Mateus 4
Cyril of Alexandria · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Mateus 4:3
Wanting to draw Christ into the passion of vainglory, Satan did not say to him "eat" but "work a miracle." This he did, not so that Christ would be helped, but, as I said, in order to draw him to a pretentious act. But Christ, knowing this, did not obey him. Later he would not comply with the Pharisees when they wanted to see a sign from him. For they did not approach him with an undoubting heart, as to God, but were tempting him as a man. Let this therefore be an unfailing rule for the saints, not to show off before unbelievers upon any pretext of utility. — FRAGMENT 32
Mateus 4:12
It was not out of fear that he withdrew. By doing the things he did, he taught us to escape from persecutors. He "withdrew" from Judea to the Gentiles. This showed that God removes himself to a remote part of the land of the Jews when they sin against the holy prophets and insult his deity. — FRAGMENT 34
Mateus 4:16
And the "great light" is Christ our Lord and the brightness of the gospel preaching. It is not, in fact, the law, which was likened to a lamp. For this reason a lamp always burned in the tabernacle, on account of the shortness of the law's rays, which had strength to extend their light only within the confines of the Jewish territories. Therefore the Gentiles were "in darkness," not having this lamplight. — FRAGMENT 34.15
Mateus 4:24
And this too needs to be added by way of explanation, that the allotment of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali extended to the Gentile city of Sidon. The Jews dwell there interspersed among the Gentiles to this day. Now "Zebulun" may be interpreted as a sweet smell and blessing, while "Naphtali" is a sprouted stump, that is to say, a spreading plant. And such things have believers in Christ become. Those who formerly were in Galilee, when they went forth like fragrance, became worthy of divine blessing and were extended into every good thing. Now "Galilee" is interpreted under the metaphor of "circular," so those believers from Galilee are like wheels rolling against the pits of destruction. — FRAGMENT 37.5
Mateus 4:24
If anyone asks what is the difference between "disease" and "infirmity," our answer is that an infirmity is a temporary indisposition of the body, whereas disease denotes an abiding disequilibrium of the body's elements. — FRAGMENT 37