_Over all devils; so that none should be able to resist them. For all were not equally easy to be expelled, as we shall see in this same chapter, in the person of a possessed child, whom the apostles could not heal, because they did not use prayer and fasting against it; and because their faith was... [ Continue Reading ]
_And depart [1] not from thence. In the ordinary Greek copies we find, and depart from thence. The sense appears, by the other evangelists, (Matthew x. 11. and Mark vi. 10.) that Christ gave this admonition to his disciples, not to change their lodging from house to house; but while they staid in a... [ Continue Reading ]
Risen from the dead. Herod was perplexed and in suspense about the report, that it was John [the Baptist] that was risen from the dead.... From this it appears, that some of the Jews, and Herod himself, believed in some kind of metempsychosis, or transmigration of souls. Josephus says, (Antiq. lib.... [ Continue Reading ]
_As he was alone praying: i.e. remote from the people, though his disciples are said to have been with him. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kingdom of God. This is generally understood of the transfiguration, in which Christ shewed to the three disciples an essay of his glory. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mountain, &c. --- Since Christ has ascended the mountain, both to pray and to be transfigured, all of us who hope for the fruit of his resurrection, and long to see the king in his glory, must dwell in heaven by our thoughts, and apply our minds to continual prayer. (Ven. Bede)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_And behold two men. Moses and Elias, by ministering to our Lord in his glory, shewed him to be the Lord of both the Old and New Testament. The disciples also, upon seeing the glory of their fellow-creatures, would be filled with admiration at the condescension of their divine Master; and considerin... [ Continue Reading ]
_They spoke of his decease, [2] or his departure out of this world. St. Peter useth the same Greek word for his death. (2 Peter i. 15.) (Witham)_ [BIBLIOGRAPHY] Excessum, _Greek: exodon. Mr. Bois, the canon of Ely, shews it a proper word for death. So 2 Peter i. 15. post obitum meum, Greek: meta t... [ Continue Reading ]
It is good for us. It is not good, O Peter, for Christ to remain always. Should he have remained there, the promise he had made thee would never have been fulfilled. Thou wouldst never have obtained the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and the reign of death would not have been destroyed. Seek not for... [ Continue Reading ]
_And a voice, &c. This is the voice of the Father from the cloud, as if he should say, "I call him not one of my sons, but my true and natural Son, to the resemblance of whom all others are adopted. (St. Cyril) --- Not Elias, not Moses, but he whom you see alone, is my beloved Son. (St. Ambrose) ---... [ Continue Reading ]
_They understood not this word. They understood well enough what was meant by being delivered into the hands of his enemies, and being put to death; but they could not comprehend how Jesus Christ, whom they knew to be the Messias, and the Son of God, and whom they believed to be immortal, and eterna... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there entered a thought, &c. It is improbable that all the disciples had fallen into this fault: but the evangelist, that he might not point out any in particular as guilty of it, says indiscriminately, that this thought had entered among them. (St. Cyril in St. Thomas Aquinas)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_We forbade him. St. John having the most love for his Lord, and being particularly beloved by him, thought all were to be excluded from these gifts, who were not obedient to his divine Master. (St. Augustine) --- But we must remember, that not the minister is the author of these miracles, but the g... [ Continue Reading ]
_Forbid him not. Our Lord is not moved by this event, to teach us that perfect virtue entertains no thoughts of revenge, and that anger cannot be found where the fulness of charity reigns. The weak must not be driven away, but assisted. Let the breast of the religious man be ever unmoved by passion,... [ Continue Reading ]
The days of his assumption, i.e. of his ascension into heaven. See the same Greek word in Mark xvi. 19. and Acts i. 11. --- He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, or literally, he fixed [3] his countenance to go up to Jerusalem. --- And (ver. 53.) because his face was of one going to Jerusa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Messengers, &c. St. Jerome believes that Christ sent true angels before him to announce his coming. The Greek word aggelos, generally signifies an angel; but it likewise means a messenger. Most interpreters believe he sent James and John, to prepare what was necessary for provisions and lodging. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wilt thou that we command fire, &c. In the Greek is added as Elias did. These words might be first in the margin, and thence by transcribers taken into the text. The two apostles, called the sons of thunder, knew their Master was greater than Elias; and therefore they are for calling for fire from... [ Continue Reading ]
_ You know not of what spirit you are, i.e. that my Spirit, which you ought to follow, is the Spirit of mercy, mildness, and patience. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_But to save souls. It might be translated, to save men's lives; [4] but is seems better here to stick to the letter, especially since in most Greek copies we read, the souls of men. (Witham)_ [BIBLIOGRAPHY] Animas in most Greek copies, _Greek: psuchas anthropon._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Follow thee, &c. Although the Sovereign Lord of all is most munificent, yet he does not lavish his gifts on all without distinction, but bestows them on the worthy only. When, therefore, this man offered to follow Christ, he answers him by telling him, that all who follow him, must daily take up th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bury their dead, &c. Though this was an act of religion, yet it was not permitted him; that we may learn to prefer always the concerns of God to all human considerations. (St. Ambrose) --- However necessary this might appear, however easy, however short the time which it would take up, might be, it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Putting his hand to the plough. A proverb and metaphor, to signify that nothing must hinder a man from God's service. (Witham) --- Christ seems here to allude to the call of Eliseus by Elias. The former was at the plough, and the latter called him. Immediately Eliseus quits his plough, runs with El... [ Continue Reading ]