Matthew 19:21 (WEB)
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Catechism · 1
“poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."” — Catechism footnote: Mt 19:21.
Fathers and councils · 87
Irenaeus of Lyons
“…and instead of that which runs thus, “Thou shalt not kill,” He prohibited anger; and instead of the law enjoining the giving of tithes, [He told us] to share all our possessions with the poor; and not to love our neighbours only, but even our enemies; and not merely to be liberal givers and bestowers, but even that…” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
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Jerome
“And they certainly did not bid them, if they wished to be perfect, go and sell all that they had and give to the poor, and “come follow me.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“Are all commandednot to have two coats, nor food in their scrip, money in their purse, a staff in the hand, shoes on the feet? or to sell all they possess and give to the poor, and follow Jesus?” — editor's note: Matt. x. 9, xix. 21; Mark vi. 8.
Read the whole comment“But we must seek evangelical perfection, according to which there is the command, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and come, follow Me.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“Matt. xix. 21.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“…the increase of their property, act more wisely than they who sell their possessions, and once for all give all away, not I but the Lord shall make answer:“If thou wilt be perfect, go sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and come, follow Me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“Listen to the words of the Lord: “If thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and come and follow me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“As for you, when you hear the Saviour’s counsel: “if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and come follow me,” you translate his words into action; and baring yourself to follow the bare cross you mount Jacob’s ladder the easier for carrying nothing.” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“For he had read the words: “if thou wilt be perfect, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor and follow me,” and again: “ye cannot serve two masters, God and Mammon.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment““If thou wilt be perfect,” the Lord says, “go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor.…and come and follow me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“For he knew the commandment of the Lord: “If thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and come and follow me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“He thus replied: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 16, 21.
Read the whole comment“For they who have possessions and riches are bidden to sell all that they have and to give to the poor and then to follow the Saviour.” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“Sell, saith He, that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.” — editor's note: Ib. xix. 21.
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Eusebius of Caesarea
“For indeed most of the disciples of that time, animated by the divine word with a more ardent love for philosophy, had already fulfilled the command of the Saviour, and had distributed their goods to the needy.” — editor's note: See Matt. xix. 21. Eusebius agrees with nearly all the Fathers, and with the Roman Catholic Church of the past and present, in his misinterpretation of this…
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Ambrose of Milan
“But when he said that he had fulfilled all the commandments of the Law, there is given to him a counsel that he should sell all that he had and follow the Lord, for these things are not imposed as commands, but are offered as counsels.” — editor's note: S. Matt. xix. 18–21.
Read the whole comment“…other men’s profanities, and hold the faith of more account even than kindred and children, as it is written: “Leave all that thou hast, and come, follow Me.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“Jesus said unto him: If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all thy goods and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xix. 20, 21.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences I–X III.4Conference III
“…be my disciple;” and “if thou wilt be perfect, go sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me:” And with heartfelt contrition he took this charge of the Lord as if specially aimed at him, and at once gave up everything and followed Christ, without any…” — editor's note: S. Luke xiv. 12; S. Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences I–X III.7Conference III
“…command in the gospel, where we are told “If thou wilt be perfect, go sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven,” renouncing them so as to keep back nothing at all for myself, and though to this distribution (of my goods) I should by the burning of my flesh add martyrdom…” — editor's note: S. Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences I–X VIII.3Conference VIII
“…flee to another;” and: “if thou wilt be perfect, go, sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come follow Me.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. v. 39; x. 23; xix. 21.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.5Conference XXI
“…daily sounds: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come follow Me,” when we offer to God tithes of our substance, are still in a way ground down beneath the burden of the law, and not able to rise to those heights of the…” — editor's note: S. Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.7Conference XXI
“…not said: “Thou shalt offer to the Lord thy God thy tithes and firstfruits;” but: “Go and sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and come follow Me;” where, owing to the grandeur of perfection, to the request of the disciple there is not granted even the very short space of an hour in which to bury his…” — editor's note: Exod. xxii. 29; S. Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.32Conference XXI
“The law says: “Thou shalt not delay to offer thy tithes and firstfruits;” grace says: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast and give to the poor:” The law forbids not retaliation for wrongs and vengeance for injuries, saying “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”” — editor's note: Exod. xxii. 29; S. Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.24Conference XXIV
“…foolish obstinacy against His command, or rather advice, who says: “If thou wilt be perfect, go sell (or get rid of) all that thou hast, and come follow Me,” for we keep the substance of our worldly goods.” — editor's note: S. Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment “And by an entirely wrong interpretation of this they think that they can weaken the force of that saying of the Lord in which he says: “If thou wilt be perfect, go sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“…things and followed Christ who says to thee, “Go sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me,” why, having put your hand to the plough, do you look back, so that you will be declared by the voice of the same Lord not to be fit for the kingdom of heaven?” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
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Augustine of Hippo
“For I had heard of Antony, that, accidentally coming in whilst the gospel was being read, he received the admonition as if what was read were addressed to him, “Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 2l.
