Loading…
VRSZ
This sets the art on your cards and whose commentary you read on each verse. You can change it later in settings.
Translation
Loading…
What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"My Kingdom is not of this world." He leadeth upwards Pilate who was not a very wicked man, nor after their fashion, and desireth to show that He is not a mere man, but God and the Son of God. And what saith He? "If My Kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews." He undoeth that which Pilate for a while had feared, namely, the suspicion of seizing kingly power. "Is then His kingdom not of this world also?" Certainly it is. …
Cyril of Alexandria
He dispelled the fear Pilate felt as the appointed guardian of Caesar's kingdom, for he supposed that Christ was meditating insurrection against temporal rule, as the Jews had vainly talked. For they hinted at this when they said: If this Man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered Him up unto thee; meaning insurrection by the evil they said He was doing. For they affected to be so well-disposed to the Romans, as not even to be able to utter the word revolt. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
The Lord answers: "My kingdom is not of this world," and by this answer accomplishes two things: first, He leads Pilate to the knowledge that He is not a mere man nor one of earthly beings, but God and the Son of God; second, He destroys the suspicion of seizing supreme power. "My kingdom is not of this world": therefore do not fear Me, as though I were a tyrant and rebel. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
This is what the good Master wished to teach us. But first it was necessary to show the falsity of the notions of both Jews and Gentiles as to His kingdom, which Pilate had heard of; as if it meant that He aimed at unlawful power; a crime punishable with death, and this kingdom were a subject of jealousy to the ruling power, and to be guarded against as likely to be hostile either to the Romans or Jews. …
Thomas Aquinas
2349 Now Christ's answer is given: and first, the mistaken impression about his kingdom is corrected; secondly, the truth is established (37b). As to the first he does two things: the mistaken impression is corrected; and a sign is given as proof, if my kingdom were of this world.... 2350 The false idea of Christ's kingdom is rejected by his saying, My kingdom is not of this world. …
Bonaventure
"Jesus answered." Here the third point is set forth, namely the Lord's response, in which the Lord himself refutes the wicked intention of the Jews. For the Jews intended through this to provoke Pilate and Caesar against him, as though he were unwilling to have a colleague in his kingdom; therefore the Lord excludes this by saying: "My kingdom is not of this world." Augustine: "Hear, O Jews and Gentiles: My kingdom is not of this world; I do not impede your dominion in this world. …
Translation