Matthew 18:10 (WEB)
See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Catechism · 2
“Because they "always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven" they are the "mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word".” — Catechism footnote: Mt 18:10; Ps 103:20.
“From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 18:10; Lk 16:22; Pss 34:7; 91:10-13; Job 33:23-24; Zech 1:12; Tob 12:12.
Fathers and councils · 52
Origen
- Origen, Against Celsus VI.41Book VI
“For verily “the angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them” from all evil; and the angels of the little ones in the Church, who are appointed to watch over them, are said always to behold the face of their Father who is in heaven, whatever be the meaning of “face” or of “behold.”” — editor's note: Cf. Matt. xviii. 10.
Read the whole comment - Origen, Against Celsus VIII.34Book VIII
“Let the learned Greeks say that the human soul at its birth is placed under the charge of demons: Jesus has taught us not to despise even the little ones in His Church, saying, “Their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
Read the whole comment - Origen, Against Celsus VIII.36Book VIII
“…“the angel of the Lord will encamp about them that fear Him, and will deliver them,” and his “angel,” who “always beholds the face of his Father in heaven,” offers up his prayers through the one High Priest to the God of all, and also joins his own prayers with those of the man who is committed to his keeping.” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
Read the whole comment “…every one of the little ones that are in the Church, for such and such angels as even daily behold the face of God must be assigned to each one of them; and there must also be some angel that encampeth round about them that fear God.” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
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Irenaeus of Lyons
“The diverse sounds (he adds) are those which give form to that Æon who is without material substance and unbegotten, and these, again, are the forms which the Lord has called angels, who continually behold the face of the Father.” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
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Catena Aurea on John
- Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
“…here to mean, no one of men: the question may be solved in a way not to contradict what our Lord says, Their Angels do always behold the face of My Father; (Mat.” — the author cites it
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“What then, some man will say, is it not written, The little ones’ Angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven?” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
Read the whole comment“For He which is of God, He hath seen God: whose face the Angels do alway behold in heaven, behold, however, each according to the measure of his own rank.” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences I–X VIII.17Conference VIII
“And of the good ones the Saviour says: “Do not despise one of these little ones; for I say unto you that their angels in heaven do always behold the face of thy Father which is in heaven:” and this also: “the angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear Him, and deliver them.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xviii. 10.
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Augustine of Hippo
“For they always behold Thy face, and therein read without any syllables in time what Thy eternal will willeth.” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
Read the whole comment“They are taught also by the angels of God, who always behold the face of the Father, and announce His will to whom it befits.” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
Read the whole comment“…heed that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
Read the whole comment“The Lord Jesus also said, “See that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always see the face of my Father which is in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
Read the whole comment“…inwardly to us of what I have said of the incorporeal nature of God in the same way as He speaks to the angels, who always behold the face of the Father, we should still be unable to bear them.” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“Eran.—But the Lord said, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones, for I say unto you that their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10. Observe the omission of the words “In heaven,” which A.V. inserts with א B D, etc.
Read the whole comment“If this is because you disregard the helpless and insignificant, remember the plain proclamation of the commandment of the Lord “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones which believe in me, for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10 and 6
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John Chrysostom
““How then,” asks some one, “did Christ say, ‘Despise not one of these little ones, for I tell you, that their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven’? ( Matt. xviii. 10.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment““Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10. [R.V., “See,” etc.]
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Basil the Great
“You saw the mischief done to the Churches before I did; and you are grieving more than I am, for you have long learnt from the Lord not to despise even the least.” — editor's note: cf. Matt. xviii. 10.
Read the whole comment“And how could “thrones, dominions, principalities and powers” live their blessed life, did they not “behold the face of the Father which is in heaven”?” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
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Jerome
“For “His abode is in peace and His dwelling place is in Zion,” that is, on a watch-tower, on a height of doctrines and of virtues, in the soul of the believer; for the angel of this latter daily beholds the face of God, and contemplates with unveiled face the glory of God.” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
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Ephrem the Syrian
“The devils rejoiced when they heard the voice of blasphemy: let the Watchers rejoice in us as they are wont.” — editor's note: Mat. xviii. 10.
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Gregory of Nyssa
“For since it is said “the angels do alway behold the Face of My Father which is in heaven,” and it is not possible to behold the person of the Father otherwise than by fixing the sight upon it through His image; and the image of the person of the…” — editor's note: S. Matt. xviii. 10.
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Aphrahat
“Hearken to that which our Lord said:—Despise not one of these little ones that believe on Me, for their angels in heaven do always behold the face of My Father.” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
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Clement of Alexandria
“…angels” as the Scripture says, “of the little ones, and of the least, which see God,” and also the oversight reaching to us exercised by the tutelary angels, he shrinks not from writing, “That when all the souls have selected their several lives, according as it has fallen to their lot, they advance in order to…” — editor's note: [Guardian angels. Matt. xviii. 10.]
