But the chief priests and the scribes and the princ.i.p.al men of the people sought to destroy him: and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
JESUS AND THE MONEY-CHANGERS.
By Heinrich Hofmann [End ill.u.s.tration]
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III
IN THE TEMPLE.
_How the Lord Jesus Drove the Money Changers from the House of G.o.d_.
(THE WEEK OF THE CRUCIFIXION--MONDAY.)
On Monday, Jesus came into the city, and taught, but we know little of what he said on this day. Perhaps it was on this day that the following incident occurred, by which he taught that G.o.d"s house should be pure:--
And Jesus entered into the temple of G.o.d, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves; and he saith unto them, "It is written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.""
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple: and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the son of David"; they were moved with indignation, and said unto him, "Hearest thou what these are saying?"
And Jesus saith unto them, "Yea: did ye never read, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise"?"
And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.
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IV
LAST DAYS IN JERUSALEM
_How the Lord Jesus Spoke with Those that Hated Him_.
(THE WEEK OF THE CRUCIFIXION--TUESDAY.)
And it came to pa.s.s, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders; and they spoke, saying unto him, "Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?"
And he answered and said unto them, "I also will ask you a question; and tell me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?"
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we shall say, "From heaven"; he will say, "Why did ye not believe him?" But if we shall say, "From men"; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
And they answered that they knew not whence it was.
And Jesus said unto them, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." And he told them--
_The Story of the Wicked Husbandmen_.
Jesus said, "A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long {239} time. And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And he sent yet a third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth. And the lord of the vineyard said, "What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him."
"But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, "This is the heir: let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours." And they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others."
And when they heard it they said, "G.o.d forbid." But he looked upon them, and said, "What then is this that is written,--
"The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner"?
"Everyone that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust."
And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they saw that he spoke this parable against them. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which pretended to be righteous, that they might take hold of his {240} speech, so as to deliver him up to the authority of the governor.
_The Question About Tribute_.
And they asked him, saying, "Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth teachest the way of G.o.d: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"
But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, "Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it?"
And they said, "Caesar"s."
And he said unto them, "Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar"s, and unto G.o.d the things that are G.o.d"s."
And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people: and they marveled at his answer, and held their peace.
_The Greatest of All Commandments_.
And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, "What commandment is the first of all?"
Jesus answered, "The first is, "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our G.o.d, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy G.o.d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." The second is this, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." There is none other commandment greater than these."
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.
From a photograph taken by Mrs. Fontaine Meriwether, and used by her kind permission
This view is near the top of the mountain on the road which winds over it towards Bethany.
[End ill.u.s.tration]
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