Lucas 8

Theophylact of Ohrid

Lucas 8:1

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] He who descended from heaven, for our example and imitation, gives us a lesson not to be slothful in teaching. Hence it is said, And it came to pass afterward that he went, &c. Not teaching or preaching, but to be instructed by Him. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:2

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] But lest it should seem that the women were hindered from following Christ, it is added, And certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:4

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] That which David had foretold in the person of Christ, I will open my mouth in parables, (Ps. 78:2.) the Lord here fulfils; as it is said, And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable. But the Lord speaks by a parable, first indeed that He may make His hearers more attentive. For men were accustomed to exercise their minds on dark sayings, and to despise what was plain; and next, that the unworthy might not receive what was spoken mystically. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:5

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] But He went out now, not to destroy the husbandmen, or to burn up the earth, but He went out to sow. For oftimes the husbandman who sows, goes out for some other cause, not only to sow. But the Son of God never ceases to sow in our hearts, for not only when teaching, but creating, He sows good seed in our hearts. He said not that the sower threw some on the way side, but that it fell by the way side. For he who sows teaches the right word, but the word falls in different ways upon the hearers, so that some of them are called the way side: and it was trodden down, and the birds of the air devoured it. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:10

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] But to those who are unworthy of such mysteries, they are obscurely spoken. Hence it follows, But to the rest in parables, that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. For they think they see, but see not, and hear indeed, but do not understand. For this reason Christ hides this from them, lest they should beget a greater prejudice against them, if after they had known the mysteries of Christ, they despised them. For he who understands and afterwards despises, shall be more severely punished. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:20

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] But some take this to mean that certain men, hating Christ's teaching, and mocking at Him for His doctrine, said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without wishing to see thee; as if thereby to show His meanness of birth. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:21

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] And He therefore knowing their hearts gave them this answer, that meanness of birth harms not, but if a man, though of low birth, hear the word of God, He reckons him as His kinsman. Because however hearing only saves no one, but rather condemns, He adds, and doeth it; for it becomes us both to hear and to do. But by the word of God He means His own teaching, for all the words which He Himself spake were from His Father. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:32

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Which indeed the devils demand, wishing yet longer to mix with mankind. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:37

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] They feared lest they should again suffer some loss, as they had suffered in the drowning of the swine. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:38-39

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] For as one who had been tried by experience, he feared, lest perhaps when far from Jesus he should again become the prey of evil spirits. But the Lord shows him, that though He is not present with him, He can protect by His grace, for it follows, But Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done for thee. But he said not, "how great things I have done for thee," giving us an example of humility, that we should attribute all our righteousness to God. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:40

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] At once both because of His teaching, and His miracles. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:41

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] Through urgent need then he fell at His feet, as it follows, And he fell at Jesus' feet; but it were right for him without a pressing necessity to fall at Christ's feet and acknowledge Him to be God. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:44

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] But as when a man turns his eye to a shining light, or puts fuel to the fire, immediately they have their effects; so indeed he who brings faith to Him who is able to cure, immediately obtains his cure; as it is said, and immediately her issue of blood stanched. For she believed, and was saved, and as was fitting first touched Christ with her mind, then with her body. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas

Lucas 8:51

[(as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)] When He was about to raise the dead He put all out, as teaching us to be free from vain-glory, and to do nothing for show, for when any one ought to perform miracles, he must not be in the midst of a great many, but alone and apart from the other. As it follows, And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John. Now these only He permitted to enter as the Heads of His disciples, and able to conceal the miracle. For He did not wish to be revealed to many before His time, perhaps on account of the envy of the Jews. So also when any one envies us, we ought not to make known to him our righteousness, lest we give him an occasion of greater envy. — Catena Aurea by Aquinas