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,