Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Matthew 26:61

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

Truly these were false witnesses. For Christ had not said, "I am able to destroy," but "You shall destroy." And He had not said, "the temple of God," but "this temple," that is, "My Body." And again, He had not said, "I shall build," but "I shall raise." So they were clearly false witnesses, the Lord having said one thing while they reported that He had said another.

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

But finally came two false witnesses, and said: He said: I can destroy the temple of God, and after three days rebuild it. How are they false witnesses if they say the things that we read the Lord said? But a false witness is one who does not understand the words in the same sense in which they are spoken. For the Lord had spoken about the temple of his body. But even in the words themselves, they slander, and by adding or changing a few things, they make it seem like a just accusation. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then follows the false testimony: and last of all there came two false witnesses, and they said. But here there is a question: why they are called false witnesses, because it is evident that Christ said this, John 2:19. According to Jerome, not only is he called false who says what he does not know, but he who refers what was said to a false meaning. This man said: I am able to destroy the temple of God, and after three days to rebuild it. But he did not mean the material temple, but the temple of his body. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