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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Theophylact of Ohrid
The Pharisees, vexed by the Lord's words, ridiculed Him. For as lovers of money, it was unpleasant for them to hear about non-possessiveness. As it is also said: "godliness is an abomination to a sinner" (Sir. 1:25), and "a reproof to the ungodly is wounds" (Prov. 9:7).
Cyprian
Unless you imagine that he who feeds Christ is not himself fed by Christ, or that earthly things will be wanting to those to whom heavenly and divine things are given, whence this unbelieving thought, whence this impious and sacrilegious consideration? What does a faithless heart do in the home of faith? Why is he who does not altogether trust in Christ named and called a Christian? The name of Pharisee is more fitting for you. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
They also do violence to the kingdom of heaven, in that they not only despise all temporal things, but also the tongues of those who desire their doing so. This the Evangelist added, when he said that Jesus was derided when He spoke of despising earthly riches.
Bede
Christ had told the Pharisees not to boast of their own righteousness, but to receive penitent sinners, and to redeem their sins by almsgiving. But they derided the Preacher of mercy, humility, and frugality; as it is said, And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard these things; and derided him: it may be for two reasons, either because He commanded what was not sufficiently profitable, or cast blame upon their past superfluous actions.
Bonaventure
Now all these things they were hearing, etc. After the formative instruction for the humble, there follows the instruction repressive of the rebellious. And because the Pharisees were rebellious against the teaching of Christ the man on account of the pride which they had concerning their merits, and this pride came from the literal observance of the Law, therefore this part has two sections, in the first of which is described the repression of the arrogance of the Pharisees, and in the second, the abrogation of the observance of the …
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