Catena Fidei

Search

Search arguments, verses, authorities and passages

Interior of St. Peter's, Rome, Giovanni Paolo Panini

Catena Aurea on Matthew 4:1–2: Pseudo-Chrysostom

Giovanni Paolo Panini, Interior of St. Peter's, Rome, c. 1754 · Public domainGiovanni Paolo Panini, Interior of St. Peter's, Rome, c. 1754

CommentPseudo-ChrysostomPublic domainMatthew 4:1–2

Not Christ only is led into the desert by the Spirit, but also all the sons of God who have the Holy Spirit. For they are not content to sit idle, but the Holy Spirit stirs them to take up some great work, i.e. to go out into the desert where they shall meet with the Devil; for there is no righteousness wherewith the Devil is pleased.

For all good is without the flesh and the world, because it is not according to the will of the flesh and the world. To such a desert then all the sons of God go out that they may be tempted.

For example, if you are unmarried, the Holy Spirit has by that led you into the desert, that is, beyond the limits of the flesh and the world, that you may be tempted by lust. But he who is married is unmoved by such temptation. Let us learn that the sons of God are not tempted but when they have gone forth into the desert, but the children of the Devil whose life is in the flesh and the world are then overcome and obey; the good man, having a wife is content; the bad, though he have a wife is not therewith content, and so in all other things.

The children of the Devil go not out to the Devil that they may be tempted. For what need that he should seek the strife who desires not victory? But the sons of God having more confidence and desirous of victory, go forth against him beyond the boundaries of the flesh. For this cause then Christ also went out to the Devil, that He might be tempted of him.

Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).

Read the full text

Connections

Part of · 1

Comments on · 2

Around this entry

Open the whole map
  • Passages
  • Documents
  • Old Testament verses
  • New Testament verses
  • Authorities
  • Favorites
  • prefigures → fulfilled
  • taught → disciple · succeeded →

Hover to trace, click to select, double-click to open.