How did Christ fulfil the commandment: “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5)?

St. Augustine says, “He left His Father, in that here He did not show Himself as equal with the Father; but ‘emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant’ (Phil. 2:7). He left His mother also, the synagogue of which He was born after the flesh. He clave to His Wife, that is, to His Church.”¹⁷²⁶

1721 St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of St. John, Volume 1 1 On 2:1–4 (LFHCC 43:155; PG 73:276).

1722 St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of St. John, Volume 1 2 On 2:14 (LFHCC 43:158).

1723 St. John Cassian, The Conferences 3.21.9 (NPNF II/11:506–507).

1724 St. Basil of Caesarea, Hexaemeron 7.5 (NPNF II/8:93).

1725 St. Basil of Caesarea, Hexaemeron 7.6 (NPNF II/8:93).

1726 PL 15:1639.