Quaestiones in evangelia

Question 1: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. For his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph.” Why did it not say, “the virgin was betrothed,” but “his mother”? Answer: So that the account might be readily accepted, and so that the hearer, expecting to hear something customary, might be struck by the introduction of the paradoxical event, saying, “Before they came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” Question 2: “And an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying:” Why does the angel not appear openly to Joseph, as to the shepherds and to Zechariah? Answer: Because the man was exceedingly faithful and had no need of such a vision. Question 3: “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” Why did it say, “Do not be afraid”? Answer: Showing that he was afraid lest he offend God by having an adulteress. Question 4: Why did it say, “your wife”? Answer: Because she was not corrupted. And it calls her wife from the betrothal, just as we are accustomed to call betrothed men sons-in-law and bridegrooms. Question 5: “She will bear a Son.” Why did it not say, “She will bear a son to you”? Answer: Because he was not to be born for him alone, but for the whole world. Question 6: “In the days of Herod the king.” Why did it add the title, saying, “the king”? Answer: Because there was also another Herod, the one who killed the Forerunner. But that one was a tetrarch, while this one was a king. Question 7: “Arise, take the child and his mother.” Why did it not say, “your wife,” but “his mother”? Answer: Because, since the birth had taken place, the suspicion was dissolved and Joseph was assured.

Therefore, the angel speaks with boldness, and no longer calls her his wife. Question 8: “And flee to Egypt.” Why, upon hearing “Flee to Egypt,” was he not troubled? Answer: Because the man was faithful, therefore he obeys and is persuaded. Question 9: Why is he not sent to another country, but to Egypt? Answer: So that the prophecy might be fulfilled which says, “I called my Son from Egypt.” Question 10: “But Jesus, hearing that John had been betrayed, withdrew to Galilee.” Why did he withdraw? Answer: Teaching us to flee temptations. For it is not a fault not to throw oneself into danger, but to fail to stand bravely when one has fallen into it. Question 11: “But Jesus, seeing the crowds, went up onto the mountain.” Why did he go up onto the mountain? Answer: Because of his lack of ambition and boastfulness; for he did not lead them about with himself. But when it was necessary to walk, he alone went about everywhere, visiting cities and countries; but when a great crowd had gathered, he sat in one place. Question 12: “And opening his mouth, he taught them.” Why did it say, “Opening his mouth”? Answer: So that we might learn that he taught even by silence, not only by speaking. Question 13: “Take care, he says, not to do alms before people in order to be seen by them.” Why did he add this concerning alms, but concerning prayer and fasting not at all? Answer: Because it is impossible for almsgiving to be entirely hidden, but prayer and fasting can be. Question 14: “In the beginning was the Word.” Why, leaving aside the Father, does he speak about the Son? Answer:

That one was manifest to all, even if not as Father, yet as God; but the Only-begotten was unknown. And naturally he was eager to teach the knowledge about him from the beginning to those who did not know him. Question 15: “And the Word was with God.” Why did he not say “in God”? Answer: First, indicating to us his eternity in hypostasis; then, proceeding more clearly, he revealed it by adding that this Word was also God. “He was in the world”—not as contemporary with the world. For this reason he added: “And the world was made through him.” Question 16: “And looking up to the heavens, he blessed the loaves.” Why did he look up and thus bless? Answer: First, to show that he is from the Father; second, teaching us not to touch the table before we give thanks to the one who provides us with food. Question 17: Why does he perform the miracle of the loaves in the desert, and feed five thousand? Answer: So that the miracle might be beyond suspicion, and no one might think that a nearby village contributed something to the table. Question 18: “And they took up fragments from the leftovers.” Why were not whole loaves left over, but fragments? Answer: To show that these are pieces of the five loaves, and so that those absent might learn what had happened, and that no one might think this was an illusion. Question 19: “Twelve baskets.” Why did they fill twelve baskets? Answer: So that even Judas might carry one. For he could have satisfied the hunger of the crowds, but the disciples would not have known the power. Question 20: Why does not Pilate see, but his wife? Answer:

