Cyril of Alexandria: Fragments on Matthew · §53

Matthew 5:29–30

“Eye” and “hand” are understood as the friend. If you love someone as a right eye, and count him useful as a right hand, and he harms your soul, cut them off from you and separate far from them. When you do not save each other but rather both perish together, it is better that, once separated, at least one be saved.

Greek

Ἐπιτετηρημένως οὖν ὁ κύριος ἐνταῦθα ἀντίδικον ὀνομάζει τὸν ἀφαιρεῖσθαί τι ἐπιχειροῦντα τῶν διαφερόντων ἡμῖν. εὐνοοῦμεν δὲ αὐτῷ, ἐὰν φυλάξωμεν τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ κυρίου εἰπόντος "τῷ θέλοντί σοι κριθῆναι καὶ τὸν χιτῶνά σου λαβεῖν, ἄφες αὐτῷ καὶ τὸ ἱμάτιον" καὶ ἐπὶ παντὸς πράγματος τοιούτου ὁμοίως.

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.