502 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAT. XIV.
l!i:!>!•:.When it is said that Jesus answered,there is a
referenceto the words which went before,And theywatched
Him. For the Lord knew the thoughtsof men. THEOPHYL.
But by His questionHe exposestheirfolly. For whileGod
Gen.2,i.blessedthe sabbath,they forbadeto do good on thesabbath;
but the day which does not admit the works of the good is
accursed.
BEDE. But they who were asked, are rightlysilent,for
they perceivedthat whatever they said,would be against
themselves. For ifitislawfulto heal on the sabbathdav,
why did they watch the Saviour whether He would heal?
If itis not lawful,why do they take careof theircattleon
the sabbath? Hence itfollows,But theyheldtheirpeace.
CYRIL. Disregardingthen the snaresof the Jews, He cures
the dropsical,who from fearof the Phariseesdid not ask to
be healedon account of the sabbath,but only stoodup, that
when Jesus beheld him, He might have compassion on him
and heal him. And the Lord knowing this,asked not whe
therhe wished to be made whole,but forthwithhealedhim.
Whence itfollows; And He took him, and healedhim, and
Jethim go. Wherein our Lord took no thought not to ofl'end
the Pharisees,but only that He might benefithim who
needed healing. For it becomes us,when a great good is
the result,not to care if foolstake offence. CYRIL. But
seeing the Phariseesawkwardly silent,Christ bafflestheir
determined impudence by some important considerations.
As itfollows;And He answered and said unto them. Which
of you shallhave an ass or an ox fallenintoa pit,and will
not straightwaypullhim out on thesabbathday ? THEOPHYL.
As though He said,If the law forbidsto have mercy on the
sabbath day, have no careof thy son when in danger on the
sabbathday. But why speak I of a son,when thou dostnot
even neglectan ox ifthou seestitin danger?
BEDE. By these words He so refutesHis watchers,the
Pharisees,as to condemn them alsoof covetousness,who in
the deliveranceof animalsconsulttheirown desireof wealth.
How much more then ought Christto delivera man, who is
Aug.de much betterthan cattle! AUG. Now He has aptlycompared
EY™! lib.thhedropsicalman to an animal which has fallenintoa ditch,
2.cap.29.(forhe is troubledby water,)as He compared thatwoman,