Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Matthew 19:10

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

But what took place there, this happened here also. For as there, when the Jews had been put to silence the disciples were troubled, and came unto Him with Peter and said, "Declare unto us this parable;" even so now also they were troubled and said, "If the case of the man be so, it is good not to marry." For now they understood the saying more than before. …

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 62 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

His disciples say unto Him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. The disciples are troubled and say, "If they are joined together so that they are one and remain inseparable their whole life, so that even if the wife should be a schemer, or worse, he dare not divorce her, it is not expedient to marry. For it would be easier not to marry, and to war and struggle against physical desires, than to endure a wicked woman." "The case of the man with his wife" means the unbreakable union. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Clement of Alexandria

Concerning the words, "Not all can receive this saying. There are some eunuchs who were born so, and some who were made eunuchs by men, and some who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven; let him receive it who can receive it," they do not realize the context. …

The Stromata Book 3 ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

His disciples said to him: If such is the case between a man and his wife, it is not expedient to marry. The burden of wives is heavy, for apart from the cause of fornication, they cannot be divorced. For what if she is drunken, if she is angry, if she is of bad morals, if she is lascivious, if she is gluttonous, if she is wandering, if she is quarrelsome, if she is abusive? She must be endured. For when we were free, we willingly subjected ourselves to servitude. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Thomas Aquinas

His disciples say to him: if the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry. After the Lord treated of the indissolubility of marriage, here he treats of the perfection of the continent: and regarding this he does two things. First he presents the opinion of the disciples; secondly the opinion of Christ, at who said to them etc. He says therefore the disciples said: if the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