Thomas Aquinas · Catena Aurea · Chapter 3
Passages · 58
Mark 3:1–5
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:1–5 — After confounding the Jews, who had blamed His disciples, for pulling the ears of corn on the sabbath day, by the example of David, the Lord now further bringing them to the truth, works a miracle on the sabbath;…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:1–5 — For, since He had defended the breaking of the sabbath, which they objected to His disciples, by an approved example, now they wish, by watching Him, to calumniate Himself, that they might accuse Him of a…vatican.va
- Pseudo-Chrysostom on Mark 3:1–5 — He placed him in the midst, that they might be frightened at the sight, and on seeing Him compassionate him, and lay aside their malice.vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:1–5 (2) — And anticipating the calumny of the Jews, which they had prepared for Him, He accused them of violating the precepts of the law, by a wrong interpretation. Wherefore there follows: “And He saith unto them, Is it…vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on Mark 3:1–5 — But some one may wonder how Matthew could have said, that they themselves asked the Lord, if it was lawful to heal on the sabbath-day; when Mark rather relates that they were asked by our Lord, “Is it lawful to do…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:1–5 (3) — But mystically, the man with a withered hand shews the human race, dried up as to its fruitfulness in good works, but now cured by the mercy of the Lord; the hand of man, which in our first parent had been dried up…vatican.va
- Jerome on Mark 3:1–5 — Or else it means the avaricious, who, being able to give had rather receive, and love robbery rather than making gifts. And they are commanded to stretch forth their hands, that is, “let him that stole steal no more,…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:1–5 (2) — Or, he had his right hand withered, who does not the works which belong to the right side; for from the time that our hand is employed in forbidden deeds, from that time it is withered to the working of good. But it…vatican.va
Mark 3:6–12
- Bede on Mark 3:6–12 — The Pharisees, thinking it a crime that at the word of the Lord the hand which was diseased was restored to a sound state, agreed to make a pretext of the words spoken by our Saviour. Wherefore it is said, “And the…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:6–12 — But the soldiers of Herod the king are called Herodians, because a certain new heresy had sprung up, which asserted that Herod was the Christ. For the prophecy of Jacob intimated that when the princes of Judah failed…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:6–12 (2) — Or else he calls Herodians the servants of Herod the Tetrarch, who on account of the hatred which their lord had for John, pursued with treachery and hate the Saviour also, Whom John preached. It goes on, “But Jesus…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:6–12 (2) — At the same time again, He goes away, that by quitting the ungrateful He might do good to more, “for many followed Him, and He healed them.” For there follows, “And a great multitude from Galilee, &c.” Syrians and…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:6–12 (3) — For the strangers followed Him, because they saw the works of His powers, and in order to hear the words of His teaching. But the Jews, induced solely by their opinion of His powers, in a vast multitude come to hear…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:6–12 (3) — Consider then how He hid His glory, for He begs for a little ship, lest the crowd should hurt Him, so that entering into it, He might remain unharmed. It follows, “As many as had scourges, &c.” But he means by…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:6–12 (4) — Both therefore fell down before the Lord, those who had the plagues of bodily diseases, and those who were vexed by unclean spirits. The sick did this simply with the intention of obtaining health, but the demoniacs,…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:6–12 (4) — Morally again, the Herodians, that is, persons who love the lusts of the flesh, wish to slay Christ. For the meaning of Herod is, ‘of skin’ [ed. note: pelliceus, see Hier. de Nom. Hebr.]. But those who quit their…vatican.va
Mark 3:13–19
- Bede on Mark 3:13–19 — After having forbidden the evil spirits to preach Him, He chose holy men, to cast out the unclean spirits, and to preach the Gospel. Wherefore it is said, “And He went up into a mountain, &c.”vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:13–19 — Luke, however, says that He went up to pray, for after the shewing forth of miracles He prays, teaching us that we should give thanks, when we obtain any thing good, and refer it to Divine grace.vatican.va
- Pseudo-Chrysostom on Mark 3:13–19 — He also instructs the Prelates of the Church to pass the night in prayer before they ordain, that their office be not impeded. When therefore, according to Luke, it was day, He called whom He would; for there were…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:13–19 (2) — For it was not a matter of their choice and zeal, but of Divine condescension and grace, that they should be called to the Apostleship. The mount also in which the Lord chose His Apostles, shews the lofty…vatican.va
