Glossa Ordinaria — Commentary on Scripture

(ord.) It follows suitably, that after our adoption as sons, we should ask a kingdom which is due to sons.

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

(ap. Anselm.) The Lord having taught us what we ought not to do, now proceeds to teach us what we ought to do, saying, When thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face.

(ord.) That is, to thy heavenly Father, who is unseen, or who dwells in the heart through faith. He fasts to God who affliets himself for the love of God, and bestows on others what he denies himself.

(ord.) Behold how every thing in the New Testament is not to be taken literally. It were ridiculous to be smeared with oil when fasting; but it is behoveful for the mind to be anointed with the spirit of His love, in whose sufferings we ought to partake by afflicting ourselves.

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

Matthew 6:24

(non occ.) Otherwise; it had been declared above, that good things become evil, when done with a worldly purpose. It might therefore have been said by some one, I will do good works from worldly and heavenly motives at once. Against this the Lord says, No man can serve two masters.

(non occ.) Or; He seems to allude to two different kinds of servants; one kind who serve freely for love, another who serve servilely from fear. If then one serve two masters of contrary character from love, it must be that he hate the one; if from fear, while he trembles before the one, he must despise the other. But as the world or God predominate in a man's heart, he must be drawn contrary ways; for God draws him who serves Him to things above; the earth draws to things beneath; therefore He concludes, Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

(ord.) By mammon is meant the Devil, who is the lord of money, not that he can bestow them unless where God wills, but because by means of them he deceives men.

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

Matthew 6:25

(interlin.) That is, Be not withdrawn by temporal cares from things eternal.

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

Matthew 6:26-27

(non occ.) He teaches us not only by the instance of the birds, but adds a further proof, that to our being and life our own care is not enough, but Divine Providence therein works; saying, Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature?

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

Matthew 6:28-30

(non occ.) And for the greater exaltation of God's providence in those things that are beyond human industry, He adds, I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Some copies have into the fire, or, into an heap, which has the appearance of an oven.

He says, of little faith, for that faith is little which is not sure of even the least things.

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

Matthew 6:31-33

(non occ.) Having thus expressly cut off all anxiety concerning food and raiment, by an argument drawn from observation of the inferior creation, He follows it up by a further prohibition; Be not ye therefore careful, saying, What shall we eat, what shall we drink, or wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(non occ.) There is also a further needless solicitude wherein men sin, when they lay by of produce or money more than necessity requires, and leaving spiritual things, are intent on these things, as though despairing of the goodness of God; this is what is forbidden; for after all these things do the Gentiles seek.

(interlin.) Or, He says his righteousness, as though He were to say, 'Ye are made righteous through Him, and not through yourselves.'

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

Matthew 6:34

(ap. Anselm.) Having forbid anxiety for the things of the day, He now forbids anxiety for future things, such a fruitless care as proceeds from the fault of men, in these words, Be not ye anxious about the morrow.

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

Matthew 7:6

(interlin.) He says, Lest perchance, because it may be that they will wisely turn from their uncleannessa.

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

Matthew 7:7-8

(ord.) We ask with faith, we seek with hope, we knock with love. You must first ask that you may have; after that seek that you may find; and lastly, observe what you have found that you may enter in.

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

Matthew 7:9-11

(ord.) For from God we receive only such things as are good, of what kind soever they may seem to us when we receive them; for all things work together for good to His beloved.

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

Matthew 7:12

(ord.) Otherwise; The Holy Spirit is the distributor of all spiritual goods, that the deeds of charity may be fulfilled; whence He adds, All things therefore &c.

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

Matthew 7:13-14

(ord.) Though it be hard to do to another what you would have done to yourself; yet so must we do, that we may enter the strait gate.

(ord.) Though love be wide, yet it leads men from the earth through difficult and steep ways. It is sufficiently difficult to cast aside all other things, and to love One only, not to aim at prosperity, not to fear adversity.

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

Matthew 7:15-20

(non occ.) From the foregoing similitude He draws the conclusion to what He had said before, as being now manifest, saying, Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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

Matthew 7:21-23

(non occ.) From the foregoing similitude He draws the conclusion to what He had said before, as being now manifest, saying, Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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

Matthew 7:28-29

(non occ.) Having related Christ's teaching, he shows its effects on the multitude, saying, And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these words, the multitude wondered at his doctrine.

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

Matthew 8:5-9

(ord.) Thou art able without Thy bodily presence, by the ministry of Thy Angels, to say to this disease, Go, and it will leave him; and to say to health, Come, and it shall come to him.

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

Matthew 8:9

Ord.: Thou are able without Thy bodily presence, by the ministry of Thy Angels, to say to this disease, Go, and it will leave him; and to say to health, Come, and it shall come to him.Haymo: Or, we may understand by those thatare set under the centurion, the natural virtues in which many of the Gentiles were mighty, or even thoughts good and bad. Let us say to the bad, Depart, and they will depart; let us call the good, and they shall come; and our servant, that is, our body, let us bid that it submit itself to the Divine will.

Matthew 8:14-15

(non occ.) And it is not enough that she is cured, but strength is given her besides, for she arose and ministered unto them.

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

Matthew 8:23-27

(non occ.) Chrysostom explains thus, What manner of man is this? His sleeping and His appearance showed the man; the sea and the calm pointed out the God.

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