Read the whole comment“…sell that thou hast, and be filled with fruit by giving to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and follow the Lord “if thou wilt be perfect,” coupled with those amongst whom He speaketh wisdom, Who knoweth what to distribute to the day and to the night, that thou also mayest know it, that for thee…” — editor's note: Ibid. ver. 21.
Read the whole comment“…heard in vain, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow Me;” to which sort is said, “Ye shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“…and that was departing from Him, had said, “Go, sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come follow Me:” and great hopelessness for rich men foretold, so that He said, more easily could a camel pass through the eye of a needle, than a rich man enter into the…” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“To such He said, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“That which one rich man did not do, when he heard from the Lord’s mouth, and sorrowfully departed from Him, this so many thousands of those men by whose hands Christ had been crucified, did on a sudden.” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21, 22.
Read the whole comment“There are therefore some spiritual ones that build in the cedars of Libanus: that is, there are certain servants of God who hear in the Gospel, “Sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor; and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me.”…Let him who hath resigned many things, not be proud.” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“…free pardon for thine own sins also.…He who is unwilling to give to the poor, seeketh riches; listen to what is written, “Thou shalt have treasure in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“…is said by the Lord, “If thou wilt be perfect, go sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and come, follow Me, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole commentChapter LXIII.—Of the Little Children on Whom He Laid His Hands; Of the Rich Man to Whom He Said, “Sell All that Thou Hast;” Of the Vineyard in Which the Labourers Were Hired at Different Hours; And of the Question…
Read the whole comment“…Lord saith, “If thou willest to be perfect, go, sell all that thou hast, and give unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come, follow me;” and dare not unite themselves to those dwelling together, among whom no one saith that any thing is his own, but all things are unto them common; do we think…” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21
Read the whole comment“Therefore my counsel is, “Give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“The rich young man in the Gospel said that he had kept the commandments; then he heard the greater precepts, “If thou wilt be perfect, one thing is lacking to thee, go sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor;” thou shalt not lose them, but “thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 21,“Go, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor,” etc.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“When indeed the Lord commanded the rich man this for perfection’s sake, saying, “If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“…hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come follow me,” Peter said unto Him, “Lo, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21, 22, 27.
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John Chrysostom
“For, He saith, “Sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven.” ( Matt. xix. 21.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Therefore He says, “Sell that thou hast” ( Matt. xix. 21 ), that that way may receive thee.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment““Sell,” he saith, “that thou hast, and give to the poor; and come, follow Me” ( Matt. xix. 21 ): terming the imitating Him in our actions “following” Him.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Since He was going to enjoin something great, He setteth forth the recompenses, and saith, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come, and follow me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21. [R.V., “If thou wouldest,” etc.]
Read the whole comment“For since the Lord had said, “If thou wilt be perfect, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven;”lest any one of the poor should say, What then? if I have no possessions, can I not be perfect?” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“…the mouths of Pharisees, and having discoursed with His disciples of renouncing possessions: for, “if thou wilt be perfect,” saith He, “sell that thou hast:”and of virginity, “He that is able to receive, let him receive it:”and of humility, “For except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not…” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“For indeed the saying, “Sell thy goods, and give to the poor, and come and follow me,”might be seasonably addressed to the prelates of the church with respect to the property of the church.” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21. [Abridged.]
Read the whole comment“He said not, “raise up the lame,” but, “Sell thy goods, and give to the poor, and come and follow me, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
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Basil the Great
“He further added “If thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“Pondering over these things he entered the church, and it happened the Gospel was being read, and he heard the Lord saying to the rich man, ‘If thou wouldest be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor; and come follow Me and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.’” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
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Tertullian
“Nay, but “all things are to be sold, and divided to the needy.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21; Luke xviii. 22.
Read the whole comment“That rich man did go his way who had not “received” the precept of dividing his substance to the needy, and was abandoned by the Lord to his own opinion.” — editor's note: See Matt. xix. 16–26; Mark x. 17–27; Luke xviii. 18–27.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“And therefore the Lord the teacher of good things, forewarning for the future time, says, “If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“And when He wished to set forth a man perfect and complete by the observation of the law, He said, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“Jesus saith unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 17–21.
