Page images
PDF
EPUB

10 or, if he shall ask a fish, will give him a serpent? If1 ye 11 therefore, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your

children, how much more will your Father, that is in hea12 ven, give good things to those that ask him? All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye likewise so unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.

13

2

"Enter in by the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and there are 14 many that enter by it. How strait is the gate, and how narrow is the way which leadeth to life; and how few are there 15 who find it! But beware of false prophets, who come to you 16 in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. By

their fruits ye will know them. Do men gather grapes from 17 thorns, or figs from thistles? In like manner every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth 18 bad fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit; nor 19 can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into 20 the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye will know them.

21

"Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord3, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the 22 will of my Father that is in heaven. Many will say unto me in that day, 'Lord, Lord3, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out demons? and in thy name 23 done many wonderful works?' But I will then declare unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.'

24

"Whosoever therefore heareth these words of mine and doeth them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his 25 house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and* 26 it fell not: for it was founded on a rock. And whosoever heareth these words of mine and doeth them not, will be

[ocr errors]

or Since. See 1 Thess. iv. 14. Sn. Because, R. T. 3 or, Master, Master, N. m. 4 or, yet, Sn.

likened to a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and the fall of it was great."

28

And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these words, 29 that the people were amazed at his teaching: for he taught them as having authority; and not as the Scribes.

CH. VIII.

2

Now when Jesus was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

AND, behold, a leper came and did him obeisance *, say3 ing, "Sir, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." And Jesus stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, “I will; be thou made clean." And immediately his leprosy 4 was made clean. Then Jesus saith unto him, "See thou tell no man; but go show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded; for a testimony unto them." 5 AND When Jesus had entered into Capernaum, a centurion 6 came to him, beseeching him, and saying, "Sir, my servant 7 lieth at home sick of the palsy, greatly afflicted." And Jesus saith unto him, "I will come and cure him."

8 Then the centurion answered and said, "Sir, I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: but only 9 command by word', and my servant will be healed. For I also, who am a man under authority, have soldiers under me and I say to this man, 'Go,' and he goeth, and to another, 'Come,' and he cometh and to my servant, 'Do 10 this,' and he doeth it." And when Jesus heard it, he wondered, and said to those who followed, "Verily, I say unto 11 you, I have not found so great faith, even in Israel. And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall place themselves at table with Abraham, 12 and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: but the I speak the word, R. T. 2 be guests with, N. shall recline, Gr.

* Comp. Luke v. 12. also Matt. ix. 18, with Luke viii. 41. Mark v. 22, Matt. xviii, 26, 29. Sn.

heirs of the kingdom shall be put forth into the outer dark13 ness: there will be weeping, and gnashing of teeth." And

14

Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; and according as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee." And his servant was healed in that very hour.

And Jesus came into Peter's house, and saw his wife's 15 mother lying on a bed, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her and she arose, and ministered to them.

16

:

Now when evening was come, many that had demons were brought unto him: and he cast out the spirits with a word, 17 and cured all who were sick: so that it was fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, saying, “He took away our infirmities, and removed our diseases."

18

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave 19 commandment to depart unto the other side of the lake. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, "Master, I will 20 follow thee whithersoever thou goest." And Jesus saith unto him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have roosts: but the Son of man hath not where to rest his 21 head." And another of his disciples said unto him, "Sir, 22 suffer me first to go and bury my father." But Jesus said

unto him, "Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” 23 And when Jesus had gone into a ship, his disciples followed 24 him. And, behold, a great tempest rose in the lake, so that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And the disciples' came near, and awoke him, saying, "Sir, 26 save us: 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 sea: and there was a great calm. 27 And the men wondered, saying, "What great man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

28

And when he was come to the other side, into the country

[blocks in formation]

of the Gergesenes, there met him two who had demons*, coming out of the sepulchres, very fierce, so that no man 29 could pass along by that way. And, lo, they cried out, saying,

"What have we to do with thee, thou Son of God'? Art 30 thou come hither to torment us before the time?" Now there was at some distance from them an herd of many swine 31 feeding. So the demons besought him, saying, “If thou 32 cast us out, send us into the herd of swine?." And he said

unto them, "Go." And when they were come out, they went into the swine3: and, lo, the whole herd* ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and perished in the waters. 33 And those who kept them fled, and went away into the city,

and told all this; and the things concerning those that had 34 the demons. And, lo, the whole city came out to meet Jesus:

and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their borders.

CH. IX. AND he went into a ship, and passed over, and came 2 to his own city. And, behold, there was brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of the palsy, "Take courage, 3 son; thy sins are forgiven thee +." And, behold, some of the Scribes said within themselves, "This man blasphemeth.” 4 But Jesus perceived their thoughts ‡, and said, “Why 5 think ye evil in your hearts? For which is easier? to say, 'Thy sins are forgiven?' or to say, 'Arise, and walk?'

[ocr errors]

1 Jesus, thou Son of God, R. T. suffer us to go away into, &c. R. T. 3 Herd of swine, R.T. That is, the insanity passed into the swine. 4 of swine, R. T. 5 forgiven thee, R. T. and N.

* Two madmen.

+ It is well known that an opinion prevailed among the Jews that diseases, accidents, and other calamities, were inflicted in consequence of some particu lar crimes. See John ix. 2. Luke xiii. 1,5. In allusion to this opinion our Lord says to the sick man, “Thy sins are forgiven thee;" i. e, thy disorder has left thee. See Mark ii. 5, 11.

So Elisha perceived the purpose of Gehazi. 2 Kings, v. 26. This power of discerning spirits was occasionally communicated to the apostles and their converts. Acts v. 1 Cor. xii. 10.

10

6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," (then he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 7'Arise, take up thy bed, and go to thine house."" And he 8 arose, and departed to his house. And when the multitudes saw it, they wondered and glorified God, who had given such power to men *.

9 And as Jesus passed by from that place, he saw a man named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom; and saith unto him, "Follow me." And Matthew rose up, and followed him.

And it came to pass as Jesus was at meat in the house of Matthew, that, behold, many publicans and sinners came, 11 and placed themselves with him and his disciples. And when

the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, "Why eateth 12 your Master with publicans and sinners?" But when Jesus

heard that, he said unto them, "Those that are well need 13 not a physician, but those that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, 'I desire pity, and not sacrifice:' for I came not to call righteous men but sinners"."

14

Then the disciples of John come to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but thy disciples fast 15 not?" And Jesus said unto them, "Can the companions of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall 16 be taken from them; and then they will fast. Now no man

putteth a piece of unwrought cloth upon an old garment: for the piece which filleth it up taketh from the garment, and 17 a worse rent is made. Nor do men put new wine into old skins: otherwise the skins are burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins will be marred: but they put new wine into new skins, and both are preserved.”

Or, were struck with fear, Mss. N. m.

2 to repentance, R. T. and N.

* Plural for singular. See Chap. xxvii. 44, and note. Sn.

« PreviousContinue »