Saturday of the Fourth week in Lent
John 7:40-53
“Never has a man spoken like this man.”
Therefore, some from that crowd, when they had heard these words of his, were saying, “This one truly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “He is the Christ.” Yet certain ones were saying: “Does the Christ come from Galilee?
Does Scripture not say that the Christ comes from the offspring of David and from Bethlehem, the town where David was?” And so there arose a dissension among the multitude because of him.
Now certain ones among them wanted to apprehended him, but no one laid hands upon him.
Therefore, the attendants went to the high priests and the Pharisees. And they said to them, “Why have you not brought him?”
The attendants responded, “Never has a man spoken like this man.” And so the Pharisees answered them: “Have you also been seduced? Have any of the leaders believed in him, or any of the Pharisees? But this crowd, which does not know the law, they are accursed.”
Nicodemus, the one who came to him by night and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man, unless it has first heard him and has known what he has done?”
They responded and said to him: “Are you also a Galilean? Study the Scriptures, and see that a prophet does not arise from Galilee.” And each one returned to his own house.
What do the Fathers say?
St John CHRYSOSTOM. But be it so, they knew not His birth-place: were they ignorant also of His extraction? that He was of the house and family of David? Why did they ask, Has not the Scripture said, that Christ will come from the seed of David? They do not go to Christ and ask, How say the Scriptures that Christ must come from Bethlehem, whereas You come from Galilee? Purposefully and maliciously they intentionally did not do this. And because they were thus inattentive, and indifferent about knowing the truth, Christ did not answer them: even though He had lauded Nathanael, when he said, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? and called Him an Israelite indeed, as being a lover of truth, and well learned in the ancient Scriptures.
The Pharisees and Scribes profited nothing by seeing the miracles, and reading the Scriptures; but their officers, who had done neither, were captivated only by hearing Him; and they who went to take hold of Him, were themselves taken hold of by the miracle. Nor did they say, We could not because of the multitude: but made themselves proclaimers of Christ’s wisdom: The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken like this man.”
Not only is their wisdom to be admired, for not wanting miracles, but being convinced by His teaching only, (for they do not say, Never has a man done such miracles as this Man, but, “Never has a man spoken like this man.”) but also their boldness, in saying this to the Pharisees, who were such enemies of Christ.
They make use of the most foolish argument against them: Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on Him? but this people who don’t know the law are cursed? This then was their ground of accusation, that the people believed, but they themselves did not.
St AUGUSTINE. They who were sent to take Him, returned guiltless of the offence, and full of admiration.
They who did not know the law, believed in Him who had given the law, and they who taught the law condemned Him; thus fulfilling our Lord’s words, I am come, that they who see not might see, and that they who see might be made blind.
St John CHRYSOSTOM. As they said that none of the rulers believed in Him, the Evangelist contradicts them: Nicodemus speaks to them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them.)
St AUGUSTINE. says this about Nicodemus)He was not unbelieving, but fearful; and therefore came by night to the light, wishing to be enlightened, but afraid of being known to go. He replies, Does our law judge any man before it hears him, and knows what he does?
He thought that, if they would only hear Him patiently, they would be overcome, as the officers had been. But they preferred obstinately condemning Him, to knowing the truth.
St John CHRYSOSTOM. Nicodemus shows that they knew the law, and did not act according to the law. They, instead of disproving this, take to rude and angry contradiction: They answered and said to him, Are you also from Galilee?
Then, by way of insult, they direct Him to the Scriptures, as if He were ignorant of them; Study the Scriptures, and see that a prophet does not arise from Galilee: as if to say, Go, learn what the Scriptures say.
St ALCUIN. They knew the place where He had resided, but never thought of enquiring where He was born; and therefore they not only denied that He was the Messiah, but even that He was a prophet.
Having effected nothing, devoid of faith, and therefore incapable of being benefited, they returned to their home of unbelief and ungodliness.