(16)Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore prudent as serpents, and harmless as doves. (17)But be on your guard against men: for they will deliver you up to the sanhedrim, and scourge you in their synagogues. (18)And ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the heathen. (19)But when they shall deliver you up, be under no anxiety what ye shall say; for it shall be given you in that very hour what ye should speak: (20)for it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father which is speaking in you. (21)Then brother shall surrender brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. (22)And ye shall be hated of all men for my name"s sake: but he that endureth to the end, that man shall be saved.
(23)But when they shall persecute you in one city, flee unto another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not complete your circuit through the cities of Israel before the Son of man comes. (24)The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the servant above his master. (25)It is sufficient if the disciple be as his teacher, and the servant as his master. If they have called the master of the family Beelzebub, how much more his domestics? (26)However, fear them not: for there is nothing concealed, which shall not be discovered; nor hid, which shall not be known. (27)What I say unto you in the dark, publish in the light: and what ye hear whispered into the ear, proclaim upon the roofs.
(28)And be not afraid of those who kill the body, and cannot kill the soul: but fear him rather who is able to destroy both soul and body in h.e.l.l. (29)Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father. (30)But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. (31)Fear not, therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
(32)Every one therefore who shall make confession of me before men, of him will I also make confession before my Father who is in heaven.
(33)But whosoever shall disown me before men, him will I also disown before my Father who is in heaven.
(34)Think not that I am come to bring peace to the earth: I came not to bring peace, but a sword. (35)For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (36)And the enemies of a man shall be those of his own house. (37)He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. (38)And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
(39)He that preserveth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall preserve it. (40)He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. (41)He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive the reward of a prophet; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive the reward of a righteous man. (42)And whosoever shall give to one of these little ones, if but a cup of cold water to drink, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
CHAP. XI.
AND it came to pa.s.s, when Jesus had finished his injunctions to his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities.
(2)Then John, having heard in prison the works of Christ, sent two of his disciples, (3)and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or should we expect another? (4)And Jesus answering said unto them, Go, and tell John what things ye hear and see. (5)The blind receive sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (6)And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended at me.
(7)And when they were gone, Jesus began to speak to the mult.i.tudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? (8)But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in delicate garments? Lo! they who wear delicate garments are in the houses of kings. (9)Yet what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and abundantly more than a prophet. (10)For this is he of whom it is written, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee." (11)Verily I say unto you, There hath not arisen, from those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the least in the kingdom of G.o.d is greater than he. (12)But from the days of John the Baptist unto the present, the kingdom of heaven is a.s.saulted by violence, and the invaders forcibly seize upon it. (13)For all the prophets and the law until John, foretold _this_.
(14)And if ye will receive it, this is Elias who was to come. (15)He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
(16)But to whom shall I resemble this generation? it is like little boys sitting in the places of concourse, and calling to their companions, (17)and saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have sung mournful ditties to you, and ye have not beat your b.r.e.a.s.t.s. (18)For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil: (19)the Son of man is come eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, what a man! a glutton and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners: though wisdom hath been justified by her children.
(20)Then began he to upbraid the cities in which the chief of his miracles had been wrought, because they repented not: (21)Wo unto thee, Chorazin! wo unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the miracles which had been wrought in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, long since would they have repented in sack-cloth and ashes. (22)Wherefore I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. (23)And thou, Capernaum, who hast been exalted unto heaven, shalt be cast down to h.e.l.l: for if the miracles which have been wrought in thee had been done in Sodom, it had remained unto this day.
(24)Wherefore I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee.
(25)At that time Jesus spake and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and the intelligent, and hast revealed them to babes: (26)yes, Father! since such is thy good pleasure. (27)All things are delivered up to me by my Father: and no person knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any person the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son is pleased to reveal him.
(28)Come to me, all who labour hard, and sustain heavy burdens, and I will give you relief. (29)Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest to your souls.
(30)For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
CHAP. XII.
