Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Matthew 27:43

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

O execrable; most execrable! What, were not the prophets prophets, nor the righteous men righteous, because God rescued them not out of their dangers. Nay surely they were, though suffering these things. What then could be equal to your folly? For if the coming of the dangers upon them did not injure their honor with you, how much more in the case of this man, was it wrong for you to be offended, when both by what He did, by what He said, He was ever correcting beforehand this suspicion of yours.

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 87 ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

If he is the king of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver him now if He wants. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.' A fraudulent promise. What is more difficult, to come down from the cross while still alive, or to rise from the grave when dead? He has risen, and you did not believe. Therefore, even if he were to come down from the cross, you would not believe. But it seems to me that demons are sending him this message. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Likewise, they reproach him for saying he was the Son of God: "he trusted in God, let him deliver him now, if he will have him." Psalm 21:9: "he hoped in the Lord, let him deliver him; let him save him, seeing he delighteth in him." He could have delivered him, if he had willed; but he did not will, because he wished to expose him for a time to death, so that he might procure salvation for us and glory for himself. Hence what is said in Jeremiah 15:10 was fulfilled: "all curse me."

Commentary on Matthew ↗