Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Luke 11:53

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Alexandria

Now this urging is taken to mean pressing upon Him, or threatening Him, or waxing furious against Him. But they began to interrupt His words in many ways, as it follows, And to force him to speak of many things.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

"While He was still saying" these things, they, instead of acknowledging their own powerlessness, as if to refute His words, declared themselves to be wiser than Him and began to shut His mouth, that is, to question Him incessantly and to perplex Him. For difficulty in speech usually arises when very many people suddenly question one person, and moreover about different subjects. Then that person, being unable to answer everyone, gives the foolish reason to consider him defeated. …

Commentary on Luke ↗

Western Saints

Bede

When He said these things to them, the Pharisees and the experts in the law began to fiercely oppose Him and to press upon His mouth, laying traps for Him about many things, and seeking to catch something out of His mouth, so that they might accuse Him. The crimes of their perfidy, simulation, and impiety they themselves attest to have truly heard, who, at such a thundering storm, do not repent themselves, but plan to attack the teacher of truth with treachery.

On the Gospel of Luke ↗

Bonaventure

Second, as regards the hardening of wickedness, it is added: But when he said these things to them, the Pharisees and the lawyers began to press him vehemently: in which they show that their heart was hardened and weighed down upon hearing the divine word, so that it might be shown that in them was fulfilled that passage from Isaiah 6: "Blind the heart of this people and close its eyes and weigh down its ears"; and Matthew 13: "The heart of this people has grown fat, and with their ears they have heard with difficulty." Nor was there …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 11 ↗