Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Luke 10:29

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Alexandria

The lawyer, when praised by our Saviour for having answered right, breaks forth into pride, thinking that he had no neighbour, as though there was no one to be compared to him in righteousness. Hence it is said, But he willing to justify himself said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? For somehow first one sin and then another takes him captive. From the cunning with which he sought to tempt Christ, ho falls into pride. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

The lawyer, having received praise from the Savior, displayed arrogance. He said: "and who... is my... neighbor?" He thought that he was righteous and had no one equal to himself or close to him in virtue; for he believed that a righteous man's neighbor is only another righteous man. And so, wishing to justify himself and exalt himself above all people, he says with pride: and who is my neighbor?

Commentary on Luke ↗

Clement of Alexandria

The second in order, and not any less than this, He says, is, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," consequently God above thyself. And on His interlocutor inquiring, "Who is my neighbour?" He did not, in the same way with the Jews, specify the blood-relation, or the fellow-citizen, or the proselyte, or him that had been similarly circumcised, or the man who uses one and the same law. …

Who is the Rich Man that Shall Be Saved? ↗

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

He answered that he knew not his neighbour, because he believed not on Christ, and he who knows not Christ knows not the law, for being ignorant of the truth, how can he know the law which makes known the truth?

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Bede

But he, wishing to justify himself, said to Jesus: And who is my neighbor? What a great madness of vain glory! The lawyer, to capture the favor of the people, so that he might be seen to have responded wisely, first confesses that he does not know the command of the law, truly according to the Savior's judgment, wise and prudent in the law, but because he does not desire to humble himself with the little ones of Christ, but to justify himself, refusing to receive the blessed eyes of doves washed in the milk of innocence, with which …

On the Gospel of Luke ↗

Bonaventure

Fourthly, with regard to the investigation of the truth approved, it is added: But he, wishing to justify himself, that is, to show himself just, "because, as the Interlinear Gloss says, he thought he stood not before God but before man," according to that below in chapter 16: "You are they who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts" etc. …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 10 ↗