Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 19:2

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Pilate having called Him the King of the Jews, they put the royal dress upon Him, in mockery.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

He scourges Him unjustly, and suffers the crowd of soldiers to insult Him, and put a crown of thorns about His Head, and throw a purple robe upon Him, and buffet Him with the palms of their hands, and otherwise dishonour Him. For he thought he could easily put to shame the people of the Jews, if they saw the Man Who was altogether free from guilt suffering this punishment, only without a cause. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 12 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Allow them to put a cloak on Him and place a crown on Him, also with the purpose of appeasing their anger.

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Bede

For instead of a diadem, they put upon Him a crown of thorns, and a purple robe to represent the purple robe which kings wear. Matthew says, a scarlet robe, (Mat. 27:28) but scarleta and purple are different names for the same colour. And though the soldiers did this in mockery, yet to us their acts have a meaning. For by the crown of thorns is signified the taking of our sins upon Him, the thorns which the earth of our body brings forth. And the purple robe signifies the flesh crucified. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Thomas Aquinas

2374 Now the Evangelist shows us Christ being ridiculed: first, the mock honors paid to him; secondly, the real dishonor showed him, and struck him. They pay him mock honors by calling him a king, thus adverting to the charge lodged by the Jews, who said that he made himself king of the Jews. Therefore, they pay him the three honors given to a king, but in a derisive way. First, we have a mock crown; and then mock clothing and acclamations. …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

To the affliction was added mockery: And the soldiers plaiting, etc. And because kings are accustomed to be honored by a sign, by dress, and by word or salutation and the showing of reverence, therefore they mock him in four ways: first in the sign of the crown, which is a royal sign, whence: Plaiting, that is weaving, a crown of thorns, that is, of sharp sea rushes, pricking in the manner of thorns: they placed it on his head. …

Commentary on John, Chapter 19 ↗