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Translated by John Patrick.
Origen Resources OnLine & in Print
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This Part: 115 Pages
Page 62
For these reasons you will, then, attend to the word, "Do not despise one of these little ones," [5981] and consider whether it is their angels who bring them in their bosom, since they have become sons, and also take on their shoulders what are called daughters, and whether from them are the nursing-fathers who are called kings, and the nursing-mothers who are called princesses. And since the little ones, pointed out by our Saviour, are under the stewardship as of nursing-fathers and nursing-mothers, on this account I think that Moses, who believed that he had been already assigned a place among the ranks of the great, said, with regard to the promise, "My angel shall go before you," [5982] "If thou thyself do not go along with me, carry me not up hence." [5983] For though the little one even be an heir, yet as being a child he differs nothing from a servant when he is a child, [5984] and to the extent to which he is little "has the spirit of bondage to fear;" [5985] but he who is not at all any longer such has no longer the spirit of bondage, but already the spirit of adoption, when "perfect love casteth out fear;" [5986] it will be plain to thee, how that according to these things "the angel of the Lord" is said "to encamp round about them that fear Him, and to save them." [5987] But you will consider, according to these things also, whether these are indeed angels of the little ones "who are led by the spirit of bondage to fear," "when the angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear Him and delivereth them;" but of the great, whether it is the Lord who is greater than the angels, who might say about each of them, "I am with him in affliction;" [5988] and, so long as we are imperfect, and need one to assist us that we may be delivered from evils, we stand in need of an angel of whom Jacob said, "The angel who delivered me from all the evils;" [5989] but, when we have become perfected, and have passed through the stage of being subject to nursing-fathers and nursing-mothers and guardians and stewards, [5990] we are meet to be governed by the Lord Himself.
[5981] Matt. xviii. 10.
[5982] Exod. xxxii. 34.
[5983] Exod. xxxiii. 15.
[5984] Gal. iv. 1.
[5985] Rom. viii. 15.
[5986] 1 John iv. 18.
[5987] Ps. xxxiv. 7.
[5988] Ps. xci. 15.
[5989] Gen. xlviii. 16.
[5990] Gal. iv. 4.
Reference address : https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/origen/matthew-commentary-2.asp?pg=62
