused to come: thrusting aside the law through Moses, they turned to human teachings. Likewise those called second after them through second messengers — that is, the holy apostles — left what was beneficial and withdrew as far as possible to what seemed good to themselves. Some went to their own field, which signifies possession of earthly things and zeal about them; others to commerce, which again shows us love of money and the spasm around it. For love of flesh and worldly love of pleasure, empty distractions, and care for making money deprive us of eternal enjoyment and intimacy with God (Matthew 22:2–5).

Greek

Ἀπειρήκασι τὴν ἄφιξιν οἱ διὰ τῶν πρώτων οἰκετῶν κεκλημένοι, οἳ τὸν διὰ Μωσέως παρωσάμενοι νόμον ἐτράποντο πρὸς διδασκαλίας ἀνθρώπων. ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ οἱ μετ' ἐκείνους δεύτεροι κεκλημένοι διὰ δευτέρων τοῦτ' ἔστιν τῶν ἁγίων ἀποστόλων τὸ συμφέρον παρέντες ὡς πορρωτάτω μετακεχωρήκασιν ἐπὶ τὸ σφίσι δοκοῦν· οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἐπὶ τὸν ἴδιον ἀγρόν, δι' οὗ σημαίνεται τῶν ἐπιγείων ἡ κτῆσις καὶ ἡ περὶ ταῦτα σπουδή· πρὸς ἐμπορίαν δὲ ἕτεροι, δι' οὗ πάλιν ἡμῖν τὸ φιλόπλουτον δηλοῦται πάθος καὶ ὁ περὶ τοῦτο σπασμός· φιλοσαρκίαι γὰρ ἡμᾶς καὶ φιληδονίαι κοσμικαὶ καὶ εἰκαῖοι περισπασμοὶ καὶ ἡ τοῦ χρηματίζεσθαι φροντὶς ἀποστερεῖ ἡμᾶς τῆς εἰς αἰῶνα τρυφῆς καὶ τῆς πρὸς θεὸν οἰκειό τητος.

About this text

Catena fragments on Matthew (CPG 5206). Contents follow Matthew chapter and verse. Edition fragment numbers stay in About this text and under each passage.

English follows the named copy-text (Aegean/khazarzar Migne PG 72 extract). Other prints were checked as noted; no silent merge of recensions.

Witnesses

This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.