Mateus 26
Remigius of Rheims
Mateus 26:1-2
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Or, because by the help of the Lord the Israelitish people, freed from Egyptian bondage, passed forth into liberty. Mystically, that is called the Passover, because on that day Christ passed out of the world to His Father, from corruption to incorruption, from life to death, or because He redeemed the world by causing it savingly to pass from the slavery of the Devil. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:3-4
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] This, then, is to be referred to the preceding words, and means before the Feast of the Passover. They are condemned both because they were gathered together, and because they were the Chief Priests; for the more the numbers, and the higher the rank and station of those who band together for any villany, the greater the enormity of what they do, and the heavier the punishment stored up for them. To show the Lord's innocence and openness, the Evangelist adds, that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:10
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] He clearly shows that the Apostles had uttered something harsh against her, when He says, Why trouble ye the woman? And beautifully He adds, She hath wrought a good work in me; as much as to say, It is not a waste of ointment, as ye say, but a good work, that is, a service of piety and devotion. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:11
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] For the poor ye have ever with you. The Lord shows in these words as of set purpose, that they were not to be blamed who ministered of their substance to Him while He dwelt in a mortal body; forasmuch as the poor were ever in the Church, to whom the believers might do good whensoever they would, but He would abide in the body with them but a very short time; whence it follows, But me ye shall not have always. Or, it is to be explained by supposing this spoken to Judas only; and He said not, Ye have not, but Ye shall not have, because this was spoken in the person of Judas to all his followers. And He says, Not always, though they have it at no time, because the wicked seem to have Christ in this present world, while they mix among His members and approach His table, but they shall not always so have Him when He shall say to His elect, Come, ye blessed of my Father. (Matt. 25:34.) — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:12
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] It was the custom among this people to embalm the bodies of the dead with divers spices, to the end that they might be kept from corruption as long as possible. And as this woman was desirous of embalming the Lord's dead Body, and would not be able because she would be anticipated by His resurrection, it was therefore arranged by Divine Providence that she should anoint the Lord's living Body. This then is what He says, In that she hath poured, that is, By anointing My living Body she shows forth My death and burial. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:14
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] So called from the village Scariotha, from which he came. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:17
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] And observe that with the Jews, the Passover is celebrated on the first day, and the following seven are called the days of unleavened bread; but here the first day of unleavened bread means the day of the Passover. But perhaps some one will say, If that typical lamb bore a type of this the true lamb, how did not Christ suffer on the night on which this was always killed? It is to be noted, that on this night, He committed to His disciples the mysteries of His flesh and blood to be celebrated, and then also being seized and bound by the Jews, He hallowed the commencement of His sacrifice, i. e. His Passion. The disciples came unto him; among these no doubt was the traitor Judas. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:20
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] With the twelve, it is said, for Judas was personally among them, though he had ceased to be so in merit. And it is beautifully said, When even was come, because it was in the evening that the Lamb was wont to be slain. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:24
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] It belongs to human nature to come and go, Divine nature remains ever the same. So because His human nature could suffer and die, therefore of the Son of Man it is well said that he goeth. He says plainly, As it is written of him, for all that He suffered had been foretold by the Prophets. Woe also to all who draw near to Christ's table with an evil and defiled conscience! who though they do not deliver Christ to the Jews to be crucified, deliver Him to their own sinful members to be taken. He adds, to give more emphasis, Good were it for that man if he had never been born. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:25
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Which may be understood thus; Thou sayest it, and thou sayest what is true; or, Thou hast said this, not I; leaving him room for repentance so long as his villainy was not publicly exposed. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:26
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Fittingly also did He offer fruit of the earth, to shew there by that He came to take away the curse wherewith the earth was cursed for the sin of the first man. Also He bade be offered the produce of the earth, and the things for which men chiefly toil, that there might be no difficulty in procuring them, and that men might offer sacrifice to God of the work of their hands. Hereby He shewed also that He together with the Father and the Holy Spirit has filled human nature with the grace of His divine power, and enriched it with the boon of immortality. And to shew that His Body was not subject to passion but of His own will, it is added, And brake. In so doing He left an example to the Church, that it should sever no one from its fellowship, or from the communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord, but for some notorious and public crime, — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:27
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] The Lord having given His disciples His Body under the element of bread, well gives the cup of His Blood to them likewise; showing what joy He has in our salvation, seeing He even shed His Blood for us. And He taught us to offer not bread only, but wine also, to show that they who hungered and thirsted after righteousness were to be refreshed by these mysteries. For it should be known, that as John speaks, The many waters are nations and people. (Rev. 17:15.) And because we ought always to abide in Christ and Christ in us, wine mixed with water is offered, to show that the head and the members, that is, Christ and the Church, are one body; or to show that neither did Christ suffer without a love for our redemption, nor we can be saved without His Passion. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:28
