Mateus 14
Augustine of Hippo · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Mateus 14:1
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (De Cons. Ev. ii. 43.) Matthew says, At that time, not, On that day, or, In that same hour; for Mark relates the same circumstances, but not in the same order. He places this after the mission of the disciples to preach, though not implying that it necessarily follows there; any more than Luke, who follows the same order as Mark. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:2
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (ubi sup.) Luke's words are, John have I beheaded: who is he of whom I hear such things? (Luke 9:9.) As Luke has thus represented Herod as in doubt, we must understand rather that he was afterwards convinced of that which was commonly said—or we must take what he here says to his servants as expressing a doubt—for they admit of either of these acceptations. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:3-4
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (De Cons. Ev. ii. 44.) Luke does not give this in the same order, but where he is speaking of the Lord's baptism, so that he took beforehand an event which happened long afterwards. For after that saying of John's concerning the Lord, that His fan is in His hand, he straightway adds this, which, as we may gather from John's Gospel, did not follow immediately. For he relates that after Jesus was baptized, He went into Galilee, and thence returned into Judæa, and baptized there near to the Jordan before John was cast into prison. But neither Matthew nor Mark have placed John's imprisonment in that order in which it appears from their own writings that it took place; for they also say that when John was delivered up, the Lord went into Galilee, and after many things there done, then by occasion of the fame of Christ reaching Herod they relate what took place in the imprisonment and beheading of John. The cause for which he had been cast into prison he shows when he says, On account of Herodias his brother's wife. For John had said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:13
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (De Cons. Ev. ii. 45.) This the Evangelist relates to have been done immediately after the passion of John, therefore after this were those things done that were spoken of above, and moved Herod to say, This is John. For we must suppose those things to have been after his death which report carried to Herod, and which moved him to doubt who he could be concerning whom he heard such things; for himself had put John to death. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:15-16
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (De Cons. Ev. ii. 46.) It may perplex some how, if the Lord, according to the relation of John, asked Philip whence bread was to be found for them, that can be true which Matthew here relates, that the disciples first prayed the Lord to send the multitudes away, that they might buy food from the nearest towns. Suppose then that after these words the Lord looked upon the multitude and said what John relates, but Matthew and the others have omitted. And by such cases as this none ought to be perplexed, when one of the Evangelists relates what the rest have omitted. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:22-23
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (De Cons. Ev. ii. 47.) This may seem contrary to that Matthew says, that having sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain that He might pray alone; and John again says, that it was on a mountain that He fed this same multitude. But since John himself says further, that after that miracle He retired to a mountain that He might not be held by the multitude, who sought to make Him a king, it is clear that He had come down from the mountain when He fed them. Nor do Matthew's words, He went up into a mountain alone to pray, disagree with this, though John says, When he knew that they would come to make him a king, he withdrew into a mountain himself alone. (John 6:15.) For the cause of His praying is not contrary to the cause of His retiring, for herein the Lord teaches us that we have great cause for prayer when we have cause for flight. Nor, again, is it contrary to this that Matthew says first, that He bade His disciples go into the boat, and then that He sent the multitudes away, and went into a mountain alone to pray; while John relates that He first withdrew to the mountain, and then, when it was late, his disciples went down to the sea, and when they had entered into a boat, &c. for who does not see that John is relating as afterwards done by His disciples what Jesus had commanded before He retired into the mountain? — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:22-23
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (ubi sup.) But while Christ prays on high, the boat is tossed with great waves in the deep; and forasmuch as the waves rise, that boat can be tossed; but because Christ prays, it cannot be sunk. Think of that boat as the Church, and the stormy sea as this world. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:24
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (ubi sup.) For when any of a wicked will and of great power, proclaims a persecution of the Church, then it is that a mighty wave rises against the boat of Christ. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:24
Meanwhile the boat carrying the disciples—that is, the church—is rocking and shaking amid the storms of temptation, while the adverse wind rages on. That is to say, its enemy the devil strives to keep the wind from calming down. But greater is he who is persistent on our behalf, for amid the vicissitudes of our life he gives us confidence. He comes to us and strengthens us, so we are not jostled in the boat and tossed overboard. For although the boat is thrown into disorder, it is still a boat. It alone carries the disciples and receives Christ. It is in danger indeed on the water, but there would be certain death without it. Therefore stay inside the boat and call upon God. When all good advice fails and the rudder is useless and the spread of the sails presents more of a danger than an advantage, when all human help and strength have been abandoned, the only recourse left for the sailors is to cry out to God. Therefore will he who helps those who are sailing to reach port safely, abandon his church and prevent it from arriving in peace and tranquility? — SERMON 75.4
