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
John Chrysostom
They say this to alarm the people; as if they were incurring the suspicion of setting up an usurper. If, say they, the Romans in crowds follow Him, they will suspect us of setting up a tyranny, and will destroy our state. But this was wholly a fiction of their own. For what was the fact? Did He take armed men about with Him, did He go with horsemen in His train? Did He not rather choose desert places to go to? …
Cyril of Alexandria
But they actually allege it as a reason, by which they endeavoured to persuade the more thoughtless to kill Him; and they say: If we leave Him thus alone, that is, if we allow Him to live and to work wonders, we shall suffer terrible things. For if many believe in this breaker of the Law, all that we have will bye and bye go from us; and presently, when at length the Jews have grown weak, the Romans will attack us, and will not permit us to freely practise the customs of our fathers, or to rule our own people, or to give judgment; …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Look at the audacity of the Pharisees! Trying to stir up the people, they spread the rumor that all the Jews are threatened with danger and destruction from the Romans on suspicion of seizing supreme power. "If," they say, "we leave Him alone, many people will follow Him, drawn by the manifestation of miracles, and finally the Romans will suspect all of us of seizing supreme power, will take our cities and destroy them." They said this with cunning. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
Or, they were afraid that, if all believed in Christ, none would remain to defend the city of God and the temple against the Romans: since they thought that Christ's teaching was directed against the temple, and their laws. They were afraid of losing temporal things, and thought not of eternal life; and thus they lost both. For the Romans, after our Lord had suffered and was glorified, did come and take away their place and nation, reducing the one by siege, and dispersing the other.
Thomas Aquinas
1570 The root of their problem was that they feared the losses that would follow. The Evangelist mentions two things referring to this. First, their loss of spiritual leadership. He says about this, If we let him go on thus, every one will believe in him. This, of course, would be the best for all concerned, because it is faith in Christ that saves and leads to eternal life: "But these are written that you may believe...and that believing you may have life in his name" (20:31). …
Bonaventure
If we let him go on like this, all will believe in him, and from this follows an absurdity, and the Romans will come and take away our place and nation. They said this because the Romans then ruled over them, and if they found for themselves a new emperor or king, they feared incurring their indignation; therefore they preferred to act against God rather than against man. …
Translation