Read the whole comment““Despise not,” He says, “one of these little ones; for their angels always behold the face of My Father in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 10.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord had said, under the type of hand, foot, and eye, that all kin and connection which could afford scandal must be cut off. The harshness of this declaration He accordingly tempers with the following precept,…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or otherwise; As to shun the evil, so to honour the good, has great recompense. Above then He had bid them to cut off the friendships of those that gave offence, here He teaches them to shew honour and service to the…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or otherwise; Because so great evils come of brethren being scandalized, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones.”
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
The little ones are those that are but lately born in Christ, or those who abide without advance, as though lately born. But Christ judged it needless to give command concerning not despising the more perfect…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or because the perfect are esteemed of many as little ones, as poor, namely, and despicable.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
But this exposition does not seem to agree with that which was said, “If any one scandalizes one of these little ones;” for the perfect man is not scandalized, nor does he perish. But he who thinks this the true…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Therefore are they not to be despised for that they are so dear to God, that Angels are deputed to be their guardians; “For I say unto you, that in heaven their Angels do always behold the face of my Father which is…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Some will have it that an Angel is given as an attendant minister from the time when in the laver of regeneration the infant is born in Christ; for, say they, it is incredible that a holy Angel watches over those who…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
High dignity of souls, that each from its birth has an Angel set in charge over it!
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Here He is speaking not of any Angels, but of the higher sort; for when He says, “Behold the face of my Father,” He shews that their presence before God is free and open, and their honour great.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
But Dionysius says, that it is from the ranks of the lesser Angels that these are sent to perform this ministry, either visibly or invisibly, for that those higher ranks have not the employment of an outward ministry.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
And therefore the Angels always behold the face of the Father, and yet they come to us; for by a spiritual presence they come forth to us, and yet by internal contemplation keep themselves there whence they come…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Angels offer daily to God the prayers of those that are to be saved by Christ; it is therefore perilous to despise him whose desires and requests are conveyed to the eternal and invisible God, by the service and…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
They are called our Angels who are indeed the Angels of God; they are Gods because they have not forsaken Him; they are ours because they have begun to have us for their fellow citizens. As they now behold God, so…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He gives yet another reason weightier than the foregoing, why the little ones are not to be despised, “For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.”
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
As much as to say, Despise not little ones, for I also for men condescended to become man. By “that which was lost,” understand the human race; for all the elements have kept their place, but man was lost, because he…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And to this reasoning He adds a parable, in which He sets forth the Father as seeking the salvation of men, and saying, “What think you, If a man have a hundred sheep.”
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
This refers to the Creator of man Himself; for a hundred is a perfect number, and He had a hundred sheep when He created the substance of Angels and men.
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
But by the one sheep is to be understood one man, and under this one man is comprehended the whole human race. He that seeks man is Christ, and the ninety and nine are the host of the heavenly glory which He left.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Evangelist says they were left “on the mountains,” to signify that the sheep, which were not lost, abode on high.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord found the sheep when He restored man, and over that sheep that is found there is more joy in heaven than over the ninety and nine, because there is a greater matter for thanksgiving to God in the restoration…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Note, that nine wants only one to make it ten, and ninety and nine the same to be a hundred. Thus members which want one only to be perfect, may be larger or smaller, but yet the unit remaining invariable, when it is…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Others think that by the ninety and nine sheep are understood the number of the righteous, and by the one sheep the sinners according to that said in another place, “I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
We must consider whence it is that the Lord declares that He has joy rather over the converted sinners, than over the righteous that stand. Because these last are often slothful and slack to practise the greater good…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Matthew
[ed. note: These two passages, to which the name of Bede is prefixed in all the editions, have been sought for in Bede without success. They occur in Anselm’s ‘Enarrationes,’ and the latter may perhaps be originally…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
What follows, “Even so it is not the will, &c.” is to be referred to what was said above, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones;: and so He shews that this parable was set forth to enforce that same…
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Cross-references · 31
Cited together in The City of God XI.32.
Cited together in Against Heresies I.14.
Cited together in Origen on Matthew 18:10–14 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §336.
Cited together in The City of God XI.32.
Cited together in Conferences I–X VIII.17.
Cited together in De Principiis I.8.
Cited together in Against Heresies I.14.
Cited together in Against Celsus VIII.34.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 1:18 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The City of God XI.32.
Cited together in De Principiis I.8.
Cited together in De Principiis I.8.
Cited together in Letters Letter 102.
Cited together in Letters Letter 102.
Cited together in Catechism §336.
Cited together in Catechism §336.
Cited together in Catechism §336.
Cited together in Against Heresies I.14.
Cited together in Catechism §336 and 2 other places.
Cited together in Catechism §336.
Cited together in Catechism §336.
Cited together in Catechism §336.
Cited together in Catechism §336.
Cited together in Catechism §329.
Cited together in The City of God XI.32.
Cited together in Conferences I–X VIII.17.
Cited together in Letters Letter 102.
Cited together in Letters Letter 59.
Cited together in Catechism §336.
Cited together in Against Heresies I.14.