Walks and Words of Jesus Part 6

And it came to pa.s.s on the second sabbath after the first, that Jesus went through the corn fields; and his disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing _them_ in _their_ hands. But when the Pharisees saw _it_, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. But he said unto them,

Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of G.o.d in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shew bread, and gave also to them that were with him, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests.

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is _one_ greater than the temple. But if ye had known what _this_ meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

And he said unto them,

The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

And it came to pa.s.s also on another sabbath, when he was departed thence, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day.

And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?

that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand,

Rise up and stand forth in the midst.

And he arose and stood forth. Then said Jesus unto them,

I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy _it_?

But they held their peace. And he said unto them,

What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift _it_ out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man,

Stretch forth thine hand.

And he stretched _it_ forth; and his hand was restored whole as the other. And they were filled with madness.

And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

But when Jesus knew _it_, he withdrew himself from thence with his disciples to the sea: and a great mult.i.tude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and _from_ beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great mult.i.tude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

And he spake to his disciples, that a small s.h.i.+p should wait on him because of the mult.i.tude, lest they should throng him. For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of G.o.d. And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

CHAPTER XV.

APOSTLES NAMED--WOES AND BLESSINGS--PRACTICAL LESSONS.

And it came to pa.s.s in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to G.o.d.

And when it was day, he called _unto him_ his disciples; whom he would: and they came unto him. And of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, (whom he also named Peter) and Andrew his brother; and James the _son_ of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew the publican; and Thomas, and James the _son_ of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus: (The same with Judas the brother of James,) and Simon called Zelotes, (the Canaanite,) and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great mult.i.tude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole mult.i.tude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and he healed _them_ all. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said,

Blessed _be ye_ poor: for your's is the kingdom of G.o.d.

Blessed _are ye_ that hunger now: for ye shall be filled.

Blessed _are ye_ that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you _from their company_, and shall reproach _you_, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward _is_ great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger.

Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the _one_ cheek, offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not _to take thy_ coat also.

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask _them_ not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend _to them_ of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and _to_ the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

CHAPTER XVI.

PRACTICAL LESSONS, CONTINUED--HEALS CENTURION'S SERVANT.

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

And he spake a parable unto them,

Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick and ready to die.

And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. And Jesus saith unto him,

I will come and heal him.

Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth _it_. When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him,