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Explanation for:
Matthew
19
:
27
Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have?
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Clement of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a47f4d84651d9fafd55_Clement%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":2,"exegesis-text":"The blessed Peter, who was chosen and predestined, and the sole disciple for whom the Lord provided the tax (Matt. 17:27), after fulfilling this obligation for himself, quickly turns to the Lord and hears His message. What does he express? ‘...behold we have left all things and followed Thee’ (Matt. 19:27). If Peter is speaking of material possessions by ‘all things,’ he might only claim to have abandoned property worth four obols. With such a small offering, he could only gain entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven through a lack of understanding. However, if by ‘all’ he refers to the detachment from the burdens of the past and the renewal of the spirit, then this is truly attributed to those whose names are inscribed in heaven. To follow the Saviour signifies the pursuit of His purity and perfection, to bring order to one's inner being through His example, and to shape everything within so that it reflects the Original Image."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Look, He says, we abandon all things and follow You. This abandonment was essential for following; the act of leaving behind made the journey more accessible. By letting go of everything, they found themselves filled with hope and joy. How does Christ respond? Truly, I tell you, those who follow me, when the Son of Man takes His place upon His glorious throne, you shall also sit upon thrones, judging the tribes of Israel. But what about Judas? Will he have a throne? No. How then does Christ proclaim, \\"You shall sit upon two thrones\\"? In what manner is this promise to be realized? Notice carefully how this comes about. God established the law, as declared by Jeremiah the prophet to the Jews, stating, I will speak against this nation and its kingdom, aiming to uproot and destroy it. Yet if that nation turns from its wickedness, I will reconsider the harm I intended to do. Eventually, I will speak to this nation and its kingdom to build and plant it. If they commit evil in My sight and do not heed My voice, I will also reconsider the blessings I intended for them (Jeremiah 18:7, 10). He says, I work with the righteous according to the same law. Although I pledge to create them anew, should they prove unworthy, I will not bring it about. This was the fate of the first man. Fear and terror, the Lord declared, should come upon every beast of the earth (Gen. 9:2); yet this did not come to pass because man proved unworthy of such authority. The same applied to Judah. But to ensure that none fall into despair at the threat of punishment or become careless due to the expectation of rewards, he addresses both issues in the manner described: If I threaten you with punishment, do not lose hope; repentance can alter My decree, just as it did for the Ninevites. If I offer you good, do not become complacent; unworthiness will nullify My promise and intensify your punishment. I promise reward only to the deserving. That is why, when addressing His disciples, He placed conditions on His promises; He didn’t merely say, \\"You,\\" but added, \\"Those who follow Me,\\" so that it might be clear that Judas, who later proved unworthy, was excluded. Thus, the Lord assured His disciples of a reward in the eternal life to come, saying, You shall sit upon thrones, for they were already of the utmost virtue, seeking spiritual rather than earthly desires. To others, He promises present rewards, stating that anyone who forsakes brother, sister, father, mother, wife, children, or property for My name's sake will receive a hundredfold in this life and will inherit eternal life. To prevent the impression that only the disciples would receive the foremost honors in the life to come, He broadens His promise to encompass the entire world, certifying present blessings and promising future ones. Initially, the Lord, while the disciples were still incomplete, began speaking of immediate rewards. When He called them from the sea, diverting them from their trade and commanding them to leave their boat, He did not mention heaven or thrones but rather present matters, stating, I will make you fishers of men (Matt. 4:19). But once He elevated them to the highest level of perfection, He then spoke of heavenly treasures. What is meant by the phrase: judging the tribes of Israel? The apostles will indeed judge; they are not to act as judges in the usual sense. This mirrors how the Lord spoke of the Queen of the South judging that generation and the Ninevites judging them, in a similar fashion as He relates to the apostles. Therefore, He did not say, \\"Judging with the whole world,\\" but rather, \\"The tribes of Israel.