“And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”
Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me — the beatitude for the one who is not offended by Jesus is the application to John's potential struggle: the imprisoned forerunner who sees the miracles but not the political deliverance he may have expected. Stumble (skandalisthē): the one who finds Jesus' ministry a stumbling block rather than a stepping stone. The blessing is for those who receive him as he is rather than as they expected.
Church Fathers on Luke 7:23
Certain of His disciples relate to the holy Baptist the miracle which was as known to all the inhabitants of Judea and Galilee, as it follows, And they told John, &c.
Not, as it seems to me, in simpleness of heart, but provoked by envy. For in another place also they complain, Rabbi, he that was with you beyond Jordan, behold the same baptizes, and all men come to him.
But we are then most raised up to Him when we are fallen into straits. John therefore, being cast into prison, takes the opportunity, when his disciples were most in need of Jesus, to send them to Christ. For it follows, And John calling two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Are you he that should come, &c.
Read all 13 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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