The Bible, Douay-Rheims Part 685

7:21. (And in that same hour, he cured many of their diseases and hurts and evil spirits: and to many that were blind he gave sight.)

7:22. And answering, he said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, to the poor the gospel is preached.

7:23. And blessed is he whosoever shall not be scandalized in me.

7:24. And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak to the mult.i.tudes concerning John. What went ye out into the desert to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

7:25. But what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft garments?

Behold they that are in costly apparel and live delicately are in the houses of kings.

7:26. But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

7:27. This is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

7:28. For I say to you: Amongst those that are born of men, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist. But he that is the lesser in the kingdom of G.o.d is greater than he.

7:29. And all the people hearing, and the publicans, justified G.o.d, being baptized with John's baptism.

Justified G.o.d... that is, praised the justice of G.o.d, feared and wors.h.i.+pped G.o.d, as just and merciful.

7:30. But the Pharisees and the lawyers despised the counsel of G.o.d against themselves, being not baptized by him.

7:31. And the Lord said: Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? And to what are they like?

7:32. They are like to children sitting in the marketplace and speaking one to another and saying: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have mourned, and you have not wept.

7:33. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine.

And you say: He hath a devil.

7:34. The Son of man is come eating and drinking. And you say: Behold a man that is a glutton and a drinker of wine, a friend of publicans and sinners.

7:35. And wisdom is justified by all her children.

7:36. And one of the Pharisees desired him to eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee and sat down to meat.

One of the Pharisees: that is, Simon.

7:37. And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment.

7:38. And standing behind at his feet she began to wash his feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

7:39. And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: This man, if he were if a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner.

7:40. And Jesus answering, said to him: Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. But he said: Master, say it.

7:41. A certain creditor had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence and the other fifty.

7:42. And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both.

Which therefore of the two loveth him most?

7:43. Simon answering, said: I suppose that he to whom he forgave most.

And he said to him: Thou hast judged rightly.

7:44. And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon: Dost thou see this woman? I entered into thy house: thou gavest me no water for my feet.

But she with tears hath washed my feet; and with her hairs hath wiped them.

7:45. Thou gavest me no kiss. But she, since she cane in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

7:46. My head with oil thou didst not anoint. But she with ointment hath anointed my feet.

7:47. Wherefore, I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less.

Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much... In the scripture an effect sometimes seems attributed to one only cause, when there are divers other concurring dispositions; for the sins of this woman, in this verse, are said to be forgiven, because she loved much: but (ver. 50) Christ tells her, Thy faith hath made thee safe. Hence in a true conversion are joined faith, hope, love, sorrow for sin, and other pious dispositions.

7:48. And he said to her: Thy sins are forgiven thee.

7:49. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves: Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

7:50. And he said to the woman: Thy faith hath made thee safe. Go in peace.

Luke Chapter 8

The parable of the seed. Christ stills the storm at sea, casts out the legion, heals the issue of blood and raises the daughter of Jairus to life.

8:1. And it came to pa.s.s afterwards he travelled through the cities and towns, preaching and evangelizing the kingdom of G.o.d: and the twelve with him:

8:2. And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who is called Magdalen, out of whom seven devils were gone forth,

8:3. And Joanna the wife of Chusa, Herod's steward, and Susanna and many others who ministered unto him of their substance.

8:4. And when a very great mult.i.tude was gathered together and hastened out of the cities, unto him, he spoke by a similitude.

8:5. The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the way side. And it was trodden down: and the fowls of the air devoured it.

8:6. And other some fell upon a rock. And as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

8:7. And other some fell among thorns. And the thorns growing up with it, choked it.

8:8. And other some fell upon good ground and, being sprung up, yielded fruit a hundredfold. Saying these things, he cried out: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

8:9. And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.

8:10. To whom he said: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of G.o.d; but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see and hearing may not understand.

Seeing they may not see... See the annotation, Mark 4. 12.

8:11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of G.o.d.

8:12. And they by the way side are they that hear: then the devil cometh and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved.