Church Fathers Commentary Luke 19:37-40

"And as he was now drawing nigh, [even] at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen; saying, Blessed [is] the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out." — Luke 19:37-40 (ASV)

Origen of Alexandria: As long as our Lord was on the mountain, only His Apostles were with Him. But when He began to approach the descent, a multitude of people came to Him.

Theophylact of Ohrid: He uses the name “disciples” not only for the twelve or the seventy-two, but for all who followed Christ—whether because of the miracles or from a certain appeal in His teaching. To these may be added the children, as the other Evangelists relate. This is why it says, for all the mighty works which they had seen.

The Venerable Bede: They indeed saw many of our Lord’s miracles but marveled most at the resurrection of Lazarus. For as John says, For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. It must be noted that this was not the first time our Lord came to Jerusalem; He had come often before, as John relates.

St. Ambrose of Milan: The multitude, therefore, acknowledging God, proclaims Him King, repeats the prophecy, and declares that the expected Son of David, according to the flesh, had come, saying, Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord.

The Venerable Bede: This means “in the name of God the Father,” although it could be understood as “in His own name,” since He Himself is the Lord. But His own words are a better guide to the meaning, when He says, I am come in my Father’s name. For Christ is the Master of humility.

Christ is not called King as one who demands tribute, arms His forces with the sword, or visibly crushes His enemies. Rather, He is King because He rules people’s minds and brings them, believing, hoping, and loving, into the kingdom of heaven. He was willing to be King of Israel to show His compassion, not to increase His power.

Because Christ appeared in the flesh as the redemption and light of the whole world, it is fitting that both heaven and earth, each in their turn, sing His praises. When He is born into the world, the heavenly hosts sing; when He is about to return to heaven, humanity sends back its note of praise. As it follows, Peace in heaven.

Theophylact of Ohrid: This means the ancient warfare, in which we were at enmity with God, has ceased. And it means glory in the highest, inasmuch as angels are glorifying God for such a reconciliation. The very fact that God visibly walks in the land of His enemies shows that He has made peace with us.

But when the Pharisees heard the crowd call Him King and praise Him as God, they murmured, attributing the title of King to sedition and the praise of God to blasphemy. And some of the Pharisees said, Master, rebuke your disciples.

The Venerable Bede: Oh, the strange folly of the envious! They do not hesitate to call Him Master, because they knew He taught the truth, yet they consider His disciples worthy of rebuke, as though they themselves were better taught.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: But the Lord did not forbid those who glorified Him as God; rather, He forbade those who blamed them, thus bearing witness to Himself concerning the glory of the Godhead. Thus it follows, He answered and said to them, I tell you, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Theophylact of Ohrid: It is as if He said, “People do not praise Me this way without cause, but are compelled by the mighty works they have seen.”

The Venerable Bede: And so at the crucifixion of our Lord, when His kinsmen were silent from fear, the stones and rocks cried out. For after He gave up the ghost, the earth was moved, the rocks were rent, and the graves were opened.

St. Ambrose of Milan: Nor is it surprising that the stones, against their nature, should cry out the praises of the Lord, whom His murderers—harder than the rocks—proclaim aloud. This refers to the multitude who, in a little while, would crucify their God, denying Him in their hearts while confessing Him with their mouths. Or perhaps it is said because, when the Jews were struck silent after the Lord’s Passion, the “living stones,” as Peter calls them, were about to cry out.

Origen of Alexandria: When we also are silent (that is, when the love of many wax cold), the stones cry out, for God can from stones raise up children to Abraham.

St. Ambrose of Milan: We rightly read that the crowds praising God met Him at the descent of the mountain, to signify that the works of the heavenly mystery had come to them from heaven.

The Venerable Bede: Again, when our Lord descends from the Mount of Olives, the multitude also descends, because since the Author of mercy has suffered humiliation, it is necessary that all who need His mercy follow His footsteps.