Page images
PDF
EPUB

findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

"He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward. And

whosoever shall give unto one of these little ones 1 a cup of

cold water only to drink in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in nowise lose his reward.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence, to teach and to preach in their cities.

And they went forth, and went through the villages, publishing their glad tidings, and preached that all should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many sick persons, and healed them everywhere.

[blocks in formation]

PART V.

TRANSACTIONS OF CHRIST AFTER SENDING FORTH THE APOSTLES SHORTLY BEFORE THE FEAST OF DEDICATION, TILL ALL OF THEM HAD COLLECTED TO HIM AFTER THE DEATH OF THE BAPTIST.

SECT. I.

The Message of the Baptist, and our Lord's reply.

MATT. xi. 2-19. LUKE vii. 18-35.

AND the disciples of John told him concerning all these things. Now John, having heard in the prison the works of the Christ, having called unto him certain two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, and said to him, "Art thou he that cometh, or do we look for another?" Now when the men came unto him, they said, "John the Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or do we look for another?" (Now in the same hour he healed many of diseases and grievous disorders1 and evil spirits ; and to many blind he granted sight.) And Jesus answering said unto them, "Go and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; that the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have glad tidings published to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not find a stumbling-block in me." 2

And when the messengers of John had gone away, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, “What went ye forth into the desert to behold? a reed shaken by the wind? What then went ye forth to see? a man clothed

1 Lit., scourges. 2 v. H. n.

in soft garments? Behold they that wear soft garments— that live in splendid apparel, and in luxury,-are in royal palaces. But what went ye out to see? a prophet? yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. For this is he, concerning whom it is written,1 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.' Verily I say unto you, Among those born of women, there hath not been raised up a greater prophet than John the Baptist yet the least in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.3 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye are willing to receive it, he is Elijah, that was about to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." (And all the people that heard this, and the publicans, justified God, having been baptised with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God in relation to themselves, not having been baptised by him.)

"To what, therefore, shall I liken the men of this generation, and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the market place, and calling unto their companions, and saying, 'We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not wept.' For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, 'He hath a demon.' The Son of man hath come eating and drinking; and ye say, 'Behold a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!' And yet wisdom is justified by all her children."

4

4

1 Mal. iii. 1. 2 M.: God, L. 3 Or, the kingdom of heaven is entered with eagerness, and the eager seize it with avidity: v. H. n. 4 L. they, M.

SECT. II.

Jesus, at the House of Simon the Pharisee, receives the grateful Services of the Woman who had been a Sinner.

LUKE vii. 36-50.

Now one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him ; and he entered into the Pharisee's house, and placed himself at table. And, behold, a woman in the city, who had been a sinner, when she knew that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster vase of balsam, and stood behind at his feet weeping, and began to wet his feet with tears; and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the balsam.1 But when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what kind of woman this is who toucheth him: for she is a sinner." And Jesus answering said unto him, "Simon, I have something to say unto thee." And he saith, "Rabbi, say it." "A certain creditor had two debtors; the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty: but since they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Which therefore of them, tell me, will love him most?" And Simon answered and said, "I suppose that he will to whom he forgave most." And he said unto him, "Thou hast judged aright." And turning towards the woman, he said unto Simon, "Thou seest this woman ; I entered into thy house, thou gavest not water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with tears, and wiped them with her hair thou gavest me not a kiss; but she, from the time I entered, hath not ceased to kiss my feet: thou

1 v. H. n.

anointedst not my head with oil, but she hath anointed my feet with balsam. Wherefore, I say unto thee, her many sins have been forgiven; they were many, for she hath loved much :1 but he to whom little is forgiven, loveth little." And he said unto her, "Thy sins have been forgiven." And they that were at table with him began to say within themselves, "Who is this who even forgiveth sins ?" But he said unto the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

SECT. III.

Christ instructs and sends forth the Seventy Disciples: He upbraids the Cities of Galilee: (Notice of the return of the Seventy to him :) He gives Praise to the Father.

2

MATT. xi. 20-30. LUKE. x. 1—24.

2

Now after these things, the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them forth, two and two, before his face, into every city and place whither he himself was about to go. He said therefore unto them, "The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth more labourers into his harvest.3 Go your way behold, I am sending you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry neither purse, nor bag, nor sandals; and salute no one by the But into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: but if not, it shall turn back upon you. But in the same house remain, eating and drinking what they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat the things set before you; and heal the infirm that are therein; and say unto them, 1. H. n. v. also H. n., Edition I. p. cxxxiii. 2v. H. n. v. M. ix. 37, 38: p. 78.

way.

« PreviousContinue »