AT that time Jesus walked through corn-fields on a sabbath-day; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
(2)But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Behold, thy disciples do a thing that it is not lawful to do on the sabbath. (3)And he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they who were with him? (4)how they went into the house of G.o.d, and did eat the loaves of shew-bread, of which it was not lawful for him or those who were with him to eat, but for the priests alone? (5)Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbaths the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are not culpable? (6)Now I tell you, That one greater than the temple is here. (7)But if ye had known what that meant, I desire mercy and not sacrifice; ye would not have condemned the innocent. (8)For the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
(9)And going on from thence, he came into their synagogue; (10)and, behold a man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on sabbath days? that they might accuse him. (11)Then he said to them; What man of you is there who hath one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath, doth he not lay hold on him, and lift him out? (12)Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath days.
(13)Then saith he to the man, Stretch out thy hand; and he stretched it out, and it was restored, sound as the other.
(14)Then the Pharisees went out, and held a consultation against him, how they might make away with him. (15)But Jesus knew it, and retired from thence, and great mult.i.tudes followed him, and he healed them all, (16)and charged them that they should not make him known. (17)That what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, (18)"Behold, my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul delighteth: I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim judgment for the heathen. (19)He shall not contend, nor be clamorous; neither shall any man in the streets hear his voice. (20)A bruised reed shall he not break down, and smoking flax shall he not quench, until he break forth in judgment for victory. (21)And in his name shall the Gentiles hope."
(22)Then was brought to him a demoniac, blind and dumb; and he cured him, so as to enable the blind and dumb both to speak and see. (23)And all the mult.i.tudes were lost in amazement, and they said, Is not this the son of David? (24)But the Pharisees hearing them, said, This fellow casteth not out devils, but by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils.
(25)But Jesus knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself will be desolated; and every city, or family, divided against itself cannot subsist: (26)so if Satan cast out Satan; he is divided against himself; how then can his kingdom subsist?
(27)And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. (28)But if I by the Spirit of G.o.d cast out the devils, then truly the kingdom of G.o.d is come unto you. (29)Else how can one enter into a strong man"s house and plunder his goods, except he first bind the strong man, and then will he plunder his goods? (30)He that is not with me, is against me; and he that a.s.sociates not with me, scattereth abroad. (31)Therefore I say unto you, All sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven to men. (32)And whosoever may speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come.
(33)Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by the fruit.
(34)Ye broods of vipers, how can ye speak good things, yourselves being wicked? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (35)A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and a wicked man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evil things. (36)But I tell you, That every idle word which men speak, for it shall they give an account in the day of judgment.
(37)For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
(38)Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees addressed him, saying, Master, we desire to see a sign from thee. (39)But he answered and said unto them, A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh a sign; and no sign shall be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet: (40)for as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights; so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. (41)The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment against this generation, and condemn it: for they repented on the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here. (42)The queen of the South shall rise up in judgment against the men of this generation, and condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
(43)When the unclean spirit is indeed gone out of a man, he traverses through places dest.i.tute of water, in search of rest, but cannot find it. (44)Then he saith, I will return to my mansion, whence I came; and on his arrival, he findeth it unoccupied, swept, and furnished.
(45)Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.
(46)And while he was yet speaking to the mult.i.tudes, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak to him. (47)And a person said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak to thee. (48)But he answered and said to him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? (49)And stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said, Behold my mother and my brethren. (50)For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
CHAP. XIII. THEN the same day Jesus going out from the house, sat down near the sea. (2)And vast mult.i.tudes were gathered together unto him, insomuch that he entered into a vessel to be seated; and all the mult.i.tude stood on the beach. (3)And he spake unto them many things in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went out to sow: (4)and as he was sowing, some seeds fell indeed by the road-side; and the birds came and ate them up: (5)and other seed fell on a rocky soil, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: (6)and when the sun arose, it was scorched up; and because it had no root, it withered away. (7)And other seeds fell among the thorns; and the thorns sprang up and choked them: (8)but others fell on good ground, and produced fruit, some an hundred, some sixty, and some thirty. (9)He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (10)And when his disciples came, they said to him, Why speakest thou to them in parables? (11)And he answered and said unto them, Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (12)For whosoever hath, more shall be given to him, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, even that he hath shall be taken from him. (13)Therefore I speak to them in parables: that seeing, they may not see; and hearing, they may not hear nor understand. (14)And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, With the hearing ye shall hear, and not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and in no wise perceive: (15)for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and with their ears they have heard heavily, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with the eves, and hear with the ears, and understand with the heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. (16)But blessed are your eyes; for ye see: and your ears; for ye hear. (17)For verily I tell you, That many prophets and righteous men have greatly desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (18)Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
(19)When any person heareth the word of the kingdom, and doth not understand it, the wicked one cometh, and s.n.a.t.c.heth away what was sown on his heart: such is he who is the sown by the road-side. (20)But the sown on the rocky soil, is he who having heard the word, and instantly with joy receiving it, (21)hath not really root in himself, but is merely temporary: and when tribulation or persecution ariseth for the word"s sake, immediately he is stumbled. (22)But the sown among the thorns, is he who heareth the word, and the anxiety about this world and the deceitfulness of riches, choketh the word, and it becometh unfruitful. (23)But the sown upon the good ground, is he who heareth the word, and understandeth it; who truly beareth fruit, and produceth, one an hundred fold, and another sixty, and another thirty.