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] For thus it is read, Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you. (Exod. 24:8.) And it is to be noted, that He says not, For a few, nor, For all, but, For many; because He came not to redeem a single nation, but many out of all nations. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:29
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Or otherwise; I will not drink of the fruit of this vine, i. e. I will no longer take pleasure in the carnal oblations of the Synagogue, among which the immolation of the Paschal lamb held an eminent place. But the time of My resurrection is at hand, and the day in which exalted in the Father's kingdom, that is, raised in immortal glory, I shall drink it new with you, i. e. I shall rejoice as with a new joy in the salvation of that people then renewed by the water of baptism. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:33-35
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] What the One affirms by His power of foreknowledge, the other denies through love; whence we may take a practical lesson, that in proportion as we are confident of the warmth of our faith, we should be in fear of the weakness of our flesh. Peter seems culpable, first, because he contradicted the Lord's words; secondly, because he set himself before the rest; and thirdly, because he attributed every thing to himself as though he had power to persevere strenuously. His fall then was permitted to heal this in him; not that he was driven to deny, but left to himself, and so convinced of the frailty of his human nature. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:36
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] The Evangelist had said a little above, that when they had sung an hymn they went out to the mount of Olives; to point out the part of the mount to which they took their way, he now adds, Then came Jesus with them to a garden called Gethsemane. He had accepted the disciples' faith and the devotedness of their will, but He foresaw that they would be troubled and scattered abroad, and therefore bade them sit still in their places; for to sit belongs to one at ease, but they would be grievously troubled that they should have denied Him. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:37
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] He had accepted the disciples’ faith and the devotedness of their will, but He foresaw that they would be troubled and scattered abroad, and therefore bade them sit still in their places; for to sit belongs to one at ease, but they would be grievously troubled that they should have denied Him. In what fashion He went forward it describes, And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and very heavy; the same to whom He had shewn His glory in the mount. By this place are overthrown the Manichæans, who said that He took an unreal body; and those also who said that He had not a real soul, but His Divinity in place of a soul — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:41
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Otherwise; In these words He shows that He took real flesh of the Virgin, and had a real soul, saying that His spirit is willing to suffer, but His flesh weak in fearing the pain of Passion. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:44
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Or, He prays thrice for the Apostles, and for Peter in particular, who was to deny Him thrice. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:45-46
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Or, He prays thrice for the Apostles, and for Peter in particular, who was to deny Him thrice. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:47
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] One of the twelve, by association of name, not of desert. This shows the monstrous wickedness of the man who from the dignity of the Apostleship became the traitor. To show that it was out of envy that they seized Him, it is added, A great multitude sent by the Chief Priests and elders of the people. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:50
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Or, after Friend, for what thou art come, that do, is understood. Then came they, and laid their hands on Jesus, and held him. Then, that is, when He suffered them, for ofttimes they would have done it, but were not able. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:52
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Otherwise; Every one who uses the sword to put man to death perishes first by the sword of his own wickedness. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:53
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] We might also understand by the Angels the Roman armies, for with Titus and Vespasian all languages had risen against Judæa, and that was fulfilled, The whole world shall fight for him against those foolish men. (Wisd. 5:21.) — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:55
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] As much as to say, Robbers assault and study concealment; I have injured no one, but have healed many, and have ever taught in your synagogues. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:56
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] For because all the Prophets had foretold Christ's Passion, he does not cite any particular place, but says generally that the prophecies of all the Prophets were being fulfilled. In this act is shown the Apostles' frailty; in the first ardour of their faith they had promised to die with Him, but in their fear they forgot their promise and fled. The same we may see in those who undertake to do great things for the love of God, but fail to fulfil what they undertake; they ought not to despair, but to rise again with the Apostles, and recover themselves by penitence. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:58
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] For had he kept close to his Lord's side, he could never have denied Him. This also shows that Peter should follow his Lord's Passion, that is, imitate it. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Mateus 26:69-75
[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Observe how baneful are communications with evil men; they even drove Peter to deny the Lord whom he had before confessed to be the Son of God. Spiritually; By Peter's denial before the cock-crow, are denoted those who before Christ's resurrection did not believe Him to be God, being perplexed by His death. In his denial after the first cock-crow, are denoted those who are in error concerning both Christ's natures, His human and divine. By the first handmaid is signified desire; by the second, carnal delight; by them that stood by, the dæmons; for by them men are led to a denial of Christ. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas