Matthew 2:20 (WEB)
“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”
Fathers and councils · 21
Gregory of Nyssa
“Wherefore also the Angel, when informing Joseph of the destruction of the enemies of the Lord, said, “They are dead which sought the young Child’s life,” (or “soul”): and the Lord says to the Jews, “Ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you the truth.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. ii. 20. The word ψυχήν may be rendered by either “life” or “soul.”
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
“But we must consider, that when the Angel, said in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Rise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, (Matt. 2:20.) it was at first understood by Joseph as a command to go into Judæa, for so at first sight the land of Israel might have been taken to mean.” — the author cites it
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Eusebius of Caesarea
“After this an angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and commanded him to go to Judea with the child and its mother, revealing to him that those who had sought the life of the child were dead.” — editor's note: See Matt. ii. 19, 20.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“But it is no wonder, since his brethren said of Joseph, “Behold, this dreamer cometh; come now therefore, let us slay him.”” — editor's note: Gen. xxxvii. 19, 20. [It seems a beautiful coincidence that another Joseph was a “dreamer” (Matt. ii. 20, 23); and in those days, when prophets and…
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Augustine of Hippo
“Although indeed the plural number might have been put for the singular; even as, when Herod died, it was said by the Angel, “They are dead which sought the young Child’s life.”” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 20.
Read the whole comment“…the parts of Galilee; and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 13–23.
Read the whole comment“Well, but we must observe, that when the angel said to Joseph in his dreams in Egypt, “Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel,” the words were understood at first by Joseph in a way that made him consider himself commanded to journey into Judæa.” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 19, 20.
Read the whole comment“…the plural number is put in place of the singular; as in the Gospel it is said of the death of Herod, “for they are dead which sought the young child’s life,” instead of saying, “he is dead.”” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 20
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John Chrysostom
““But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph saying, Arise, and take the young Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel.”” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 19, 20.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“And the angel said to Joseph, “Take the young child and His mother and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead which sought the young child’s soul (life A.V.)” And the Evangelist says “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man.”” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 20
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Hilary of Poitiers
“We confess without hesitation, that Christ is God the Word: but on the other hand, we know that the Son of Man was composed of a soul and a body: compare the angel’s words to Joseph, Arise and take the child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead who sought the soul of the child.” — editor's note: St. Matt. ii. 20.
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Aphrahat
“To Moses God said:—The men are dead who were seeking thy life; and to Joseph the angel said in Egypt:—Arise, take up the child, and go into the land of Israel, for they are dead who were seeking the life of the child to take it away.” — editor's note: Matt. ii. 20.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Eusebius of CaesareaCatena Aurea on Matthew
For the sacrilege which Herod had committed against the Saviour, and his wicked slaughter of the infants of the same age, the Divine vengeance hastened his end; and his body, as Josephus relates, was attacked by a…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Many here err from ignorance of history, supposing the Herod who mocked our Lord on the day of His passion, and the Herod whose death is here related, were the same. But the Herod who was then made friends with…
Read the whole comment - Dionysius the AreopagiteCatena Aurea on Matthew
See how Jesus Himself, though far above all celestial beings, and coming unchanged to our nature, shunned not that ordinance of humanity which He had taken on Him, but was obedient to the dispositions of His Father…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
See how Joseph was set for ministering to Mary; when she went into Egypt and returned, who would have fulfilled to her this so needful ministry, had she not been betrothed? For to outward view, Mary nourished and…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
From this we see that not Herod only, but also the Priests and Scribes had sought the Lord’s death at that time.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
But if they were many who sought his destruction, how came they all to have died in so short a time? As we have related above, all the great men among the Jews were slain at Herod’s death.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And that is said to have been done by the counsel of God for their conspiring with Herod against the Lord; as it is said, “Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or the Evangelist uses a figure of speech, by which the plural is used for the singular. These words, “the Child’s life,” overthrow those heretics [margin note: or “soul,” i.e. the Apollinarians] who taught that…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Matthew
This slaughter of the infants for the Lord’s sake, the death of Herod soon after, and Joseph’s return with the Lord and his mother to the land of Israel, is a figure shewing that all the persecutions moved against…
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Cross-references · 9
Cited together in Bede on Matthew 2:19–20 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Matthew 2:19–20 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 2:39–41 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 2:39–41 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 2:39–41 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The Enchiridion Chapter 44.
Cited together in The Enchiridion Chapter 44.
Cited together in The Enchiridion Chapter 44.
Cited together in Church History I.8.