- Jerome on Mark 3:13–19 — Or spiritually, Christ is the mount, from which living waters flow, and milk is procured for the health of infants; whence the spiritual feast of fat things is made known, and whatsoever is believed to be most highly…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:13–19 (3) — For as a sacrament of this the children of Israel once used to encamp about the Tabernacle, so that on each of the four sides of the square three tribes were stationed. Now three times four are twelve, and in three…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:13–19 (2) — Further, He gives the names of the Apostles, that the true Apostles might be known, so that men might avoid the false. And therefore it continues: “And Simon He surnamed Cephas.”vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on Mark 3:13–19 — But let no one suppose that Simon now received his name and was called Peter, for thus he would make Mark contrary to John, who relates that it had been long before said unto him, “Thou shalt be called Cephas.” [John…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:13–19 (4) — And the reason that the Lord willed that he should at first be called otherwise, was that from the change itself of the name, a mystery might be conveyed to us. Peter then in Latin or in Greek means the same thing as…vatican.va
- Jerome on Mark 3:13–19 (2) — Thus from obedience, which Simon signifies, the ascent is made to knowledge, which is meant by Peter. It goes on: “And James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother.”vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:13–19 (5) — We must connect this with what went before, “He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth.” Pseudo-Jerome, Gen. 27:36 see Catena Aurea, Matt. 10:2: Namely, James who has supplanted all the desires of the flesh, and John,…vatican.va
- Pseudo-Chrysostom on Mark 3:13–19 (2) — He calls the sons of Zebedee by this name, because they were to spread over the world the mighty and illustrious decrees of the Godhead. Pseudo-Jerome; Or by this the lofty merit of the three mentioned above is…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:13–19 (6) — For Andrew is a Greek name, which means ‘manly,’ from (greek word), that is, man, for he manfully adhered to the Lord. There follows, “And Philip.”vatican.va
- Jerome on Mark 3:13–19 (3) — Or, ‘the mouth of a lamp,’ that is, one who can throw light by his mouth upon what he has conceived in his heart, to whom the Lord gave the opening of a mouth, which diffused light. We know that this mode of speaking…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:13–19 (7) — But Thaddaeus is the same person, as Luke calls in the Gospel and in the Acts, Jude of James, for he was the brother of James, the brother of the Lord, as he himself has written in his Epistle. There follows, “And…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:13–19 (3) — Whom he reckons amongst the Apostles, that we may learn that God does not repel any man for wickedness, which is future, but counts him worthy on account of his present virtue.vatican.va
- Jerome on Mark 3:13–19 (4) — But Simon in interpreted, ‘laying aside sorrow;’ for “blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” [Matt 5:4] And he is called Canaanite, that is, Zealot, because the zeal of the Lord ate him up. But…vatican.va
Mark 3:19–22
- Bede on Mark 3:19–22 — the Lord leads the Apostles, when they were elected, into a house, as if admonishing them, that after having received the Apostleship, they should retire to look on their own consciences. Wherefore it is said, “And…vatican.va
- Pseudo-Chrysostom on Mark 3:19–22 — Ungrateful indeed were the multitudes of princes, whom their pride hinders from knowledge, but the grateful multitude of the people came to Jesus.vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:19–22 (2) — And blessed indeed the concourse of the crowd, flocking together, whose anxiety to obtain salvation was so great, that they left not the Author of salvation even an hour free to take food. But Him, whom a crowd of…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:19–22 — That is, He has a devil and is mad, and therefore they wished to lay hold upon Him, that they might shut Him up as one who had a devil. And even His friends wished to do this, that is, His relations, perchance His…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:19–22 (3) — Now there is a great difference between those who do not understand the word of God from slowness of intellect, such as those who are here spoken of, and those who purposely blaspheme, of whom it is added, “And the…vatican.va
- Jerome on Mark 3:19–22 — But mystically, the house to which they came, is the early Church. The crowds which prevent their eating bread are sins and vices; for he who eateth unworthily, “eateth and drinketh damnation to himself.” [1 Cor 11:29]vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:19–22 (4) — The Scribes also coming down from Jerusalem blaspheme. But the multitude from Jerusalem, and from other regions of Judaea, or of the Gentiles, followed the Lord, because so it was to be at the time of His Passion,…vatican.va
