No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth _it_ under a bushel, or under a bed: but setteth _it_ on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, that shall not be known and come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
And he said unto them,
Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
And his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them,
He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked _one_; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire: so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was full, they drew to sh.o.r.e, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus saith unto them,
Have ye understood all these things?
They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them,
Therefore every scribe _which is_ instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man _that is_ an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure _things_ new and old.
Then came to him _his_ mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him _by certain_ which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them,
My mother and my brethren are those which hear the word of G.o.d and do it.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE HOMELESS SAVIOUR--THE STORM--DEMONIAC.
And it came to pa.s.s, _that_ when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. And the same day, when the even was come, when Jesus saw great mult.i.tudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him,
The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air _have_ nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay _his_ head.
And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him,
Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
And when they had sent away the mult.i.tude, and when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And he said unto them,
Let us go over unto the other side of the lake.
And there were also with him other little ships. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and, behold, there came down a great storm of wind, on the lake: and the waves beat into the ship, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves; and they were filled _with water_, and were in jeopardy. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and his disciples came to _him_, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: Master, master, carest thou not that we perish? And he saith unto them,
Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
Then he arose and rebuked the winds, and the raging of the water: and said unto the sea,
Peace, be still.
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them,
Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
But the men marvelled, and they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this? for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in _any_ house, but in the tombs; exceeding fierce, so that no man might pa.s.s by that way: and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any _man_ tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and fell down before him, and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, _thou_ Son of the most high G.o.d? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? I adjure thee by G.o.d, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him,
Come out of the man _thou_ unclean spirit.
(For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) And Jesus asked him, saying,
What is thy name?
And he said Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
And there was a good way off from them, nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. When they that fed _them_ saw what was done, they fled, and went and told _it_ in the city and in the country: and told everything, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
And, behold, the whole city came out to see what it was that was done.
And they come to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. They also which saw _it_ told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed; and _also_ concerning the swine. Then the whole mult.i.tude of the country of the Gadarenes round about, besought _him_ that he would depart out of their coast: for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
And when he was come into the ship, the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him,
Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compa.s.sion on thee.
And he departed and began to publish throughout the whole city (in Decapolis) how great things Jesus had done for him: and all _men_ did marvel.
And he entered into a ship, and pa.s.sed over, and came into his own city.
And it came to pa.s.s, that, when Jesus was returned again by ship unto the other side, much people _gladly_ received him: for they were all waiting for him. And he was nigh unto the sea.
CHAPTER XXII.
CHILD HEALED--TOUCH OF FAITH--TWO BLIND MEN--EATS WITH PUBLICANS, ETC.
And it came to pa.s.s, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw _it_, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard _that_, he said unto them,
They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what _that_ meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.