The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth Part 6

[31] It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

[32] Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespa.s.s against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

[33] And if he trespa.s.s against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

[34] But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

[35] And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

[36] Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

[37] So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

[38] And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of G.o.d should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of G.o.d cometh not with observation: [39] And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

[40] They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

[41] Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; [42] But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

[43] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

[44] In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

[45] Remember Lot's wife.

[46] Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

[47] I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

[48] Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

[48a] Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

[49] And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; [50] Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not G.o.d, neither regarded man: [51] And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Render justice for me against mine adversary.

[52] And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not G.o.d, nor regard man; [53] Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will render her justice, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

[54] And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

[55] And shall not G.o.d render justice for his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

[56] I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

[57] And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: [58] Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

[59] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, G.o.d, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

[60] I fast twice in the week, I give t.i.thes of all that I possess.

[61] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, G.o.d be merciful to me a sinner.

[62] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

[61] Now it came to pa.s.s, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

[64] And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

[65] But Martha was c.u.mbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

[66] And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: [67] But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

CHAPTER 11.

[1] And it came to pa.s.s, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; [2] And great mult.i.tudes followed him.

[3] The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

[4] And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, [5] And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

[6] Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore G.o.d hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

[7] They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

[8] He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

[9] And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

[10] His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

[11] But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

[12] For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

[13] Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

[14] But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

[15] And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

[16] And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

[17] And he said unto him, Why calleth thou me good? there is none good but one, that is G.o.d: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

[18] He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, [19] Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

[20] The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

[21] Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

[22] But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

[23] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

[24] And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of G.o.d.

[25] When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

[26] But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with G.o.d all things are possible.

[27] For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

[28] And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

[29] And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, [30] And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

[31] Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

[32] And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

[33] They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard: and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

[34] So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

[35] And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

[36] And when the first came, they supposed that they should receive more; but they likewise received every man a denarius.

[37] And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, [38] Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

[39] But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

[40] Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

[41] Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

[42] So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

[43] And Jesus entered and pa.s.sed through Jericho.

[44] And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

[45] And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

[46] And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pa.s.s that way.

[47] And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

[48] And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

[49] And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

[50] And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

[51] And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

[52] For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

[53] And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of G.o.d should immediately appear.

[54] He said therefore, A certain n.o.bleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

[55] And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

[56] But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

[57] And it came to pa.s.s, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

[58] Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

[59] And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

[60] And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

[61] And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

[62] And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: [63] For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

[64] And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: [65] Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

[66] And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

[67] (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) [68] For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

[69] But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

[70] And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.