Christ healeth multitudes. S. Matthew. Four thousand fed. 24 But he answered, and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord help me. 26 But he answered, and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.e 27 And she said, Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table. 28 Then Jesus answered, and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. 29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee, and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet, and he healed them; 31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame e Jesus in order to exercise the faith of this Gentile woman, addressed her, as if he were under the same prejudice as other Jews, who regarded the Gentiles as unworthy the blessings of God, and deserving no better treatment than dogs. to walk, and the blind to see; and they glorified the God of Israel. 32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness as to fill so great a multitude? 34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37 And they did all eat, and were filled; and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. 38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. CHAP. XVI. 1 The Pharisees desire a sign. 6 The leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 21 Christ foreshoweth his death. Christ warns his disciples. Chap. xvi. THE Pharisees also, with the Sadducees, came, and tempting, desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.a 2 He answered, and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red: 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day, for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites! ye can discern the face of the sky; but ean ye not discern the signs of the times ? b 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. 5 ¶ And when his disciples were come to the other side they had forgotten to take bread. 6¶ Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees. 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is be a A sign from heaven, a miracle; they wished to see our Saviour produce some wonderful appearance in the heavens. b Signs of the times; Do you not perceive, by comparing the present state of the world with prophecy, and by the correspondence of my miracles with those, which should be performed by the Messiah, that this is the time of his coming, and that I am indeed the very person, your long expected Saviour? Opinions of Christ. cause we have taken no bread. 8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread ? 9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; c and others, Jeremias,d or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. e Elias, Elijah. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona, e for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter;f and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hellg shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven, h 20 Then charged he his disciples, that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. 21 ¶ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and his death. be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan; thou art an offence unto me; for thou savourest i not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, j and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it;k and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here which shall not taste of deathl till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. iSavourest, approvest. j Let him deny himself temporal care and enjoyment, bear patiently any hardship for my sake and the Gospel, and follow my example. k Whosoever will save and prolong his present life, rather than expose it, if necessary, for me and my religion, shall lose it forever. Not taste of death, shall not die. Christ's transfiguration. Chap. xvii. CHAP. XVII. 1 Transfiguration of Christ; 14 he healeth the lunatic. AND after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured be fore them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; a if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; b one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and, behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 Ånd when the disciples heard it they fell on their faees, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes they saw no man, save c Jesus only. a It is good for us to stay or continue here. b Tabernacle, a place of public worship or of temporary residence ; a tent. c Save, except. Of Elias. 9 And, as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. 10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias d must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not; but have done unto him whatsoever they listed; e likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. 14 ¶ And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is lunatic, and sore vexed; for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation! how long shall I be with you? how long d Elias, Elijah. e Listed, pleased. shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil, and he departed out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, f and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief; for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, g ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit, this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. 22 ¶ And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men; 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. 24 And when they were come to Capernaum, h they that received tribute-money i came to Peter, and said, Doth Master pay tribute? not your 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the f Apart, privately. g If you had but a small degree of faith, no more comparatively than a grain of mustard-seed. b Capernaum, see note, Matt. iv. 13. i Tribute, toll or tax. Of paying tribute. house Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom tribute? of their own children, or of strangers ? or 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.j 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money; that take, and give unto them for me and thee. CHAP. XVIII. 1 Christ teacheth to be humble. 7 Touching offences, 21 and forgiving one another. AT the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, a To understand j Children free. this verse and the others in contexion, it should be remembered, that the tribute here exacted was for the support of the temple, from which Jesus, as being the Son of God, whose house the temple was, ought to have been exempted. a As little children, humble and teachable. |