Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Matthew 24:16

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Having spoken of the ills that were to overtake the city, and of the trials of the apostles, and that they should remain unsubdued, and should overrun the whole world, He mentions again the Jews' calamities, showing that when the one should be glorious, having taught the whole world, the others should be in calamity. And see how He relates the war, by the things that seem to be small setting forth how intolerable it was to be. For, "Then," saith He, "let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains." Then, When? …

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 76 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

To suggest the utter inevitability of the calamities, He says that one must flee without turning back, and without taking any thought for what is in the houses, neither clothing nor any other possessions. Some say that the "abomination of desolation" means the Antichrist who will come at the time of the desolation of the world and the destruction of the churches and will sit in the temple. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

Then those who are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains; and those who are on the roof, let them not come down to take anything from their house; and those who are in the field, let them not turn back to take their cloak. The abomination of desolation can be understood, and every perverse teaching; when we see it standing in the holy place, that is, in the Church, and proclaiming itself as God, we must flee from Judea to the mountains, that is, leaving behind the letter of the law and Jewish corruption, and …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains. He sets forth a useful admonition. And first he presents it; secondly, he excludes impediments to flight. For some impediments are avoidable, and some unavoidable. He says, then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains. Then, namely, in the time of Vespasian. At that time a certain man named Agrippa ruled in the mountains, and he obeyed the Romans and did not rebel against them; hence, while other peoples were at war, he and his people were at peace. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Remigius of Rheims

And this we know was so done when the fall of Jerusalem drew near; for on the approach of the Roman army, all the Christians in the province, warned, as ecclesiastical history tells us (Euseb. H.E. iii. 5.), miraculously from heaven, withdrew, and passing the Jordan, took refuge in the city of Pella; and under the protection of that King Agrippa, of whom we read in the Acts of the Apostles, they continued some time; but Agrippa himself, with the Jews whom he governed, was subjected to the dominion of the Romans.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