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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Cyril of Alexandria
If thou hadst known, even thou. The Jews were not worthy to receive the divinely inspired Scriptures, which relate the mystery of Christ. For as often as Moses is read, a veil overshadows their heart that they should not see what has been accomplished in Christ, who being the truth puts to flight the shadow. And because they regarded not the truth, they rendered themselves unworthy of the salvation which flows from Christ.
Theophylact of Ohrid
He weeps over the insensibility of Jerusalem and says: "if you, even you, had known in this your day the things that make for your peace." That is, if only you had known even now what is to your benefit and leads to peace and tranquility, namely: that you must believe in Me and turn away from your evil design against Me! But now it is hidden from your eyes that unbearable calamities will come upon you for your rejection of Me.
Irenaeus
Some passages, also, which occur in the Gospels, receive from them a colouring of the same kind, such as the answer which He gave His mother when He was twelve years of age: "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" Thus, they say, He announced to them the Father of whom they were ignorant. On this account, also, He sent forth the disciples to the twelve tribes, that they might proclaim to them the unknown God. …
Western Saints
Gregory the Dialogist
To which the weeping Lord rightly says: "If you had known, even you"—understand: you would weep—you who now, because you do not know what threatens, rejoice. Whence it is also added: "And indeed in this your day, the things that are for your peace." For when it gave itself to the pleasures of the flesh and did not foresee the evils to come, it had in its day those things which could be for its peace. …
Bede
But now they are hidden from your eyes. For if the evils that were impending had not been hidden from the eyes of his heart, he would not have rejoiced in present prosperity. Moreover, the punishment that was imminent from the Roman leaders, as I predicted, was added, when it is said:
Bonaventure
Secondly, as to the foolish joy of the royal city, he adds: Saying: If you had known, even you, through foresight, you would have wept, supply: through penitence; whence the Gloss: "If you had known the ruin that threatens, you would have wept." And here there is an omission of a necessary expression, but the Lord speaks in a broken manner after the fashion of one who grieves, and supplies it from the very act of grieving and weeping, so that feeling supplies the thought, and the deed supplies the word: you would indeed have wept. …
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