shaken by the wind? Nay, what went you to 25 see? A man sumptuously apparelled? Lo! those who wear splendid apparel and fare luxuriously dwell in palaces. But what went you 26 to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and one greater than a prophet. This is he of 27 whom it is written, Lo! I send my messenger before thee, to prepare thy way.* For I tell you, 28 that among those born of women there has been no greater prophet than John the Baptist; but the humblest in the kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the common people 29 who heard him, even the tax-gatherers, honored God, and received the baptism of John; but the 30 Pharisees and the teachers of the Law rejected what God purposed for them, and were not baptized by him.

With what shall I compare the men of this 31 race? and to what are they like? It has been 32 as with children in the market-place, who call to others and say, We have piped for you, and you have not danced; we have sung a dirge to you, and you have not wept. For John the 33 Baptist came, not eating bread nor drinking

34 wine; and you say, He has a dæmon. The Son of Man has come eating and drinking; and you say, Lo! a glutton and a wine-drinker, 35 a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners. Yet wisdom is honored by all her children.

36 AND one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat

with him; and he went into the Pharisee's 87 house and took a place at table. And lo! a woman of the place who was a sinner, learning that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, 38 brought an alabaster bottle of precious oil, and standing behind at his feet, weeping, wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anoint39 ed them with the oil. But when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what this woman is who is 40 touching him, - that she is a sinner. And Jesus said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Teacher, say on. 41 And Jesus said, A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him five hundred denarii, 42 and the other fifty; and as they were unable to pay him, he freely remitted the debt of both. Say, then, which of them will love him most? Simon answered, He, I suppose, to whom he re- 43 mitted the most. Then Jesus said to him, You have judged correctly; and turning to the 44 woman, he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet; but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You 45 gave me no kiss; but she, since I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. My head you did 46 not anoint; but she has anointed my feet with precious oil. Therefore I say to you, Her many 47 sins have been forgiven; for she has loved much. But he to whom little is forgiven loves little. Then he said to her, Your sins have been for- 48 given. And those who were at table with him 49 began to say within themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins? But he said to the 50 woman, Your faith has saved you; go, and be in peace.

AFTERWARDS he travelled through the towns 8 and villages, proclaiming the joyful news of the kingdom of God. And the Twelve were with him, and certain women whom he had cured of 2 evil spirits and diseases, Mary, called Mary

of Magdala, who had been delivered from seven 3 dæmons, and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, a steward of Herod, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for his wants from what they possessed.

4

AND a great multitude having collected of those who went out to him from the different

towns, he spoke this parable.

5 The sower went forth to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the way-side, and were trodden under foot, and the birds of 6 heaven picked them up. And others fell on rocky ground; and as soon as they sprung up, 7 withered for want of moisture. And others fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up 8 with them and choked them. And others fell on good ground, and grew, and bore a hundred fold. Having thus spoken, he said, Let him who has ears to hear, attend.

9

And his disciples asked him the meaning of 10 this parable. And he said to them, To you it is given to know the new doctrines of the kingdom of God, but to others they are dark say

Ch. viii. 4-18. Compare Matthew xiii. 1-52; Mark iv. 1-34.

ings; so that seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not understand.* The parable is n this: - The seed is the doctrine of God. Those 12 by the way-side are hearers to whom the Devil comes, and takes away the doctrine from their minds, that they may not believe and be saved. And those on the rock are they who, when they 13 hear the doctrine, receive it with joy, but, as they have no root, their faith lasts but a little while, and in a time of trial they fall away. And the seeds falling among thorns are those 14 who, having listened, go away, and are choked by the cares and wealth and pleasures of the world, so as to yield no produce. And the seeds 15 in the good ground are those hearers who retain the doctrine in an honest and good mind, and persevere in yielding produce.

No one lights a lamp to cover it with a vessel 16 or to put it under a bench, but to set it on its stand, that those who come in may see its light. For nothing is hidden which will not be 17 brought to view, nor is anything secret which will not be made known and manifest.