Episode 3263: St. John Chrysostom’s Homilies on Matthew

St. John Chrysostom’s Homilies on Matthew
Introduction
Sharon:
Welcome back to Catholic Reboot, everyone. Today we are diving into the preaching of one of the greatest Fathers of the Church: St. John Chrysostom, whose name means “Golden-Mouthed.” His homilies on the Gospel of Matthew are not only rich in theology but deeply pastoral, aimed at urging Christians of every age to live the Gospel without compromise. But lets start in prayer.
Opening Prayer
Sharon (Host):
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
“O Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal Word of the Father, who inspired St. John Chrysostom with such eloquence to proclaim Your truth, grant us ears to hear and hearts to obey. May his words on the Gospel of Matthew guide us to deeper holiness, humility, and zeal for Your Kingdom. Amen.”

Walt (Co-Host):
Chrysostom wasn’t satisfied with just explaining Scripture he wanted transformation. He wanted the people of Constantinople to live differently after hearing God’s Word. And even now, centuries later, his words still pierce our hearts. Today we’re going to journey through some of the highlights of his preaching on Matthew: the genealogy of Christ, the Sermon on the Mount, his condemnation of hypocrisy, the call to walk the narrow way, and finally, how his teaching speaks directly to us today.
Segment 1: Chrysostom on the Genealogy of Christ
Sharon:
When most people read Matthew’s Gospel, the genealogy is often skimmed over. But Chrysostom insists this list of names is incredibly important. It shows us that Christ didn’t simply appear out of nowhere. He entered into real human history, with ancestors who were both holy and sinful.
Walt:
Yes and Chrysostom points out something profound. That genealogy includes outsiders and sinners: Rahab the prostitute, Ruth the Moabite, and even King David, whose sins we all know. By highlighting them, Matthew is showing us that God works through brokenness. Christ’s very lineage is a testimony to mercy. For Chrysostom, that’s encouragement: no matter our past, Christ is not ashamed to call us His own. He redeems our history.
Sharon:
It also reveals God’s plan of salvation stretching across generations. By including Gentiles in the family line, it foreshadows the universality of the Gospel. Chrysostom loved pointing out that God’s mercy knows no boundaries.
Segment 2: The Sermon on the Mount:
The Heart of Christian Life
Walt:
Now, when Chrysostom turns to the Sermon on the Mount, he really comes alive. For him, this is the very heart of Christian life. The Beatitudes, he says, completely overturn worldly thinking. Poverty of spirit is richer than any wealth. Mourning our sins leads to joy. Meekness is not weakness it’s divine strength.
Sharon:
He’s very clear that Christ is not abolishing the law of Moses but perfecting it. “You have heard it said … but I say to you” those words in Matthew echo again and again. Chrysostom stresses that Christianity is about the transformation of the heart. It’s not enough to avoid murder; anger must be rooted out. It’s not enough to avoid adultery; lustful thoughts must be resisted.
Walt:
Exactly. And the most radical demand? Love your enemies. Chrysostom tells his listeners: if we only love those who love us, we are no different from pagans. The Sermon on the Mount, he says, is nothing less than the blueprint for holiness.
Segment 3: Hypocrisy and True Piety
Sharon:
One of Chrysostom’s strongest warnings is against hypocrisy. In Matthew 6, when Christ says not to practice righteousness just to be seen, Chrysostom takes it very seriously. He warns against giving alms, fasting, or praying just to gain human approval.
Walt:
And here’s where he gets very practical. He says: don’t spend all your energy adorning the church building while ignoring Christ in the poor. “Do you wish to honor Christ’s body?” he asks. “Then do not neglect Him when you see Him naked.” He’s not dismissing liturgy he loved liturgy! but he insists that worship must be matched with mercy.
Sharon:
That strikes hard even today. It’s so easy to appear devout while our hearts are cold. Chrysostom says God isn’t impressed by appearances He looks for sincerity. True piety is found when prayer, fasting, and almsgiving spring from love, not vanity.
Segment 4: The Narrow Way and the Call to Holiness
Walt:
Another central theme for Chrysostom is the narrow way. Christ tells us in Matthew 7 that the way to life is hard and few find it. Chrysostom doesn’t sugarcoat it. He tells his congregation: don’t expect the Christian life to be easy. If it’s comfortable, you’re probably not living it right.
Sharon:
But he also balances that realism with hope. The narrow way is hard precisely because it is glorious. It leads to eternal life. And Christ Himself walks ahead of us on this path. Chrysostom constantly pointed to the saints and martyrs as proof that this way can be lived, even embraced with joy.
Walt:
He calls suffering for Christ a privilege, not a curse. In his view, the narrow way isn’t punishment—it’s discipleship. And for those willing to walk it, heaven is the reward.
Segment 5: Relevance for Us Today
Sharon:
So what does all this mean for us? Chrysostom was preaching in the fourth century, but his words might as well be addressed to us in the twenty-first. The temptations he saw hypocrisy, comfort-seeking, neglect of the poor are still ours today.
Walt:
Yes, and his response is still the same: radical fidelity to the Gospel. We’re called to live the Beatitudes, to pray sincerely, to love our enemies, to walk the narrow way. And Chrysostom reminds us that this is possible not only for monks or clergy, but for ordinary Christians merchants, parents, workers, parishioners. Holiness is not an option; it’s our vocation.
Sharon:
That’s what makes Chrysostom’s preaching so powerful. He wasn’t speaking abstractly—he was addressing ordinary people in bustling Constantinople, and today he addresses us in our busy, distracted, modern lives.
Conclusion and Closing Prayer
Walt:
St. John Chrysostom’s homilies on Matthew challenge us. They cut through our excuses and call us to holiness. His words remain alive because they echo Christ’s words.
Sharon:
Let’s close with prayer.
“O God, who gave St. John Chrysostom eloquence to proclaim Your Gospel and courage to live it fully, grant us the grace to walk the narrow way with humility and perseverance. May his words echo in our hearts and lead us to everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Both:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.