Mark 3:23–30
- Pseudo-Chrysostom on Mark 3:23–30 — The blasphemy of the Scribes having been detailed, our Lord shews that what they said was impossible, confirming His proof by an example. Wherefore it says, “And having called them together unto Him, He said unto…vatican.va
- Glossa Ordinaria on Mark 3:23–30 — And because He has already shewn by an example that a devil cannot cast out a devil, He shews how he can be expelled, saying, “No man can enter into a strong man’s house, &c.”vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:23–30 — The meaning of the example is this: The devil is the strong man; his goods are the men into whom he is received; unless therefore a man first conquers the devil, how can he deprive him of his goods, that is, of the…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:23–30 — The Lord has also bound the strong man, that is, the devil: which means, He has restrained him from seducing the elect, and entering into his house, the world; He has spoiled his house, and his goods, that is men,…vatican.va
- Pseudo-Chrysostom on Mark 3:23–30 (2) — He says indeed, that blasphemy concerning Himself was pardonable, because He then seemed to be a man despised and of the most lowly birth, but, that contumely against God has no remission. Now blasphemy against the…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:23–30 (2) — We must however understand, that they will not obtain pardon unless they repent. But since it was at the flesh of Christ that they were offended, even though they did not repent, some excuse was allowed them, and…vatican.va
- Jerome on Mark 3:23–30 — Or this is meant; that he will not deserve to work out repentance, so as to be accepted, who, understanding who Christ was, declared that He was the prince of the devils.vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:23–30 (2) — Neither however are those, who do not believe the Holy Spirit to be God, guilty of an unpardonable blasphemy, because they were persuaded to do this by human ignorance, not by devilish malice.vatican.va
- Augustine of Hippo on Mark 3:23–30 — Or else impenitence itself is the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost which hath no remission. For either in his thought or by his tongue, he speaks a word against the Holy Ghost, the forgiver of sins, who treasures up…vatican.va
Mark 3:31–35
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:31–35 — Because the relations of the Lord had come to seize upon Him, as if beside Himself, His mother, urged by the sympathy of her love, came to Him. Wherefore it is said, “And there came unto Him His mother, and, standing…vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on Mark 3:31–35 — From this it is manifest that His brethren and His mother were not always with Him; but because He was beloved by them, they come from reverence and affection, waiting without. Wherefore it goes on, “And the…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:31–35 — The brother of the Lord must not be thought to be the sons of the ever-virgin Mary, as Helvidius says [ed. note: The perpetual virginity of the Mother of God is reckoned by White, Bramhall, Patrick and Pearson,…vatican.va
- Pseudo-Chrysostom on Mark 3:31–35 — But another Evangelist says, that His brethren did not believe on Him. [John 7:5] With which this agrees, which says, that they sought Him, waiting without, and with this meaning the Lord does not mention them as…vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:31–35 (2) — Being asked therefore by a message to go out, He declines, not as though He refused the dutiful service of His mother, but to shew that He owes more to His Father’s mysteries than to His mother’s feelings. Nor does…vatican.va
- John Chrysostom on Mark 3:31–35 (2) — By this, the Lord shews that we should honour those who are relations by faith rather than those who are relations by blood. A man indeed is made the mother of Jesus by preaching Him [ed. note: Nearly the same idea…vatican.va
- Jerome on Mark 3:31–35 — But let us be assured that we are His brethren and His sisters, if we do the will of the Father; that we may be joint-heirs with Him, for He discerns us not by sex but by our deeds. Wherefore it goes on: “Whosoever…vatican.va
- Theophylact of Ohrid on Mark 3:31–35 (2) — He does not therefore say this, as denying His mother, but as shewing that He is worthy of honour, not only because she bore Christ, but on account of her possessing every other virtue.vatican.va
- Bede on Mark 3:31–35 (3) — By mystically, the mother and brother of Jesus means the synagogue, (from which according to the flesh He sprung,) and the Jewish people who, while the Saviour is teaching within, come to Him, and are not able to…vatican.va
Scripture cited · 23 verses
Genesis 27:36 · Exodus 1:5 · Leviticus 23:7 · Psalm 50:16 · Psalm 91:7 · Psalm 119:109 · Isaiah 5:6 · Matthew 5:4 · Matthew 5:9 · Matthew 5:14 · Matthew 5:44 · Matthew 5:45 · Matthew 10:2 · Matthew 19:28 · John 1:42 · John 7:5 · John 7:20 · John 8:34 · 1 Corinthians 10:4 · 1 Corinthians 11:29 · Ephesians 4:28 · Ephesians 6:12 · 1 Peter 3:15