Cornelius a Lapide

Nathanael saith , &c. “ Observe,” says S. Chrysostom, “ the consistency of the man. He is not puffed up by praise, but Digitized by V^rOOQie 72 he proceeds , to inquire accurately, that he may learn something certain about Christ.” Jesus answered , &c. “ When thou wast alone under the fig tree, and thoughtest that no one saw thee, I saw thee, and know what thou wast doing in secret there. Hence thou mayest gather that I am greater than man, even Messiah, the Son of God.” So S. Cyril, S. Augustine, and others. Mystically, S. Gregory {Moral. 1 . 18, c. 20), Under the fig tree, i.e.y beneath the shadow of the Law, I saw thee , that I might transfer thee to the vine of My Gospel Tropologically, learn from hence that God and Christ are everywhere present, and are to be feared, when thou art alone in thy chamber; yea, when thou secretly thinkest and desirest anything in thy heart, Christ is looking at thee, and beholding thy thoughts and desires. Take heed therefore lest thou do anything, or desire, or think anything, which will offend the eyes of His majesty. For so He beheld Nathanael, and what he was doing under the fig tree. So also God saw Adam under a fig tree eating its forbidden fruit