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Clement of Alexandria
“Wherefore also the Lord says, “Sell what thou hast, and give to the poor; and come, follow me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“And this is the import of “Sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and come, follow Me”—that is, follow what is said by the Lord.” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
Read the whole comment“X. “If thou wilt be perfect.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 21.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
He that asks this question is both young, rich, and proud, and he asks not as one that desires to learn, but as tempting Him. This we can prove by this, that when the Lord had said unto him, “If thou wilt enter into…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But I for my part, though I deny not that he was a lover of money, because Christ convicts him as such, cannot consider him to have been a hypocrite, because it is unsafe to decide in uncertain cases, and especially…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
This may seem a discrepancy, that Matthew here gives it, “Why askest thou me concerning good?” whereas Mark and Luke’s have, “Why callest thou me good?” For this, “Why askest thou me concerning good?” may seem rather…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
But because he had styled Him Good Master, and had not confessed Him as God, or as the Son of God, He tells him, that in comparison of God there is no saint to be called good, of whom it is said, “Confess unto the…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, because he sought eternal life, (and eternal life consists in such contemplation in which God is beheld not for punishment, but for everlasting joy,) and knew not with whom he spake, but thought Him only a Son of…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
For Our Saviour does not reject this witness to His goodness, but corrected the error of calling Him Good Master apart from God.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Wherein then was the profit that He answered thus? He leads him by degrees, and teaches him to lay aside false flattery, and rising above the things which are upon earth to cleave to God, to seek things to come, and…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Christ also answers thus, because of that He said, “What good thing shall I do? For when we depart from evil and do good, that which we do is called good by comparison with what other men do. But when compared with…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
And He said not, “If thou desirest life eternal; but, “If thou wilt enter into life,” calling that simply “life,” which shall be everlasting. Here we should consider how eternal life should be loved, when this…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
These words prove that the Law gave to such as kept it not only temporal promises, but also life eternal. And because the hearing these things made him thoughtful, “He saith unto him, Which?”
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
This he said not to tempt Him, but because he supposed that they were other than the commandments of the Law, which should be the means of life to him.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
And Jesus, condescending as to a weak one, most graciously set out to him the precepts of the Law; Jesus said, “Thou shalt do no murder;” and of all these precepts follows the exposition, “And thou shalt love thy…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or perhaps these precepts are enough to introduce one, if I may say so, to the entrance of life; but neither these, nor any like them, are enough to conduct one to the more inward parts of life. But whoso…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But because all the commandments that the Lord had recounted were contained in the Law, The young man saith unto him, “All these have I kept from my youth up.” And did not even rest there, but asked further, “What…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
But to those who would be perfect in grace, He shews how they may come to perfection, “Jesus saith unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go, and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor.” Mark the words; He said…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Nor need it be made a scruple in what monasteries, or to the indigent brethren of what place, any one gives those things that he has, for there is but one commonwealth of all Christians. Therefore wheresoever any…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
See two kinds of life which we have heard set before men; the Active, to which pertains, “Thou shalt not kill,” and the rest of the Law; and the Contemplative, to which pertains this, “If thou wilt be perfect.” The…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Nor are such only partakers in the kingdom of heaven, who, to the end they may be perfect, sell or part with all that they have; but in these Christian ranks are numbered by reason of a certain communication of their…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
That Vigilantius asserts that they who retain the use of their property, and from time to time divide their incomes among the poor, do better than they who sell their possessions and lavish them in one act of…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is good to distribute with discrimination to the poor; it is better, with resolve of following the Lord to strip one’s self of all at once, and freed from anxiety to suffer want with Christ.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And because He spake of riches warning us to strip ourselves of them, He promises to repay things greater, by how much heaven is greater than earth, and therefore He says, “And thou shalt have treasure in heaven.” By…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
If every commandment is fulfilled in this one word, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,” and if he is perfect who has fulfilled every command, how is it that the Lord said to the young man, If thou wilt be…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
For many who leave their riches do not therefore follow the Lord; and it is not sufficient for perfection that they despise money, unless they also follow the Saviour, that unless having forsaken evil, they also do…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
For they that have little, and they that abound, are not in like measure encumbered. For the acquisition of riches raises a greater flame, and desire is more violently kindled.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
I know not how, but in the love of worldly superfluities, it is what we have already got, rather than what we desire to get, that most strictly enthrals us. For whence went this young man away sorrowful, but that he…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
But historically, the young man is to be praised for that he did not kill, did not commit adultery; but is to be blamed for that he sorrowed at Christ’s words calling him to perfection. He was young indeed in soul,…
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Cross-references · 54
Parallel passages
Matthew 19:21 and Mark 10:21 share the same wording (18 words).
Cited together with
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Cited together in The Institutes VII.27.
Cited together in Conferences I–X VIII.3.
Cited together in Of Holy Virginity Chapter 46.
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Cited together in Confessions VIII.12.
Cited together in Confessions VIII.12.
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Cited together in Concerning Widows Chapter 12.
Cited together in The Instructor II.3 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Confessions VIII.12.
Cited together in Confessions VIII.12.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.7 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.5.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.5.
Cited together in Conferences I–X III.4.
Cited together in Conferences I–X III.4.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.32.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.11.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.11.
Cited together in Confessions VIII.12.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 36.
Cited together in Confessions VIII.12.
Cited together in Letters Letter 150.
Cited together in Conferences I–X III.4.
Cited together in Conferences I–X III.4.
Cited together in Confessions VIII.12.
Cited together in Confessions VIII.12.
Cited together in Conferences I–X III.4.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.24.
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 19:16–22 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.24.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.24.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.24.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.32.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.24.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.24.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.24.
Cited together in The Instructor II.3.
Cited together in The Instructor II.3.
Cited together in The Instructor II.3.
Cited together in The Instructor II.3.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.24.
Cited together in The Instructor II.3.
Cited together in Life of Antony §2.
Cited together in Conferences I–X VIII.3 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.7.
Cited together in Origen on Matthew 19:16–22 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Of Holy Virginity Chapter 46.