First, because that woman was worthy, or rather because, if he himself had seen, he would not have been believed in the same way; nor would he have spoken of it. For this reason he arranges for the woman to see, so that it might become evident to all. Question 21. "And they crucify two thieves with him, one on the right and one on the left." Why did they crucify him in the middle of the thieves, and why did he cry out and give up the spirit? Answer. So that he might share in their glory, or so that the saying might be fulfilled, that "he was counted among the lawless"; and so that it might be shown that the deed happens by his own authority, just as he said, "I have authority to lay down my soul, and I have authority to take it back." Question 22. "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." How is it that Matthew says that Christ said to Peter, "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times," but Mark says that when he denied once, then the cock crowed for the first time, and when he denied the third time, then it crowed for the second time? How then will both be found true? Answer. Since a cock is accustomed to crow a third and a fourth time in each round, Mark, indicating that not even the sound restrained him or brought him to remembrance, says this. So both are true. For before the cock completed one round, he had denied three times. He was so fearful and utterly dead with terror that he not only denied, but did not even recollect himself from within, and this even after the cock crowed, until the glance of the teacher became for him a substitute for the voice. And Luke, indicating this, says that Christ looked at him. Question 23. "And going outside, he wept bitterly." Why did he go outside and weep? Answer.

Since he did not dare openly before all, lest he be accused through the tears and be known to be his disciple. Question 24: "While they were eating, Christ said to them, 'One of you will betray me.'" Why, while they were eating, does he speak to them about the betrayal? Answer: In order that from both the occasion and the table he might show the wickedness of the betrayer. For he himself was also present there. Question 25: "One of you will betray me." Why did he not say, "So-and-so will betray me," but "One of you will betray me," sparing even in this? Answer: Sparing the betrayer even in this, so as again to give him the opportunity of repentance to escape notice. And he chooses to frighten all in order to preserve this one. Question 26: "And the women who had followed from Galilee were also there." Why does he mention the women who had followed him? Answer: In order to show their great constancy, and that they were present even in times of danger. For when the disciples fled, these women persevered. Question 27: "How, he says, being a Jew, do you ask me for water to drink, since I am a Samaritan woman?" How, having recognized him to be a Jew, does she say to him, "How, being a Jew?" Answer: From the

of form, and perhaps also of speech. Question 28: "And she gave birth to her firstborn son." Why did he say "firstborn"? For the All-Holy One had no other son. Answer: Since He who is true God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was incarnated from her, became our brother through the incarnation, for this reason he was called firstborn, as he is preeminent among all. Question 29: "And she laid him in the manger." Why was he laid in the manger? Answer: So that he might free us from irrationality, having changed our beastly life, and provide the understanding befitting humans. Question 30: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers." Who is the man, and what is Jerusalem, and what is Jericho, and who are the robbers? Answer: The man is Adam; Jerusalem is paradise; Jericho is this world; and the robbers are the demons. Question 31: "And by chance a certain priest saw him and passed by; and a Levite likewise. But a Samaritan saw him, took pity, and bound up his wounds." What was the meaning of "by chance"? And who is the priest? And who is the Levite? And who is the Samaritan? Answer: "By chance" signifies that it was by divine economy; the priest is the Law; the Levite is the teachers from the Levitical priesthood; the Samaritan is Christ. Question 32: And why is Christ called a Samaritan? Answer: Because the Jews called him thus, saying, "You are a Samaritan, and you have a demon." Question 33:

It happened, it says, that Lazarus died and was carried by the angels into the bosom of Abraham.” Why does Lazarus die before the rich man? Answer: So that no pretext for an excuse might remain for the rich man, as if he were about to do good to him. Question 34: “And the rich man, looking up with his eyes, sees Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham.” Why does he see Lazarus not elsewhere but in the bosom of Abraham? Answer: Because, just as God, having cast Adam out of paradise, settled him opposite it, so that the constant sight, renewing the suffering, might provide him with a more precise perception of the loss of the good things, so also he settled this man opposite Lazarus, so that he might be more greatly tormented. Question 35: And why does the rich man see Lazarus not in the bosom of another righteous man, but in the bosom of Abraham? Answer: Because Abraham was hospitable. So that this might become a reproach of his inhospitality, for this reason he sees him with that man. For that man entertained even passers-by; but this man overlooked even the one lying within. Question 36: “Father Abraham, have mercy on me.” Why did the rich man not address his speech to Lazarus, but to Abraham? Answer: Because he was ashamed and blushed; for he thought that he bore a grudge on account of what he had done to him.