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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Cyril of Alexandria
The verse might appear to a person, and with good reason, to have great obscurity. For he might even without being out of the mark, take to untrue surmises, supposing that the books of Moses excel the words of the Saviour. For the verse hath some such appearance, and as far as one can say, taking it without accurate consideration, it furnishes to the Mosaic writings a more worthy repute than to the words of the Saviour. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
If you do not believe the writings of Moses, how will you believe My words? "He," He says, "wrote, and the Bible is always before your eyes, so that even if you had forgotten, you can easily recall it, and yet you do not believe what is written — how then will you believe My unwritten words?" Why then do You say this, Lord, when You know that they will not believe? …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words.
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says, But if you do not believe in his written statements, how will you believe in my spoken words? he gives a sign of this opposition. He does this by comparing two things, and then denying of the lesser of them what is denied of the greater. First, there is a comparison between Moses and Christ: for although Christ, absolutely speaking, is greater than Moses, Moses was the greater in reputation among the Jews. Thus he says: If you do not believe Moses, you will not believe me either. …
Bonaventure
"But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?" As if to say: you will not. Luke sixteen: "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they believe even if someone should rise from the dead." Likewise there is a question about the Lord's argument: "If you do not believe the writings of Moses, how will you believe my words?" It appears to be an argument from the lesser by negation. I respond: Although it is lesser absolutely, nevertheless for the Jews it is not lesser, but greater.
Translation