(24)Another parable proposed he to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man who sowed good seed in his field: (25)and while the men were asleep, his enemy came and sowed zizane among the wheat, and departed. (26)But when the blade was shot up, and produced fruit, then appeared also the zizane. (27)The servants of the proprietor came, and said to him, Master, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it the zizane? (28)He saith unto them, Some man, an enemy, hath done this. Then the servants said to him, Wilt thou that we go and weed them out? (29)he replied, No; lest perhaps in weeding out the zizane, we root up the wheat with them. (30)Let them both grow together till the harvest: and at the harvest-time I will say to the reapers, Gather out first the zizane, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
(31)Another parable he proposed to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard, which a man took and sowed in his field: (32)which indeed is among the smallest of all seeds; but when it is grown, it is among the greatest of herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make their nests in the branches of it.
(33)Another parable spake he to them: The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and covered up in three measures of flour, until the whole was leavened. (34)All these things spake Jesus in parables to the mult.i.tudes; and without a parable he spake not to them: (35)that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables, I will bring forth things hid from the foundation of the world.
(36)Then Jesus dismissing the mult.i.tudes, went into a house; and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the zizane of the field. (37)And he replying said to them, He that sowed the good seed, is the Son of man; (38)the field is the world: and the good seed are those who are the children of the kingdom; but the zizane are the children of the wicked one; (39)the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. (40)As therefore the zizane are gathered, and burned in the fire; just so shall it be at the end of this world. (41)The Son of man shall send out his angels, and shall gather together out of his kingdom all things offensive, and those who practise iniquity; (42)and will cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (43)Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
(44)Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field: which when a man findeth, he hideth, and for joy thereof, goeth away and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
(45)Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchantman in search of beautiful pearls: (46)who, having discovered one of vast price, went away and sold all that he possessed, and bought it.
(47)Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and colleting fish of every kind: (48)which, when it was full, they drew to the beach, and sitting down, selected the good into baskets, but cast those of a bad kind away. (49)Just so shall it be at the end of this world: the angels shall go forth, and shall separate the wicked from amidst the just, (50)and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (51)Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? (52)They say unto him, Yes, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man, the master of a family, who bringeth out of his storehouse things new and old.
(53)And it came to pa.s.s, when Jesus had finished there parables, he departed thence. (54)And coming into his own country, taught them in their synagogues, so that they were exceedingly struck, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these miracles? (55)Is not this the carpenter"s son? is not his mother called Mary? his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? (56)and his sisters, are they not all among us? whence then hath he all these things? (57)And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not disrespected, except in his own country, and in his own family. (58)And he did not there many miracles because of their unbelief.
CHAP. XIV.
AT that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report of Jesus, (2)and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore miracles are wrought by him. (3)For Herod having seized John, had bound him, and put him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother. (4)For John said unto him, It is unlawful for thee to have her. (5)And though he wished to kill him, he was afraid of the mult.i.tude, for they held him as a prophet. (6)But when Herod"s birth-day was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced in the circle, and pleased Herod: (7)so that with an oath he promised to give her whatever she should ask. (8)And she, being previously urged on by her mother, said, Give me here, in a s.p.a.cious dish, the head of John the Baptist. (9)And the king was grieved: but for his oath"s sake, and on account of those who were with him, he commanded it to be given her.
