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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Theophylact of Ohrid
As if He says, Offences must needs come; but it does not follow that you must perish, if only you be on your guard: as it need not that the sheep should perish when the wolf comes, if the shepherd is watching. And since there are great varieties of offenders, (for some are incurable, some are curable,) He therefore adds, If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him. But some one may well ask, If when I have several times forgiven my brother he again trespass against me, what must I do with him? …
Western Saints
Ambrose of Milan
After the parable of the rich man who is tormented in punishment, Christ added a commandment to give forgiveness to those who turn themselves from their trespasses, lest any one through despair should not be reclaimed from his fault; and hence it is said, Take heed to yourselves. That there might neither be hard-wrung pardon, nor a too easy forgiveness, neither a harsh upbraiding, to dishearten, nor an overlooking of faults, to invite to sin; therefore it is said in another place, Tell him his fault between him and thee alone. (Mat. …
Bede
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. We read something similar in Leviticus: You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you shall surely rebuke your neighbor and not bear sin because of him (Lev. 19). He therefore shows the order in which we can avoid scandals and escape eternal woe: if we take care not to offend anyone, if we rebuke the sinner with the zeal of justice, if we open the bowels of mercy and compassion to the penitent. …
Bonaventure
Take heed to yourselves, etc. After He dissuaded impiety, which consists in the scandal of one's neighbors, here consequently He counsels spiritual piety, which consists in the remission of injuries. And since piety ought to be exhibited according to ordered charity, which consists in vigilance with respect to oneself and in clemency with respect to one's neighbor, therefore in this part He exhorts the Apostles to the vigilance of their minds, to discipline with respect to those who err, and to indulgence with respect to the …
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