\\" The Jews were raised under the same laws, shared common customs, and followed the same way of life as the apostles. Thus, when they defend themselves by saying they could not believe in Christ because the law forbade them from accepting His commands, the Lord will point to the apostles, who shared the same laws yet believed, condemning them, as He has previously said, For this reason, they shall be your judges (Matthew 12:27). You might wonder what is significant about His promises if the apostles are granted the same as the Ninevites and the Queen of the South. He had previously promised them many additional rewards, and He continues to do so. This is not solely their reward. Nonetheless, within this promise is something greater than that given concerning the Ninevites and the Queen of the South. About the latter, the Lord noted simply: the men of Nineveh will rise up and condemn this generation, and the Queen of the South will condemn (Matthew 12:41, 42). However, He speaks of the apostles with greater specificity. How does He put it? When the Son of Man takes His place on His glorious throne, then you also will sit on thrones alongside Him—indicating that they, too, will share in that reign and glory. The apostle states, if we endure, we will also reign with Him (2 Tim. 2:12). Thrones do not signify mere seats (for He alone occupies that place of judgment), but rather denote indescribable glory and honor. Therefore, the Lord bestowed this honor upon the apostles and promised eternal life and a hundredfold reward to all others. If all are to receive recompense in both realms, then all the more so the apostles. And thus, it unfolded. Having left their trade and nets, they gained dominion over all of humanity’s possessions, their homes, lands, and even the very lives of believers; many were even willing to die for them, as Paul attests, saying, if it were possible, your very hairs would be given to me (Galatians 4:15). Moreover, by saying, everyone who abandons their wife, the Lord doesn’t imply marriages should be ended without cause; as He stated concerning the soul, whoever loses their life for My sake will find it (Matthew 10:39), He did not mean for us to destroy ourselves, separating soul from body immediately, but rather to prioritize godliness above all else. Here He similarly calls us to leave behind all earthly ties. This also seems to reflect the notion of persecution. At that time, many were drawn into evil, including fathers against their children and wives against their husbands. Therefore, when such demands are made of you, the Lord says, leave both wife and father, aligning with Paul’s words, if an unbeliever departs, let them depart (1 Corinthians 7:15)."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Remarkable faith: Peter, a fisherman by trade and not a wealthy individual, made his living through labor and skill. Yet, he confidently asserts: They left everything behind. However, mere abandonment of all is insufficient; he also emphasizes the completeness of their commitment: And they followed You. ‘We have fulfilled Your commands; thus, what shall be our reward?’"},{"author-name":"Maximus the Confessor","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8951a1dea23713695271e_Maximus%20the%20Confessor.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":7,"exegesis-text":"The brother asked, “Father, who can possibly keep all the commandments given their multitude?” The elder responded, “It is he who emulates the Lord and follows Him closely.” The brother inquired, “And who is capable of imitating the Lord? The Lord was divine even as He took on human form, yet I am a sinful being, bound by countless desires. How am I to imitate the Lord?” The elder replied, “Among those who are captivated by worldly distractions, none can truly imitate the Lord. However, those who can declare, ‘We have forsaken all things and follow Thee and come to Thee’ (Matthew 19:27) are granted the ability to emulate the Lord and adhere to all His commandments.” The brother asked, “What ability is that?” The elder answered, “Listen to Him who proclaims: ‘I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you’ (Luke 10:19).”"},{"author-name":"Symeon the New Theologian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c897eec143c131d21207b3_Symeon%20the%20New%20Theologian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":10,"exegesis-text":"The assertion that the unseen became seen indicates that the invisible Son and the Word of God was revealed through the physical body to everyone who beheld Him with their eyes, both believers and non-believers. However, the radiance of His divine nature was disclosed solely to those who demonstrated faith in their actions, responding to Him, \\"Behold, we have left everything and followed You\\" (Matthew 19:27). This encompassing term \\"everything\\" includes their possessions, wealth, desires, and a disdain for this temporary existence, spurred by their experience of the sweetness found in the personal and eternal life. Yet, what is truly more delightful and desirable is God Himself."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Even though Peter appeared to possess little due to his poverty, it is important to recognize the significant sacrifices he made. As human beings, we often cling tightly to even the smallest of possessions. Peter chose to forsake all worldly comforts and even subdued the instinctive affection he had for his parents. These desires do not only challenge those who are wealthy; they also confront the poor. What then is the nature of the Lord?"},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"What is the meaning of all this, Blessed Peter? A boat, a net, a fishing rod? Yes, he replied, all that I possessed and all that I had; my conscience remains clear. When the Savior told the young man, “If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell thy possessions, and give to the poor: and thou shalt have treasure in heaven,” Peter felt anxious for himself and the other disciples, considering them less deserving because they had not sold their belongings or shared with the needy. Thus, he states, “Behold, we have not sold our possessions, nor given to the poor, but have simply left all that we had and followed you; what shall be our reward?”"