Page images
PDF
EPUB

29

tain woman of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, "Happy is the womb which bare thee, and the 28 breasts which thou hast sucked." But he said, "Yea, rather, happy are they that hear the word of God and keep it." And when the multitudes were gathered together about him, he began to say, "This is an evil generation: it seeketh after a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, except the 30 sign of Jonah': For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, 31 so will the Son of man also be to this generation. The queen of the south will rise in the judgement together with the men of this generation, and will condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of So32 lomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgement together with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here.

33

"Now no man, when he hath lighted a lamp, putteth it in a secret place, or under a measure, but on a stand; that 34 those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is thine eye; when therefore thine eye is clear, thy whole body also is enlightened; but when thine eye is dim, thy 35 body also is in darkness. Take heed therefore that the 36 light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be enlightened, having no part dark, the whole will be enlightened, as when a lamp enlighteneth thee by its brightness."

37

And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine 38 with him: and he went in, and placed himself at meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he wondered that Jesus had not 39 first washed his hands before dinner. Then the Lord said unto him, "Now ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and of the dish; but the inside of you is full of ra

of the prophet Jonah, R. T. and N. 2 the eye, R. T.

40 pine and maliciousness. Ye inconsiderate, did not he who 41 made the outside, make the inside also? But rather give in alms the things which ye have1; and, behold, all things are 42 clean unto you. But alas for you, Pharisees! for ye pay tithe of mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God: now these ought ye to have done, 43 and not to leave the other undone. Alas for you Pharisees! for ye love the chief seats in the synagogues, and sa44 lutations in the market-places. Alas for you! for ye are

as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over 45 them know it not." Then one of the teachers of the law

answered, and saith unto him, "Master, thus saying, thou 46 reproachest us also." And he said, "Alas for you teachers of the law also! because ye lade men with burthens hard to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burthens with 47 one of your fingers. Alas for you! because ye build the

sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 Ye therefore bear witness that ye consent to the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build [their 49 sepulchres]. Wherefore also the wisdom of God hath said,

'I will send unto them prophets and apostles; and some of 50 them they will kill, and persecute others: so that the blood of all the prophets which hath been shed from the founda51 of the world, will be required from this generation: from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the temple:' yes, I say unto you, 52 it will be required from this generation. Alas for you, teachers of the law! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye yourselves have not entered in, and those that were entering in ye have hindered."

58

And while he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be greatly incensed, and to provoke

1 give alms according to your ability, W. 2 scribes and Pharisees, hypoerites, R. T. 3 "consent not," N. upon the authority of the Cambridge and some Latin Mes.

54 him to speak of many things: [laying wait for him, and seeking] to catch something out of his mouth, [that they might accuse him.]

CH. XII. At which time, when many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, so that they trode upon one another, he began to say unto his disciples, "First of all, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 But there is nothing covered, which shall not be revealed; 3 or hidden, which shall not be known. Whatsoever things therefore ye have said in darkness, shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets, shall be proclaimed upon the house-tops.

4

"And I say unto you, my friends, Fear not those who kill the body, and afterward have no more which they can 5 do. But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him that, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yes, 6 I say unto you, Fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and yet not one of them is forgotten before 7 God: but even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 8 "I say also unto you, Whosoever shall confess me be

fore men, him the Son of man also will confess before the 9 angels of God. But he who denieth me before men, shall 10 be denied in the presence of the angels of God. And whoso

11

ever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it will be3 forgiven him; but unto him who blasphemeth against the holy spirit it will not be forgiven.

"And when ye are brought to synagogues, and to principalities and powers, take no anxious thought how or what 12 ye shall speak in defence, or what ye shall say: for the holy spirit shall teach you in that hour what ye ought to say." And one of the multitude said unto him, "Master, speak 5

13

1 Gr. myriads.

2 Or, above all things, N.m. began first to say, &c. 3 Or, it may be, N.m. command, N. m.

Or, as many copies read, He

Or, it cannot, N. m. 5 Or,

to my brother, that he divide our inheritance with me." 14 And Jesus said unto him, "Man, who made me a judge or 15 a divider over you?" And he said unto them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness1: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which any one possesseth.' 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, “The ground 17 of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, because 18 I have no place where I can store my crops?' Then he said, "I will do this: I will take down my barns, and build greater; and there I will store all my produce and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast many goods

laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be 20 merry.' But God said unto him, Thou inconsiderate

man, this night thy soul is required of thee: then whose 21 will the things be which thou hast provided?' So is he who layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

22

Then he said to his disciples, "Therefore I say unto you, Take no anxious thought for [your] life, what ye shall 23 eat: nor for the body, with what ye shall be clothed. Life3 24 is more than food; and the body than clothing. Observe

the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; which have neither store-house nor barn; and yet God feedeth them. 25 How much better are ye than the fowls? Now which of you by taking anxious thought can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If therefore ye be not able to do even that which is least, 27 why take ye anxious thought for the rest? Observe how the

lilies grow they neither labour nor spin; and yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like 28 one of these. But if God so clothe the herb, which to-day is in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the furnace; how 29 much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? Wherefore, seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink,

of all covetousness, Mss. 2 his soul, i. e. himself; his life, see ver. 21. 3 Or, tby life. 4 shall be demanded from thee, N. 5 for life, Mss. 6 flourisheth, N.

30 nor be ye tossed about in mind'. For after all these things the nations of the world seek: and your Father knoweth that 31 ye have need of these things. But seek the kingdom of God; and [all] these things shall be added unto you.

32

2

"Fear not, little flock: for it is your Father's good plea33 sure to give you the kingdom. Sell what ye have, and give alms: provide yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in the heavens which faileth not, where no thief ap34 proacheth, nor moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.

35

"Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burn36 ing; and yourselves like men who are looking for their master, when he will return from the marriage; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediate37 ly. Happy are those servants whom their master, when he cometh, shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he will gird himself, and will make them place themselves at 38 meat, and will come and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find 39 them doing thus, happy are those servants. Now ye know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and would 40 not have suffered his house to be broken into. Wherefore be ye also ready; for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not."

41

Then Peter said unto him, "Master, speakest thou this 42 parable unto us, or unto all likewise?" And the Lord said,

"Who then is that faithful and wise steward', whom his master will place over his household to give them their por43 tion of food in due season? Happy is that servant whom his 44 master, when he cometh, shall find doing thus. In truth I say unto you, that he will place him over all that he hath. 45 But if that servant say in his heart, My master delayeth

[ocr errors]

1 Or, nor live in restless suspence, N. m. 2 his kingdom, Mss. 3 Or, find things thus, N. m. that faithful, that wise steward, Mss.

« PreviousContinue »