Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Luke 12:6

Eastern Fathers

Athanasius of Alexandria

Now I ask the Arians, if God, as if disdaining to make all other things, made only His Son, but deputed all things to His Son; how is it that He extends His providence even to such trifling things as our hair, and the sparrows? For upon whatever things He exercises His providence, of these is He the Creator by His own word.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Many, He says, think that those who die for the truth are abandoned by God; but do not think so. You will die not because you will supposedly be abandoned by Me. For if not one of the sparrows, which are sold cheaply, is forgotten by God, how much more should your death not be forgotten, My friends, as though I do not care for you.

Commentary on Luke ↗

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

Our Lord then had instilled the virtue of simplicity, had awakened a courageous spirit. Their faith alone was wavering, and well did He strengthen it by adding with respect to things of less value, Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? and not one of them is forgotten before God. As if He said, If God forgets not the sparrows, how can He man? But perhaps some one will say, How is it that the Apostle says, Does the Lord care for oxen? (1 Cor. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Bede

Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria, and not one of them is forgotten before God? If, he says, the smallest of animals, and those birds that fly through the air everywhere, cannot be forgotten by God, you who are made in the image of the Creator should not be frightened by those who kill the body, because he who governs the irrational does not cease to care for the rational. An assarius, which sells five sparrows, that is, they are sold for, is a type of very light weight, composed of two asses. …

On the Gospel of Luke ↗

Bonaventure

Second, he calls back from the fear of men, because they can do nothing against the general protection of God: with regard to which he says: Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? Dipondius here is the name of a coin having two obols or asses. Whence Bede: "A dipondius is a weight composed of two asses. …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 12 ↗