Cyril of Alexandria

Yet they could not find a way to do so, because all the people hung on His words.

“But the people held Christ in far higher estimation than the Scribes and Pharisees, and chiefs of the Jews, who not receiving the faith of Christ themselves, rebuked others.”

One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him.

“For the Saviour Himself reproached them, saying, "And to you, lawyers, woe! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you enter not in yourselves, and those that are entering in you have hindered."”

At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard.

“He went away, but plainly he cared for his farm and kept it in his mind. He sent faithful servants to them at three different times to receive produce or fruit from the tillers of the vineyard.”

‘What shall I do?’ asked the owner of the vineyard. ‘I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’

“But the lord of the vineyard considers with himself, saying, "What shall I do?" And we must carefully examine in what sense he says this. Does then the householder use these words because he had no more servants?”

But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?

“But holy Scripture compares to a corner the meeting together of the two nations, the Jew and the Gentile, into one faith. (1 Pet. 2:7. Eph. 2:20.)”

When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.

“Again the gang of Pharisees is inflamed with unbridled rage. They draw the bow of their envy. They grind their teeth at him who calls them to life.”

So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere.

“These bold and hardhearted men, being ready for only evil, do not entertain a good purpose, but with their mind full of the craftiness of the devil, they commit themselves to wicked plans.”

“Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

“What do they say? "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, nor do you accept persons but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" O what polluted dishonesty!”

Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.

“Let us also see what Christ said to them. He says, "The children of this world that lead worldly, fleshly lives full of fleshly lust marry and are married for the procreation of children.”

In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.

“For as the multitude of the angels is indeed very great, yet they are not propagated by generation, but have their being from creation, so also to those who rise again, there is no more necessity for marriage; as it follows, And are the children…”

Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush.

“The Savior also demonstrated the great ignorance of the Sadducees by bringing forward their own leader Moses, who was clearly acquainted with the resurrection of the dead.”

In the hearing of all the people, Jesus said to His disciples, “Beware of the scribes.

“To keep the company of the holy disciples free from disgraceful faults, he usefully testifies. He says, "Beware of the scribes and Pharisees."”

“Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.

“She offered two oboli, which with the sweat of her brow she had earned for her daily living, or what she daily begs for at the hands of others she gives to God, showing that her poverty is fruitful to her.”

This will be your opportunity to serve as witnesses.

“It follows, And it shall turn to you for a testimony. In the Greek it is εἰς μαρτύριον, that is, for the glory of martyrdom.”

Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.

“The crowd of the Jews and their ruler stood up against the glory of Christ and argued with the Lord of all.”

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed.

“By its shadows, the law prefigured from of old the mystery of Christ. He is himself the witness of this when he said to the Jews, "If you would have believed Moses, you would have also believed me, for he wrote concerning me."”

So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover.

“When then the disciples had prepared the passover, Christ ate it with them, being long-suffering towards the traitor, and deigning to admit him to the table from His infinite loving-kindness: for he was already a traitor, because Satan was lodging within him.”

And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering.

“He says, "I will no longer come near to such a Pascha as this," one that consisted in the typical eating.”

In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

“By uniting flesh that was subject to death to himself, the Word being God and life drove corruption away from it. Christ also made it to be the source of life.”

For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines?

“In the passage that has just been read, Christ says, "For which is the chief, he that reclines at table, or he that serves? Is it not he that reclines? But I am in the midst of you as he that serves."”

so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

“By means of the things of our present life He describes spiritual things. For they exercise a high privilege with earthly kings, who sit at their table as guests.”

So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” He answered.

“These things then God prophesied concerning what should befall the country of the Jews, but the disciples understood not the depth of His words, thinking they had need of swords against the coming attack of the traitor.”

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.

“The Savior stayed in Jerusalem during the day, evidently teaching the Israelites and revealing to them the way of the kingdom of heaven. When the evening came, he continued with the holy disciples on the Mount of Olives at a spot called Gethsemane.”

And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed,

“But not to do good by words only, He went forward a little and prayed; as it follows, And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast.”

Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”

“The blessed disciples, wounded with the prodding of divine love, drew their swords to repel the attack. Christ would not permit this, but he rebuked Peter, saying, "Put your sword into its sheath; for all who have taken swords shall die by swords."”