Alcuin of York — Commentary on Scripture

John 14:3-4

He says then, If I go, by the absence of the flesh, I shall come again, by the presence of the Godhead; or, I shall come again to judge the quick and dead. And as He knew that they would ask whither He went, or by what way He went, He adds, And whither I go ye know, i. e. to the Father, and the way ye know, i. e. Myself.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 14:16

Paraclete, i. e. Comforter. They had then one Comforter, who comforted and elevated them by the sweetness of His miracles, and His preaching.

I will ask--He says, as being the inferior in respect of His humanity--My Father, with Whom I am equal and consubstantial in respect of My Divine nature.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 14:20-21

By love, and the observance of His commandments, that will be perfected in us which He has begun, viz. that we should be in Him, and He in us. And that this blessedness may be understood to be promised to all, not to the Apostles only, He adds, He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 15:5

All the fruit of good works proceeds from this root. He who hath delivered us by His grace, also carries us onward by his help, so that we bring forth more fruit. Wherefore He repeats, and explains what He has said: I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me, by believing, obeying, persevering, and I in Him, by enlightening, assisting, giving perseverance, the same, and none other, bringeth forth much fruit.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 15:6

And men gather them, i. e. the reapers, the Angels, and cast them into the fire, everlasting fire, and they are burned.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 15:10

Even as I have kept My Father's commandments. The Apostle explains what these commandments were: Christ became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil. 2:8)

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 15:23

For as he who loves the Son, loves the Father also, the love of the Father being one with that of the Son, even as their nature is one: so he who hateth the Son, hateth the Father also.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 16:16-19

Or thus, It will be a little time during which ye will not see Me, i. e. the three days that He rested in the grave; and again, it will be a little time during which ye shall see Me, i. e. the forty days of His appearance amongst them, from His Passion to His ascension. And ye shall see Me for that little time only, Because I go to the Father; for I am not going to stay always in the body here, but, by that humanity which I have assumed to ascend to heaven. It follows; Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask Him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see Me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see Me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament. Their merciful Master, understanding their ignorance and doubts, replied so as to explain what He had said.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 16:20

But this speech of our Lord's is applicable to all believers who strive through present tears and afflictions to attain to the joys eternal. While the righteous weep, the world rejoiceth; for having no hope of the joys to come, all its delight is in the present.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 16:21

The woman is the holy Church, who is fruitful in good works, and brings forth spiritual children unto God. This woman, while she brings forth, i. e. while she is making her progress in the world, amidst temptations and afflictions, hath sorrow because her hour is come; for no one ever hated his own flesh.

But as soon as she is delivered, i. e. when her laborious struggle is over, and she has got the palm, she remembereth no more her former anguish, for joy at reaping such a reward, for joy that a man is born into the world. For as a woman rejoiceth when a man is born into the world, so the Church is filled with exultation when the faithful are born into life eternal.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 16:22

I will see you again, i. e. I will take you to Myself. Or, I will see you again, i. e. I shall appear again and be seen by you; and your heart shall rejoice.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 16:23

This is His meaning then: In the world to come, ye shall ask Me nothing: but in the mean time while ye are travelling on this wearisome road, ask what ye want of the Father, and He will give it you: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 18:1

Over the brook Cedron, i. e. of cedars. It is the genitive in the Greek. He goes over the brook, i. e. drinks of the brook of His Passion. Where there was a garden, that the sin which was committed in a garden, He might blot out in a garden. Paradise signifies garden of delights.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 18:14

Josephus relates that this Caiaphas bought the high priesthood for this year. No wonder then if a wicked high priest judged wickedly. A man who was advanced to the priesthood by avarice, would keep himself there by injustice.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 18:15

He followed his Master out of devotion, though afar off, on account of fear.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 18:16

He stood without, as being about to deny his Lord. He was not in Christ, who dared not confess Christ.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 18:19-20

He does not ask in order to know the truth, but to find out some charge against Him, on which to deliver Him to the Roman Governor to be condemned. But our Lord so tempers His answer, as neither to conceal the truth, nor yet to appear to defend Himself: Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 18:22-23

Here is fulfilled the prophecy, I gave my cheek to the smiters. Jesus, though struck unjustly, replied gently: Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou Me?

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 18:28

The passover was strictly the fourteenth day of the month, the day on which the lamb was killed in the evening: the seven days following were called the days of unleavened bread, in which nothing leavened ought to be found in their houses. Yet we find the day of the passover reckoned among the days of unleavened bread: Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto Him, Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee to eat the passover? (Mat. 26:17) And here also in like manner: That they might eat the passover; the passover here signifying not the sacrifice of the lamb, which took place the fourteenth day at evening, but the great festival which was celebrated on the fifteenth day, after the sacrifice of the lamb. Our Lord, like the rest of the Jews, kept the passover on the fourteenth day: on the fifteenth day, when the great festival was held, He was crucified. His immolation however began on the fourteenth day, from the time that He was taken in the garden.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

John 18:31

Or as if he said, Ye who have the law, know what the law judgeth concerning such: do what ye know to be just.
The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.

(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas