Luke 7:28 (WEB)
“For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”
Catechism · 1
“He invites them to that conversion without which one cannot enter the kingdom, but shows them in word and deed his Father's boundless mercy for them and the vast "joy in heaven over one sinner who repents".” — Catechism footnote: Lk 15:7; cf. 7:11-32.
Fathers and councils · 28
Augustine of Hippo
“The order, however, is not the same.” — editor's note: Luke vii. 18–35.
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Jerome
“In that case, John the Baptist would vex it, too; and yet, among those that are born of women, there has not been a greater than he.” — editor's note: Luke vii. 28.
Read the whole comment“There lie the prophets Elisha and Obadiah and John the Baptist than whom there is not a greater among those that are born of women.” — editor's note: Luke vii. 28.
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Tertullian
“That forerunner was indeed “greater than all of women born;” but for all that, He who was least in the kingdom of God was not subject to him; as if the kingdom in which the least person was greater than John belonged to one God, while John, who was greater than all of women born, belonged himself to another God.” — editor's note: Luke vii. 28.
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Clement of Alexandria
“To this child additional testimony is borne by John, “the greatest prophet among those born of women:” Behold the Lamb of God!”” — editor's note: Luke vii. 28.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
The Lord, knowing the secrets of men, foresaw that some would say, If until now John is ignorant of Jesus, how did lie shew Him to us, saying, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world? To…
Read the whole comment - Titus of BostraCatena Aurea on Luke
But you went not out into the desert, (where there is no pleasantness,) leaving your cities, except as caring for this man.
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
Now these things were spoken by our Lord after the departure of John’s disciples, for He would not utter the praises of the Baptist while they were present, lest His words should be counted as those of a flatterer.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Not unmeaningly then is the character of John praised there, who preferred the way of righteousness to the love of life, and swerved not through fear of death. For this world seems to be compared to a desert, into…
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
We have also an infallible testimony to John’s way of life in his manner of clothing, and his imprisonment, into which he never would have been cast had he known how to court princes; as it follows, But what went ye…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
But a soft garment relaxes the austerity of the soul; and if worn by a hard and rigorous body, soon, by such effeminacy, makes it frail and delicate. But when the body becomes softer, the soul must also share the…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
How then could a religious strictness, so great that it subdued to itself all fleshly lusts, sink down to such ignorance, except from a frivolity of mind, which is not fostered by austerities, but by worldly…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
By each of these sayings He shews John to be neither naturally nor easily shaken or diverted from any purpose.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
And although very many become effeminate by the use of softer garments, yet here other garments seem to be meant, namely, our mortal bodies, by which our souls are clothed. Again, luxurious acts and habits are soft…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
But perhaps it does not concern us to excuse John upon this ground, for you confess that he is worthy of imitation, hence He adds, But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Verily I say unto you, more than a…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Indeed, greater than a prophet (or more than a prophet) was he in whom the prophets terminate; for many desired to see Him whom he saw, whom he baptized.
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
Having then described his character by the place where he dwelt, by his clothing, and from the crowds who went to see him, He introduces the testimony of the prophet, saying, This is he of whom it is written, Behold,…
Read the whole comment - Titus of BostraCatena Aurea on Luke
He calls a man an angel, not because he was by nature an angel, for he was by nature a man, but because he exercised the office of an angel, in heralding the advent of Christ.
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
But by the words which follow, Before thy face, he signifies nearness of time, for John appeared to men close to the coming of Christ. Wherefore must he indeed be considered more than a prophet, for those also who in…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
But he prepared the way of the Lord not only in the order of birth according to the flesh, and as the messenger of faith, but also as the forerunner of His glorious passion. Hence it follows, Who shall prepare thy…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
But if Christ also is a prophet, how is this man greater than all. But it is said, among those born of woman, not of a virgin. For He was greater than those, whose equal he might be in way of birth, as it follows,…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
The voice of the Lord is indeed sufficient to bear testimony to John’s pre-eminence among men. But any one will find the real facts of the case confirming the same, by considering his food, his manner of life, the…
Read the whole comment - Isidore of SevilleCatena Aurea on Luke
John was also greatest among those that are born of women, because he prophesied from the very womb of his mother, and though in darkness, was not ignorant of the light which had already come.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Lastly, so impossible is it that there should be any comparison between John and the Son of God, that he is counted even below the angels; as it follows, But he that is least in the kingdom of God, is greater than he.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
These words may be understood in two ways. For either he called that the kingdom of God, which we have not yet received, (in which are the Angels,) and the very least among them is greater than any righteous man, who…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
For He adds this, that the abundant praise of John might not give the Jews a pretext to prefer John to Christ. But do not suppose that he spoke comparatively of His being greater than John.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
For He is of another nature, which bears not comparison with human kind. For there can be no comparing of God with men.
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
But in a mystery, when shewing the superiority of John among those that are born of women, he places in opposition something greater, namely, Himself who was born by the holy Spirit the Son of God. For the kingdom of…
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Cross-references · 2
Parallel passages
Matthew 11:11 and Luke 7:28 share the same wording (25 words).
Cited together with
Cited together in Cyril of Alexandria on Luke 7:24–28 (4) (Catena Aurea).