Loading…
VRSZ
This sets the art on your cards and whose commentary you read on each verse. You can change it later in settings.
Translation
Loading…
What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Cyril of Alexandria
Simple is the language of the saints, and far removed from the elaborateness of the Greeks: for God chose the foolish things of the world, according to the word of Paul, that He might put to shame them that are wise. He used therefore the name of proverb, for thus he designates the parable, perhaps because the distinction of the two words was always somewhat confused, and the signification is understood equally well whether both or either be used. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Jesus told them in these words a parable, or comparison, and used obscure speech in order to make them more attentive.
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
But here is a difficulty. Sometimes they who are not sheep hear Christ's voice; for Judas heard, who was a wolf. And sometimes the sheep hear Him not; for they who crucified Christ heard not; yet some of them were His sheep. You will say, While they did not hear, they were not sheep; the voice, when they heard it, changed them from wolves to sheep. Still I am disturbed by the Lord's rebuke to the shepherds in Ezekiel, Neither have ye brought again that which strayed. (Ezek. …
Thomas Aquinas
Here the Evangelist tells why it was necessary to explain the above similitude; and this necessity was caused by the failure of his listeners to understand. First, he mentions the reason why they failed to understand; secondly, he says they failed to understand. The cause of their failure to understand was that Christ was speaking in figures. The Evangelist says, This figure Jesus used with them. …
Bonaventure
"This proverb Jesus spoke to them." Here it is noted that the proverb was hidden from them: whence he says: "This proverb Jesus spoke to them. But they did not understand what he was saying" to them; whence Matthew thirteen: "Therefore I speak to them in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not hear nor understand." It should be noted that a "proverb," according to Chrysostom, "is a useful saying, containing something of usefulness on the surface, while retaining a great deal of meaning in what is hidden." …
Translation