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NAVARRE BIBLE COMMENTARY (RSV)

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)

From: 1 Maccabees 2:15-29

Mattathias Takes Action at Modein
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[15] Then the king’s officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to make them offer sacrifice. [16] Many from Israel came to them; and Mattathias and his sons were assembled. [17] Then the king’s officers spoke to Mattathias as follows: “You are a leader, honored and great in this city, and supported by sons and brothers. [18] Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.”

[19] But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: “Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to do his commandments, departing each one from the religion of his fathers, [20] yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our fathers. [21] Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances. [22] We will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left.”

[23] When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in Modein, according to the king’s command. [24] When Mattathias saw it, be burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him upon the altar. [25] At the same time he killed the king’s officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. [26] Thus he burned with zeal for the law, as Phinehas did against Zimri the son of Salu.

[27] Then Mattathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: “Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!” [28] And he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the city.

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Commentary:

2:15-28. Mattathias certainly behaves savagely but he has a special reason for acting in this way: it helps to legitimate his leadership and that of his descendants in the liberation of Israel. Due to his priestly background Mattathias was a man of some status; what he did could influence others. Here, in a sense, he represents the people. Not only does he not succumb to the temptation to gain social and financial advantage by being untrue to his conscience and his religion (cf. vv. 17-22); he shows signs of being a savior of his people. His action is comparable to that of Phinehas (v. 26), that priest who, according to Numbers 25:6-15, ran a spear through an Israelite and a Midianite woman, thereby turning God’s wrath back from the people. In reward for his action God gave Phinehas a covenant of peace and promised him and his line a perpetual priesthood (cf. v. 54). Moreover, on that occasion God disposed that the Israelites should attack the Midianites and defeat them. The memory of Phinehas endured in Jewish tradition (cf. Ps 106:28-31; Sir 45:23). Although the sacred writer does not expressly say so, the comparison with Phinehas gives us an inkling that Mattathias is becoming someone who has a covenant with God and will be a savior of the people.

Both Phinehas and Mattathias were motivated by zeal for the Lord and for his Law (vv. 24, 26-27; Num 25:11). Although the way they expressed their zeal was understandable only in that distant context (it would not he acceptable today), their zeal for God and the things of God is still something to be imitated (cf. Origen, "Commentarii in Epistulam ad Romanos", 8, 1). Our Lord Jesus Christ will also feel zealous for the house of God, the temple, and will perform a symbolic act of violence against those who profaned it (cf. Jn 2:17; Ps 69:9). It is this sort of zeal that leads a Christian to “holy intransigence". “Be uncompromising in doctrine and conduct. But be yielding in manner. A mace of tempered steel, wrapped in quilted covering. Be uncompromising, but don’t be obstinate” (St J. Escriva, "The Way", 397).