Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And Jesus said unto the centurion,
Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, _so_ be it done unto thee.
And his servant was healed in the self-same hour. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
CHAPTER XVII.
WIDOW OF NAIN--MESSENGERS OF JOHN--WOES ON CAPERNAUM.
And it came to pa.s.s the day after, that he went into a city called Nain: and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compa.s.sion on her, and said unto her,
Weep not.
And he came and touched the bier, and they that bare _him_ stood still.
And he said,
Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified G.o.d, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That G.o.d hath visited his people. And this rumor of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about. And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of _their_ infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many _that were_ blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them,
Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard: how that the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is _he_, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
And when the messengers of John were departed, Jesus began to say unto the mult.i.tudes concerning John,
What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft _clothing_--they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in king"s courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet?
yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is _he_ of whom it is written, Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater prophet than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive _it_, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
And all the people that heard _him_, and the publicans, justified G.o.d, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of G.o.d against themselves, being not baptized of him. And the Lord said,
Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the market place, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a wine bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children.
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
Woe unto thee Chorasin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to h.e.l.l: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
At that time Jesus answered and said,
I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and _he_ to whomsoever the Son will reveal _him_.
Come unto me, all _ye_ that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke _is_ easy, and my burden is light.
CHAPTER XVIII.
WOMAN WASHES JESUS" FEET--BLIND AND DUMB DEVIL--BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST.
And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee"s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that _Jesus_ sat at meat in the Pharisee"s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind _him_ weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe _them_ with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and annointed _them_ with the ointment.
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw _it_, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman _this is_ that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him,
Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.
And he saith, Master, say on.
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
Simon answered and said, I suppose that _he_, to whom he forgave most.
And he said unto him,
Thou hast rightly judged.
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon,
Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped _them_ with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss; but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, _the same_ loveth little.
And he said unto her,
Thy sins are forgiven.
And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman,
Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
And it came to pa.s.s afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of G.o.d: and the twelve _were_ with him. And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils. And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod"s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
And they went into an house.
And the mult.i.tude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. And when his friends heard _of it_, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb; and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
But when the Pharisees and the scribes which came down from Jerusalem heard _it_, they said, He hath Beelzebub. This _fellow_ doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts. And he called them _unto him_, and said unto them in parables,