Origen, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, Part II, Complete

Translated by John Patrick.

Origen Resources OnLine & in Print

This Part: 115 Pages

Page 97

But they did not perceive in what way He answered blamelessly and wisely, in the first place, rejecting the opinion that a wife was to be put away for every cause, and, in the second place, giving answer to the question about the bill of divorcement; for He saw that not every cause is a reasonable ground for the dissolution of marriage, and that the husband must dwell with the wife as the weaker vessel, giving honour, [6162] and bearing her burdens in sins; [6163] and by what is written in Genesis, He puts to shame the Pharisees who boasted in the Scriptures of Moses, by saying, "Have ye not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female," etc., and, subjoining to these words, because of the saying, "And the twain shall become one flesh," teaching in harmony with one flesh, namely, "So that they are no more twain, but one flesh." [6164] And, as tending to convince them that they should not put away their wife for every cause, is it said, "What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." [6165] It is to be observed, however, in the exposition of the words quoted from Genesis in the Gospel, that they were not spoken consecutively as they are written in the Gospel; and I think that it is not even said about the same persons, namely, of those who were formed after the image of God, and of those who were formed from the dust of the ground and from one of the ribs of Adam. For where it is said, "Male and female made He them," [6166] the reference is to those formed "after the image," but where He also said, "For this cause shall a man leave his own father and mother," [6167] etc., the reference is not to those formed after the image; for some time after the Lord God formed the man, taking dust from the ground, and from his side the helpmate.

[6162] 1 Pet. iii. 7.

[6163] Gal. vi. 2.

[6164] Matt. xix. 4-6.

[6165] Matt. xix. 6.

[6166] Gen. i. 27.

[6167] Gen. ii. 24.

Previous Page / First / Next Page of Origen - COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Origen Home Page ||| More Church Fathers

Elpenor's Free Greek Lessons

Reference address : https://www.ellopos.net/Elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/origen/matthew-commentary-2.asp?pg=97