John 8:6 (WEB)
They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger.
Fathers and councils · 17
Augustine of Hippo
“For it is said, “Abraham saw my day, and was glad:” and of tribulation it is said, “my reins also have instructed me, even unto the night.”” — editor's note: John viii. 5, 6.
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Catena Aurea on John
- Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
Our Lord at the time of His passion used to spend the day in Jerusalem, preaching in the temple, and performing miracles, and return in the evening to Bethany, where He lodged with the sisters of Lazarus. Thus on the…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
And where ought Christ to teach, except on the mount of Olives; on the mount of ointment, on the mount of chrism. For the name Christ is from chrism, chrism being the Greek word for unction. He has anointed us, for…
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
The anointing with oil is a relief to the limbs, when wearied and in pain. The mount of Olives also denotes the height of our Lord’s pity, olive in the Greek signifying pity. The qualities of oil are such as to fit…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
And next it is signified, that after He began to dwell by grace in His temple, i. e. in the Church, men from all nations would believe in Him: And all the people came to Him, and He sat down and taught them.
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
The sitting down, represents the humility of His incarnation. And the people came to Him, when He sat down, i. e. after taking up human nature, and thereby becoming visible, many began to hear and believe on Him,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
They had remarked upon Him already, as being over lenient. Of Him indeed it had been prophesied, Ride on because of the word of truth, of meekness, and of righteousness. (Ps. 44) So as a teacher He exhibited truth,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
As if to signify that such persons were to be written in earth, not in heaven, where He told His disciples they should rejoice they were written. Or His bowing His head (to write on the ground), is an expression of…
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
The ground denotes the human heart, which yieldeth the fruit either of good or of bad actions: the finger jointed and flexible, discretion. He instructs us then, when we see any faults in our neighbours, not…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
His writing with His finger on the ground perhaps shewed, that it was He who had written the law on stone. So when they continued asking Him, He lifted Himself up.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
He did not say, Stone her not, lest He should seem to speak contrary to the law. But God forbid that He should say, Stone her; for He came not to destroy that which He found, but to seek that which was lost. What…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
For he who judges not himself first, cannot know how to judge correctly in the case of another. For though He know what the offence is, from being told, yet He cannot judge of another’s deserts, who supposing himself…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Having with the weapon of justice smitten them, He deigned not even to look on the fallen, but averted His eyes: And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
This is like our Lord; while His eyes are fixed, and He seems attending to something else, He gives the bystanders an opportunity of retiring: a tacit admonition to us to consider always both before we condemn a…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Thus smitten then with the voice of justice, as with a weapon, they examine themselves, find themselves guilty, and one by one retire: And they which heard it, went out one by one, beginning at the eldesta.
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on John
The more guilty of them, perhaps, or those who were more conscious of their faults.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
There were left however two, the pitiable1 and the pitiful, And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst: the woman, you may suppose, in great alarm, expecting punishment from one in whom no sin…
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Cross-references · 1
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 8:1–11 (7) (Catena Aurea).
