Matthew 12:43 (WEB)
“When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, and doesn’t find it.
Fathers and councils · 17
Irenaeus of Lyons
“…and when afterwards he finds them not waiting upon God, but occupied with mere worldly questions, then, “taking seven other spirits more wicked than himself,” and inflating the minds of these men with the notion of their being able to conceive of something beyond God, and having fitly prepared them for the reception…” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 43.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences I–X V.25Conference V
“Then he saith, I will return to my house from whence I came out: and coming he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished: then he goeth and taketh seven other spirits worse than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is made worse than the first.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xii. 43–45.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“…other spirits more wicked than himself; and returning and finding the house empty, he dwelt there, and the last state of that man was worse than the first.’” — editor's note: Ib. xii. 43–45.
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Augustine of Hippo
“And that paragraph is followed up by Matthew with these words: “While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 39–46.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“Even the dæmons are so called by the Lord “He shall take unto him seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they shall enter in, and the last state of that man shall be worse than the first.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 43. Luke xi. 26. Observe difference of tense and variation.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord had said to the Jews, “The men of Nineveh shall rise in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it;” that they should not therefore be careless, He tells them that not only in the world to come…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Some suppose that this place is spoken of heretics, because the unclean spirit who dwelt in them before when they were Gentiles, is cast out before the confession of the true faith; when after they went over to…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
He calls the hearts of the Gentiles, “dry places,” as lacking all the moisture of wholesome waters, that is of the holy Scriptures, and of spiritual gifts, and strangers to the pouring in of the Holy Spirit.
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, the “dry places” are the hearts of the faithful, which after they have been purged from the weakness of loose thoughts, the crafty lier-in-wait tries if by any means he may fix his footsteps there; but lying from…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Devil supposed he should have rest for ever among the Gentiles, but it is added, “and findeth none,” because when the Son of God appeared in the mystery of His Incarnation, the Gentiles believed.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
And when they believed on the Lord, the Devil, finding no place among the nations, said, “I will return into my house whence I came out;” I have the Jews from whom I formerly departed. “And when he is come, he…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, herein He may be shewing forth their punishment. As when daemoniacs have been loosed from their infirmity, if they after become remiss, they draw upon themselves more grievous illusions, so shall it be among you…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
For when any one is converted to the faith, the Devil is cast out of him in Baptism, who driven thence wanders up and down through the dry places, that is, the hearts of the faithful.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
The dry places where no water is are the hearts of the righteous, which by the power of discipline are dried from all humours of carnal lust. The wet places are the minds of worldly men, which the humour of carnal…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
And returning to his house whence he had gone out, “he findeth it empty,” of good works through slothfulness, “swept,” that is, of its old vices by Baptism, and “garnished” with feigned virtues through hypocrisy.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
So that in these words the Lord signifies that some shall so believe as not to have strength for the work of continence, and shall return to the world. “He taketh unto him other seven,” is to be understood that when…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
For it often happens that the soul in the commencement of its progress is lifted up, and prides itself on its virtues, that it opens an entrance to the adversary who is raging against it, and who shews himself the…
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Cross-references · 10
Cited together in Against Heresies I.16.
Cited together in Against Heresies I.16.
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 12:43–45 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 12:43–45 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Heresies I.16.
Cited together in Against Heresies I.16.
Cited together in Against Heresies I.16.
Cited together in Conferences I–X V.25.
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 12:43–45 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Heresies I.16.