Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Matthew 13:41

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Or we may understand it of the kingdom of the heavenly Church; and then there will be held out here a two-fold punishment; first that they fall from glory as that is said, And they shall gather out of his kingdom all offences, to the end, that no offences should be seen in His kingdom; and then that they are burned. And they shall cast them into a furnace of fire. Behold the unspeakable love of God towards men! …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Out of that kingdom in which are no offences? The kingdom then is His kingdom which is here, namely, the Church.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Gregory the Dialogist

The kingdom of God, dearest brothers, is not always called the coming kingdom in sacred Scripture, but sometimes the present Church is so called. Hence it is written: "The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of scandal." In that kingdom, indeed, there will be no scandals, where certainly the reprobate are not admitted. By this example it is understood that in this passage the kingdom of God refers to the present Church.

Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 32 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

The Son of man shall send his angels (these words show him to be both man and God) and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals. He refers this to sins which are committed against one's neighbor. But what follows, and those who work iniquity, refers to other sins. And what is said, kingdom, is understood of the present Church, because in the triumphant Church there are no scandals, and man will know through the tribulation preceding the final judgment. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