Mateus 14:25
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (ubi sup.) The Lord came to visit His disciples who are tossed on the sea in the fourth watch of the night—that is, at its close; for each watch consisting of three hours, the night has thus four watches. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:25
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (ubi sup.) Therefore in the fourth watch of the night, that is when the night is nearly ended, He shall come, in the end of the world, when the night of iniquity is past, to judge the quick and the dead. But His coming was with a wonder. The waves swelled, but they were trodden upon. Thus howsoever the powers of this world shall swell themselves, our Head shall crush their head. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:26
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (Quæst. Ev. i. 15.) Or; That the disciples here say, It is a phantasm, figures those who yielding to the Devil shall doubt of the coming of Christ. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:26
But in the fourth watch of the night, which is the end of the night—for one watch consists of three hours—the Lord comes to aid at the end of the age, and He is seen walking on the waters. Although this ship is troubled by the storms of temptation, it nevertheless sees God glorified walking over all the swells of the sea; that is, over all the principalities of this world. For it had previously been said through His passion that when He, according to the flesh, showed the example of humility, the waves of the sea raged against Him, to which He yielded willingly for us, so that the prophecy might be fulfilled: "I have come into deep waters, and the storm overwhelmed me." For He did not repel false witnesses nor the raging clamor of those shouting, "Crucify Him." He did not suppress the rabid hearts and mouths of the furious by force, but endured with patience. They did to Him all they wished; for He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. But after He rose from the dead, so that He might alone pray for the disciples established in the Church as in a ship, and carried by the faith of His cross as by wood, and endangered by the temptations of this world as by the waves of the sea, His name began to be honored in this world, in which He was despised, accused, and killed. So that He who had come in the flesh into the deep waters according to His passion, and had been overwhelmed by the storm, might now trample on the necks of the proud as the foam of the waves by the honor of His name. Just as now we see the Lord as though walking on the sea, under whose feet we see all the fury of this world subjected. — Sermon 75
Mateus 14:28
What is signified by the fact that Peter dared to come to him upon the water? Peter indeed has the principal role in the church. And what is the meaning of those other words: "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water," if not, Lord, if you are truthful and never lie at all, let your church be glorified also in this world, for prophecy declared this about you? Let it walk upon the water, and it shall come to you, to whom it was said, "The rich among the people shall entreat your favor." — SERMON 75.10
Mateus 14:28
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (Serm. 76. 5.) This I am not able by myself, but in Thee I am able. Peter confessed what he was in himself, and what he should receive from Him by whose will he believed he should be enabled to do that which no human infirmity was equal to. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:29-30
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (Serm. 76.) For in one Apostle, namely Peter, first and chief in the order of Apostles in whom was figured the Church, both kinds were to be signified; that is, the strong, in his walking upon the waters; the weak, in that he doubted, for to each of us our lusts are as a tempest. Dost thou love God? Thou walkest on the sea; the fear of this world is under thy feet. Dost thou love the world? It swallows thee up. But when thy heart is tossed with desire, then that thou mayest overcome thy lust, call upon the divine person of Christ. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:31
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (Quæst. Ev. i. 15.) That Peter cries to the Lord for help that he should not be drowned, signifies that He shall purge His Church with certain trials even after the last persecution; as Paul also notes, saying, He shall be saved, yet so as by fire. (1 Cor. 3:15.) — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:31
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (Serm. 76. 8.) Peter then presumed on the Lord, he tottered as man, but returned to the Lord, as it follows, And when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. Does the Lord then desert him in his peril of failure whom he had hearkened to when he first called on Him? Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:31
While human praise does not tempt the Lord, people are often ruffled and nearly entranced by human praise and honors in the church. Peter was afraid on the sea, terrified by the great force of the storm. Indeed, who does not fear that voice: "Those who say you are happy place you in error and disturb the path of your feet"? And since the soul struggles against the desire for human praise, it is good for it to turn to prayer and petition amid such danger, lest one who is charmed by praise be overcome by criticism and reproach. Let Peter, about to sink in the waves, cry out and say, "Lord, save me!" The Lord reached out his hand. He chided Peter, saying, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?"—that is, why did you not, gazing straight at the Lord as you approached, pride yourself only in him? Nevertheless he snatched Peter from the waves and did not allow him who was declaring his weakness and asking the Lord for help to perish. — SERMON 75.10
Mateus 14:33
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (Quæst. Ev. i. 15.) For it is here conveyed to us that His glory will then be made manifest, seeing that now they who walk by faith see it in a figure. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 14:35-36
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] (Quæst. Ev. i. 15.) For it is here conveyed to us that His glory will then be made manifest, seeing that now they who walk by faith see it in a figure. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas