Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMatthew 23

Chair of Moyses.

^◦ God preserveth the truth of Christian religion in the Apostolic See of Rome, which is in the new law answerable to the chair of Moyses, notwithstanding the Bishops of the same were never so wicked of life: yea though some traitor as ill as Judas were Bishop thereof, it should not be prejudicial to the Church and innocent Christians, for whom our Lord providing said, Do that which they say, but do not as they do. August. Epist. 165.

• ◦ The See of Rome preserved in truth.

Whatsoever they shall say.

^[1] Why (saith S. Augustin ^[2] ) doest thou call the Apostolic Chair the chair of pestilence? If for the men, why? Did our Lord Jesus Christ for the Pharisees, any wrong to the Chair wherein they sat? Did he not commend that chair of Moyses, and preserving the honour of the chair, reprove them? For he saith: They sit upon the Chair of Moyses, that which they say, do ye. These things if you did well consider, you would not for the men whom you defame, blaspheme the See Apostolic, wherewith you do not communicate. And again he saith ^[3]: Neither for the Pharisees (to whom you compare us not of wisdom but of malice) did our Lord command the Chair of Moyses to be forsaken, in which chair verily he figured his own. For he warneth the people to do that which they say, and not to do that which they do, and that the holiness of the Chair be in no case forsaken, nor the unity of the flock divided, for the naughty Pastors.

• 1 The dignity of the See of Rome, notwithstanding some evil Bishops thereof.
• 2 Contra lit. Petil. l. 2. c. 51.
• 3 Contra lit. Petil. l. 2. c. 61.

Love the first places.

He condemneth not due places of Superiority given or taken of men according to their degrees, but ambitious seeking for the same, and their proud heart and wicked intention, which he saw within them, and therefore might boldly reprehend them.

One is your master.

^◦ In the Catholic Church there is one Master, Christ our Lord, and under him one Vicar, with whom all Catholic Doctors and teachers are one, because they teach all one thing. But in Arch-heretics it is not so, where every one of them is a diverse master, and teacheth contrary to the other, and will be called Rabbi and Master, every one of their own Disciples: Arius a Rabbi among the Arians, Luther among the Lutherans, and among the Calvinists Calvin.

• ◦ Many masters are many Arch-heretics.

Masters.

^[1] Wicleffe and the like Heretics of this time do hereupon condemn degrees of School and titles of Doctors and Masters: where they might as well reprove S. Paul for calling himself Doctor and Master of the Gentiles ^[2] : and for saying ^[3] that there should be always Doctors in the Church. And whereas they bring the other words following, against Religious men who are called Fathers: as well might they by this place take away the name of carnal fathers, and blame S. Paul for calling himself the only spiritual Father of the Corinthians ^[4]. But indeed nothing is here forbidden but the contentious division and partiality of such as make themselves Ringleaders of Schisms and Sects, as Donatus, Arius, Luther, Calvin.

• 1 Doctors, Masters, and spiritual fathers.
• 2 1. Tim. 2. 2. Tim. 1.
• 3 Eph. 4.
• 4 1. Cor. 4, 15.

Scribes and Pharisees.

^◦ In all these reprehensions it is much to be noted, that our Saviour for the honour of Priesthood never reprehendeth Priests by that name. Cypr. ep. 65. whereas our Heretics use this name of purpose in reproach and despite.

• ◦ The honour of Priesthood.

Praying long prayers.

^◦ They are not reprehended here for the things themselves, which for the most part are good, as, long prayer, making Proselytes, garnishing the Prophets' sepulchres, &c. but for their wicked purpose and intention, as before is said of fasting, prayers, alms, Mat. 6.

• ◦ The intention.

Double more.

^◦ They that teach that it is enough to have only faith, do make such Christians, as the Jews did Proselytes, children of Hell far more than before. August. lib. de fide & oper. cap. 26.

• ◦ Not only faith.

Sanctifieth.

Note that donaries and gifts bestowed upon Churches and altars, be sanctified by dedication to God, and by touching the altar and other holy things: as now specially the vessels of the sacrifice and Sacrament of Christ's body and blood, by touching the same, ^[1] and the altar itself whereupon it is consecrated. Whereof Theophylacte ^[2] writeth thus upon this place: In the old law Christ permitteth not the gift to be greater than the altar, but with us, the altar is sanctified by the gift: for the hosts by the divine grace are turned into our Lord's body, and therefore is the altar also sanctified by them.

• 1 The altar is sanctified by our Lord's body thereupon.
• 2 Theophyl. 23. in Mat.

By him that dwelleth therein.

By this we see that swearing by creatures, as by the Gospel, by Saints, is all referred to the honour of God, whose Gospel it is, whose Saints they are.

Appear to men.

Christ might boldly reprehend them so often and so vehemently for hypocrisy, because he knew their hearts and intentions: but we that cannot see within men, may not presume to call men's external good doings, hypocrisy: but judge of men as we see and know.

Garnish.

Christ blameth not the Jews for adorning the sepulchres of the Prophets, but entwiteth them of their malice toward him, and of that which by his divine knowledge he foresaw, that they would accomplish the wickedness of their fathers in shedding his blood, as their fathers did the blood of the Prophets. Hilar.