},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"Peter articulated this not at the moment when the Lord spoke the preceding words, but after He had instructed the young man on the path to perfection, saying: “If thou wilt be perfect, sell thy possessions, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come in my steps” (Matthew 19:21). This passage, along with the subsequent ones, has been included at this juncture and associated with the aforementioned words of Jesus Christ for this celebration because they exemplify the virtue of the saints and their divine reward. What was Peter's inquiry? “Behold, he said, we have forsaken all things, and in thy footsteps we go: What shall be our recompense?” However, consider Peter's situation as a humble fisherman—what did he truly possess or leave behind? A rock, a net, a paddle, perhaps a small vessel. Did Peter genuinely refer to these trivial items when mentioning “all” that he had abandoned by stating, “behold we have forsaken all things”? Just as the wealthy esteem their valuable possessions, for the impoverished, much and significant items hold little value. Nevertheless, God, who observes the human heart rather than the quantity of belongings, rewards both rich and poor equally. When Peter mentioned “all things,” he also referred to deeper matters concerning human virtue. “Behold we have forsaken all things”: we have relinquished the pressures of adversaries, the trials of life, the allure of physical desires, and the emptiness of worldly pursuits. Thus, enlightened by God, Peter spoke to help us understand through his inquiry and the Lord's response, that every believer in Christ, regardless of wealth or status, whether noble or humble, lord or servant, of any rank, age, or condition, may, if he chooses, declare to Christ: “I have forsaken all things: I have given up my possessions, whether numerous or meager; I have renounced envy, hatred, vengeance; I have turned away from injustice, greed, and desire; I have forsaken gluttony, drunkenness, and the fleshly ways—I have abandoned every sin.” What does the Divine Teacher assure those who surrender all to follow Him?"},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The apostle Peter, often referred to as ‘the voice of the apostles,’ conveyed these reflections to the Lord for all to hear: Then Peter responded, saying to Him, ‘Look, we have given up everything, having abandoned all that we possessed to follow You.’ St. Chrysostom then inquires, ‘What does it signify, Blessed Peter, that they left everything? The fish, the nets, the boat, the trade? Is this what you mean by everything?’ And he affirms this interpretation. However, my intent is not driven by ambition; rather, I aim to guide the less fortunate towards the Lord with this inquiry. Since the Lord has instructed the selling of possessions, lest someone in poverty might lament, ‘What if I have nothing to sell, then I cannot attain perfection?’ I pose this question so that you, dear impoverished soul, may understand that your lack does not impede your journey in any way. The apostle raised this inquiry on behalf of all humanity. He understood his own destiny well: having received the keys to the kingdom of heaven, he was assured of inheriting its blessings. Observe how aptly he addresses Christ's requirements. The Lord asked the wealthy individual to donate his possessions to the needy and to follow Him. Thus, the apostle emphasizes these same two actions: to relinquish one's wealth and to pursue Jesus. Blessed Theophylact notes, ‘And Peter forsook many things.’ Human nature typically clings tightly to even the slightest advantage, yet Peter not only relinquished worldly delights and desires but also renounced the love for his parents, gave up relatives, friends, and even his own will. Indeed, nothing is more cherished by a person than their own will."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Peter responded, prompted by the request made to the young man and the latter's choice to prioritize his wealth over following the Lord. Peter pointed out, \\"Look, we have left everything behind to follow You. What will our reward be?\\" They had indeed forsaken their modest possessions—nets, boats, and simple homes—demonstrating great sacrifice, similar to what a wealthy individual would display in relinquishing his riches. When Peter asked, \\"What will we receive?\\" he was seeking clarification on the rewards awaiting him and the other apostles. Although Peter had already gained the keys to the kingdom of heaven on earth, he still inquired further about their future rewards. This was necessary, as the Lord had mentioned, \\"If you want to be perfect...\\" (Matthew 19:21). Peter sought to assure the less fortunate that their lack of material possessions did not impede their spiritual perfection. Thus, he broached this question with Jesus, representing a concern that transcended his personal circumstance. Consequently, the Lord's response (Matthew 19:28-30) applies not only to the apostles but extends to all who follow Him."}]}
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