(10)And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. (11)And his head was brought on a large dish, and was given to the young lady: and she brought it to her mother. (12)And his disciples came and took the body, and buried it, and they came and told Jesus. (13)And when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from thence in a vessel into a desert place apart: and when the mult.i.tudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.
(14)And when Jesus was come forth, he saw a great mult.i.tude, and was moved with compa.s.sion towards them, and healed their sick. (15)But when evening was come, his disciples came unto him, saying, The place is desert, and the day is far advanced; send the mult.i.tude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves provisions. (16)But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart: give ye them to eat. (17)And they said unto him, We have nothing here except five loaves and two fishes.
(18)Then he said, Bring them hither to me. (19)And he commanded the mult.i.tude to sit down on the gra.s.s, and taking the five loaves and the two fishes, looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the mult.i.tude.
(20)And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up the superabundance of the fragments, twelve baskets full. (21)And they who had eaten, were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
(22)And immediately Jesus compelled his disciples to go on board the vessel, and pa.s.s before him to the other side, while he dismissed the people.
(23)And when he had sent away the mult.i.tude, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when evening came, he was there alone. (24)But the vessel was already in the midst of the sea, tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary. (25)Then at the fourth watch of the night came Jesus unto them, walking on the sea. (26)And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were greatly agitated, saying, It is his apparition. And they cried out with terror. (27)And immediately Jesus spake to them, saying, Be of good courage: it is I; be not terrified.
(28)Then Peter answering, said, Lord, if it be thou, command me to come unto thee upon the waters. (29)And he said, Come. And descending from the vessel, Peter walked upon the waters to come to Jesus. (30)But seeing the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink in the deep, he cried out, saying, Lord save me. (31)Then immediately Jesus stretching out his hand, laid hold on him, and said to him, O thou of little faith, wherefore dost thou doubt? (32)And when they came aboard the vessel, the wind ceased. (33)And they who were in the vessel, came and worshipped him, saying, Truly thou art the Son of G.o.d.
(34)And pa.s.sing over, they came to the land of Gennesareth. (35)And when the men of that place knew him, they sent into all that neighbourhood, and brought to him all that had illnesses: (36)and they besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment: and as many as touched it were cured.
CHAP. XV.
THEN came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, saying, (2)Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread? (3)And he answering said to them, And why do you transgress the command of G.o.d, by your tradition? (4)For G.o.d commanded, saying "Honour thy father and thy mother:" and, He that curseth father or mother, let him surely die. (5)But ye say, If any man declare to his father or mother, This is a _devoted_ gift, which else might have been employed by me for thy advantage; (6)then he shall not with it honour his father and mother: so have ye vacated the command of G.o.d by your tradition. (7)Ye hypocrites, well hath Isaiah prophesied concerning you, saying, (8)This people draweth nigh to me with their mouths, and honoureth me with the lips, but their heart is far distant from me. (9)But in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines the commandments of men. (10)And he called to him the mult.i.tude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: (11)not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but what cometh out of the mouth, that defileth the man.
(12)Then his disciples approaching, said to him, Knowest thou how offended the Pharisees were at hearing that speech? (13)Then he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up. (14)Leave them to themselves: they are blind leaders of the blind. But if the blind lead the blind, they will both fall into the pit. (15)Then Peter answering said unto him, Explain to us this parable. (16)And Jesus said, Are ye also to this time dest.i.tute of intelligence? (17)Do ye not observe, that every thing which entereth into the mouth pa.s.seth into the belly, and is ejected into the vault? (18)But the things which go forth out of the mouth, come out of the heart, and they are the things which defile a man: (19)for out of the heart proceed wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, wh.o.r.edoms, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies: (20)these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands doth not defile a man.
(21)And going forth thence, Jesus retired into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. (22)And lo! a woman of Canaan coming out of these coasts, cried aloud, saying to him, Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David: my daughter is a grievous demoniac. (23)But he replied not a word to her. Then his disciples came and intreated him, saying, Send her away; for she is crying aloud after us. (24)But he said in reply, I am not sent, save only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (25)Then she came, and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me! (26)But he answering said, It is not proper to take the children"s bread and throw it to the dogs.
(27)And she said, True, Lord: yet even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master"s table. (28)Then Jesus answering said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith! be it unto thee even as thou desirest. And her daughter was cured from that hour.