Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Luke 4:7

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

"All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me." By the same means by which the ancient enemy overthrew the first man through avarice—for he tempted him through the advancement of avarice when he said: Knowing good and evil—by those same means he was overcome when he tempted the second man.

Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 16 ↗

Bonaventure

Fourth, the persuasion is made as if to one who desires, when nevertheless he himself "gives to all abundantly," James 1. Whence he says: If you therefore, falling down, will worship before me, etc. In this persuasion he strives to incline toward true adoration on account of a false promise, whence that passage in Isaiah 51: "Bow down, that we may pass over." For he cannot ascend over man unless man falls down before him voluntarily. …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 4 ↗