"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the {201} sheep. All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture. The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf s.n.a.t.c.heth them, and scattereth them: he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father."
After these and other sayings, the Jews being angry with him, sought again to take him, but he escaped from them.
And he went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John was at the first baptizing; and there he abode. And many came unto him; and they said, "John indeed did no sign: but all things whatsoever John spoke of this man were true." And many believed on him there.
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X
STORIES OF THE DIVINE FORGIVENESS
_How the Lord Jesus Spoke of the Love of G.o.d for Poor Sinners_.
Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receiveth sinners? and eateth with them."
And he told them--
_The Story of the Lost Sheep_.
He said, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost." I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, which need no repentance."
_The Story of the Lost Money_.
"What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and {203} seek diligently until she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost." Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of G.o.d over one sinner that repenteth."
_The Story of the Prodigal Son_.
"A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me." And he divided unto them his property. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
"And he would fain have been filled with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. But when he came to himself he said, "How many hired servants of my father"s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."
"And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compa.s.sion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, "Father, I have sinned against {204} heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son." But the father said to his servants, "Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be.
"And he said unto him, "Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound."
But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and intreated him. But he answered and said to his father, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf."
"And he said unto him, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine. But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.""
_The Story of the Dishonest Steward_.
"There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting {205} his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, "What is this that I hear of thee? render the account of thy stewardship; for thou canst be no longer steward." And the steward said within himself, "What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses." And calling to him each one of his lord"s debtors, he said to the first, "How much owest thou unto my lord?" And he said, "A hundred measures of oil."
And he said unto him, "Take thy account and sit down quickly and write fifty." Then said he to another, "And how much owest thou?" And he said, "A hundred measures of wheat." He saith unto him, "Take thy account, and write fourscore." And his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal habitations. He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another"s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve G.o.d and mammon."
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And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him. And he said unto them, "Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but G.o.d knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of G.o.d."
_The Story of the Rich Man and the Poor Man_.
"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day: and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man"s table; even the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pa.s.s, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham"s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame."
"But Abraham said, "Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedest thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they who would pa.s.s from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us."
"And he said, "I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father"s house; for I have five {207} brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment."
"But Abraham saith, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them."
"And he said, "Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent."
"And he said unto him, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.""
_The Story of the Men Who Made Excuses_.
And it came to pa.s.s, at another time, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.
And he said unto those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats, "When thou art bidden of any man to a marriage feast, sit not down in the chief seat; lest haply a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him, and he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, "Give this man place"; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, "Friend, go up higher": then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all who are at the feast with thee. For everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
And he said to him also that had bidden him, "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor {208} thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just."
And when one of those who sat at the feast with him heard these things, he said unto him, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of G.o.d." But he said unto him, "A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many: and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, "Come; for all things are now ready."
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, "I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it: I pray thee have me excused." And another said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused."
And another said, "I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come."
"And the servant came and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame." And the servant said, "Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room." And the lord said unto the servant, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men who were bidden shall taste of my supper.""
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
CHRIST AND THE RICH RULER By Heinrich Hofmann (1824- ) [End ill.u.s.tration]
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XI
THE RICH YOUNG MAN.
_How the Lord Jesus Spoke of the Evil of Pride, and of the Dangers of the Love of Riches_.
And as he was going forth, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"