Cyril of Alexandria: Fragments on Matthew · §57

Matthew 5:42

Be ready, Christ says, not to receive but to give. Receiving separates us from God; giving joins us to him — especially when the one who asks is worthy and the request is just.

Greek

Ὁ ἐμβλέψας γυναῖκα καὶ ἐπιθυμήσας τότε κρίνεται, ὅτε φανῇ αὐτῷ ἡ σὰρξ τῆς γυναικὸς εἰς ἐπιθυμίαν καλὴ καὶ σαρκικῶς αὐτὴν ἴδῃ καὶ ἁμαρτητικῶς· ὁ γὰρ δι' ἀγάπην τῆς ἁγνῆς ὁρῶν τὸ κάλλος, οὐ τὴν σάρκα ἡγεῖται καλήν, ἀλλὰ τὴν ψυχήν.

About this text

Catena fragments on Matthew (CPG 5206). Contents follow Matthew chapter and verse. Edition fragment numbers stay in About this text and under each passage.

English follows the named copy-text (Aegean/khazarzar Migne PG 72 extract). Other prints were checked as noted; no silent merge of recensions.

Witnesses

English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.