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Fragments on Matthew · §43

Matthew 5:19

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That is also why Moses’ law accepts the split hoof: that through riddles it may teach us to journey by both — by word and by deed. I think the split hoof in the law signifies this: that we journey by word and deed, neither acting without reason nor holding a word apart from deed.

If something from such things wants to stand alone, let it be deed and not word. An unbridled word has often pushed those who have it over cliffs; deed never has (Leviticus 11:3).

Greek

∆ιὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Μωϋσέως νόμος τὸ διχηλοῦν δέχεται, ἵνα δι' αἰνιγμάτων ἡμᾶς διδάξῃ δι' ἀμφοτέ ρων ὁδεύειν διά τε λόγου καὶ πρά ξεως. Οἶμαι δὲ καὶ τὸ δίχηλον ἐν τῷ νόμῳ τοῦτο σημαίνειν, τὸ διὰ λόγου καὶ πράξεως ὁδεύειν ἡμᾶς καὶ μήτε πράττειν ἀλόγως μήτε λόγον ἔχειν πράξεως χωρίς. εἰ δέ τι ἐκ τῶν τοιούτων εἶναι βούλεται μεμονωμένον, πρᾶξις ἔστω λοιπὸν καὶ μὴ λόγος· λόγος γὰρ ἀχαλίνω τος κατὰ κρημνῶν ὤθησε πολλάκις τοὺς κεκτημένους, πρᾶξις δὲ οὐδέ ποτε.

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.