The Prefigurors

Notandum autem quod ipsi progenitores Christi, qui in genealogia eius adnumerati sunt, non sine grandi mysterio ab evangelista assumuntur, maxime cum Apostolus dicat: Omnia in figura contingebant illis, sed sicut humanam nativitatem Christi praecesserant tempore, ita quoque testimonium illi dabant ex praefiguratione. Nam nullus eorum est, qui non aut nomine, aut actu incarnationem Christi significet, et ipsum esse demonstret, qui in patriarchis praefiguratus, et in prophetis promissus, atque in apostolis praedicatus est. Igitur Abraham, qui interpretatur pater multorum, vel pater videns populum, quem significat hoc nomine, nisi illum de quo ipsi ita promissum est: In semine, inquit, tuo benedicentur omnes cognationes terrae? Et Isaias ait: Si posuerit pro peccato animam suam, videbit semen longaevum, et voluntas Domini in manu eius dirigetur; et item cum inquit: Domine Pater noster, et Redemptor noster, a saeculo nomen tuum. Abraham nescivit nos, et Israel ignoravit nos. Quomodo autem Abraham actu significaverit Salvatorem, testatur illud quod Domini praecepto exivit de terra sua et de cognatione sua, ut apud exteros locupletaretur, et esset in gentem magnam, quod nunc cernimus veraciter impletum, cum Christus, relicta terra et cognatione Iudaeorum, praepollet, ut videmus, in populis gentium. Et illud quod Abraham cum trecentis decem et octo vernaculis suis quatuor reges debellavit, ac Lot liberavit, quid aliud significat, quam quod nos Christus per crucem, quam exprimit tau littera, trecentenarium numerum continens, a dominatu carnalis sensus, qui nos antea variis vitiis captivatos exsuperaverat, liberavit? Isaac quoque, qui interpretatur risus, vel gaudium, significat illum de quo dixit ad pastores angelus: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo. Et ipsa Veritas suis discipulis ait: Iterum videbo vos, et gaudebit cor vestrum, et gaudium vestrum nemo tollet a vobis. Et item: Petite, inquit, et accipietis, ut gaudium vestrum sit plenum. Rabanus Maurus, Commentariorum In Matthaeum, Liber I Source: Migne PL 107.738b-d

It should be noted that these progenitors of Christ, who are enumerated in His genealogy are not taken by up the Evangelist without great mystery, especially when the Apostle says: 'Everything was contained in a figure for them,' 1 but as they preceded the human nativity of Christ in time, so they gave witness to Him by prefiguration. For there is nothing of them, either in name or act, which did not signify the Incarnation, and did not give demonstration of Him to be, He who was prefigured in the Patriarchs, and promised by the Prophets, and preached by the Apostles. Therefore Abraham, which is interpreted Father of many, or Father seeing the people, what does he signify by this name but Him concerning whom it was promised: 'In your seed all the peoples of the earth shall be blessed.' 2 And Isaiah says: 'If he shall give His life for sin, he shall see his seed long lived, and the will of the Lord in his hand shall prosper.' 3 And again when it is said: 'O Lord, our Father and Redeemer, from of old is your name. Abraham did not know us, and Israel was ignorant of us.' 4 For how Abraham signified the Saviour by his deeds, witness is given that by the command of the Lord he went out from his own land and from his own people 5 that he be enriched in exterior things and come to be a great people, which now we certainly see fulfilled, when Christ, forsaking the land and people of the Jews, abounds in power among the Gentile peoples. And that Abraham with three hundred and eighteen of his servants overthrew four kings and liberated Lot, 6 what does that signify, but that Christ liberated us by the cross, which the tau letter expresses, which numbers three hundred in Greek, from the domination of the carnal senses, which before by various vices ruled over us in captivity? Also Isaac, which means laughter or joy, signifies Him concerning whom the angel said to the shepherds: 'I announce to you a great joy, which shall come to all people.' 7 And the same Truth says to His disciples: 'Again I will see you, and your hearts shall rejoice, and your joy no man shall take from you.' 8 And again: 'Seek, and you will receive, and your joy will be fulfilled.' 9 Rabanus Maurus, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Matthew, Book 1 1 1 Cor 10.11 2 Genes 22.18 3 Isaiah 53.10 4 Isaiah 63.16 5 Gen 12.1-2 6 Gen 14.14-17 7 Lk 2.10 8 Jn 16.22 9 Jn 16.24