John Chrysostom (347 - 407), is considered by many to be the greatest preacher of the East. Born in 4th-century Antioch, he became quite pious, studying theology as a youth and then retiring to the wilderness as a hermit, until his extreme asceticism required him to return to Antioch.

There he was ordained a priest, and became famous for his sermons, particularly on the Bible. These homilies on the Gospel of St.

Matthew were thought to be delivered during this time period, when Antioch was part of the Byzantine empire. In 397 John Chrysostom would go on to become the archbishop of Constantinople.

He remained at that post until his fiery preaching ran afoul of the empress Eudoxia and he was exiled to his untimely death in 407. The text for this book is drawn from the larger work, "Saint Chrysostom: homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew, by St.

John Chrysostom (d. 407), translated by Philip Schaff (1819-1893), New York: Christian Literature Co.

, 1888. " To this text have been added illustrations of the various Gospel events referred to.

. .