CHAPTER 6 VER. 1. _And it came to pass on the second Sabbath after the first._ On the second Sabbath. The Arabic version. What was this Sabbath? 1. The eighth day of unleavened bread or the last day of the Passover. Epiphanius, Vetablus, and others. The first day of unleavened bread or the second... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath._ See S. Matthew 12:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they were filled with madness_. _α̉νοίας_, deprived of understanding, they could not answer Him a word; they were filled with anger because they could not gainsay the reasoning of Christ, and with envy, as the Syriac renders it, which was the cause of their madness. Their eyes were blinded so t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God_ communing with God in prayer, asking the Father that He might choose for the ministry men fitted to be apostles, and would obtain for them an abundance of spiritual grace to enable them to fulfil the duties of their offi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed are ye poor_... in spirit (See S. Mat 5:3), for poorness of spirit is a rich and precious virtue. Therefore S. Ambrose rightly concludes that poverty, privations, and sorrow, which the world counts evil, not only are no hindrances, but on the contrary have been declared by Him who could nei... [ Continue Reading ]
_But woe unto you that are rich, for ye have received your consolation._ To the four beatitudes Christ, by antithesis, opposes as many states of misery and unhappiness. The poor are blessed for all eternity, but the rich receive in this world their consolation; the hungry shall be satisfied with go... [ Continue Reading ]
_Woe unto you which are full_, &c. ye who live only for eating and drinking, for ye shall hunger in eternity. Actual evil-doers will indeed endure heavier punishment, but those who are gluttonous will suffer torment from the absence of those things wherein they delighted. Hence Dives prayed for but... [ Continue Reading ]
_Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you_, &c.When men, who for the most part are carnally minded, speak well of you as setters forth of that which is pleasing to their ears, for they hate the truth, and persecute those who rebuke vice and restrain the evildoer, but praise them who excuse... [ Continue Reading ]
_Give to every man that asketh of thee._ Not only if lie is in want of the necessaries of life, but if he needs counsel, advice, or aid of any kind, for thus ye will be showing mercy and pity both to the souls and bodies of your fellow men. See S. Matthew 5:42. S. Luke here adds the words "to every... [ Continue Reading ]
_Give, and it shall be given unto you._ Many are lavish of their promises, few are liberal in their gifts. Hence Antigonus as Plutarch tells us, was commonly called Doson, because he was always ready to say _δώσω_, I will give, but never performed his promise of giving. Therefore, Christ bids us "gi... [ Continue Reading ]