"And We sent after him messengers in succession," meaning: We followed him with them. "And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs." Al-Kalbi said: Meaning, the signs that Jesus, peace be upon him, used to show them. "And We supported him," meaning: We aided him, "with the Holy Spirit," meaning: Gabriel, peace be upon him.
Muhammad said: The root of al-Quds is purity. "So is it [not true] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed?" When the Prophet, peace be upon him, said this to them, they remained silent, realizing it was revelation from God reproaching them for what they had done. So they said: "O Muhammad, our hearts are wrapped"—meaning, we do not comprehend or understand what you say. They were vessels for knowledge, [implying that] if you were truthful, we would have understood what you say.
﴿وقفينا من بعده بالرسل﴾ أَي: أتبعناه بهم ﴿وَآتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْن مَرْيَم الْبَينَات﴾ قَالَ الْكَلْبِيّ: يَعْنِي: الْآيَات الَّتي كَانَ يُرِيهم عيسي عليه السلام ﴿وأيدناه﴾ أعناه ﴿بِروح الْقُدس﴾ يَعْنِي: جِبْرِيل عليه السلام.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: أصل الْقُدس: الطَّهَارَة. ﴿أَفَكُلَّمَا جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَى أَنْفُسُكُمُ اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تقتلون﴾ فَلَمَّا قَالَ لَهُم النَّبِي عليه السلام هَذَا سكتوا، وَعرفُوا أَنَّهُ وَحي من اللَّه عيرهم بِمَا صَنَعُوا، فَقَالُوا: يَا مُحَمَّد ﴿قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ﴾ لَا نعقل وَلا نفقه مَا تَقُولُ، وَكَانَت أوعية للْعلم، فَلَو كنت صَادِقا سَمِعْنَا مَا تَقُولُ.
