greater than Solomon is here,” * meaning ‘in me’? Consider again, I ask you, the skill of the
Word. For why does he say “here” and not rather ‘in me’? In order that he might
persuade us to be humble, even if we are filled up with spiritual gifts;
› but also so that it was not at all unlikely that Jews who heard that ‘something greater
than Solomon is in me’ would try to say again their usual comments about him:
‘See, he says that he himself is superior to those who ruled among us
with distinction.’ Accordingly, the Saviour is purposefully moderate, saying “here”
instead of ‘in me’.❧