His Life Part 23

JESUS AND THE CHILDREN.

And they were bringing unto him little children, that he should touch them: and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them, "Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of G.o.d. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of G.o.d as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein."

And he took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.

THE RICH YOUNG RULER.

And behold, as he was going forth into the way, a certain ruler ran to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"

And he said unto him, "Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? None is good, save one, even G.o.d: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments."

He saith unto him, "Which?"

And Jesus said, "Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

The young ruler saith unto him, "All these things have I observed from my youth up; what lack I yet?"

And Jesus, looking upon him, loved him, and said unto him, "One thing thou lackest yet: if thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."

But when the young man heard the saying, his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions.

And Jesus said unto his disciples, "Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven." And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again and said unto them, "Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of G.o.d! It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of G.o.d."

And when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly, saying, "Who then can be saved?"

And Jesus looking upon them said to them, "With men this is impossible: but with G.o.d all things are possible."

Then answered Peter and said unto him, "Lo, we have left all, and followed thee; what then shall we have?"

And Jesus said unto them, "Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come shall inherit eternal life. But many shall be last that are first; and first that are last.

THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD.

"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.

And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the market-place idle; and to them he said, 'Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.'

And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, 'Why stand ye here all the day idle?' They say unto him, 'Because no man hath hired us.'

He saith unto them, 'Go ye also into the vineyard.' And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, 'Call the laborers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.' And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling. And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling. And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, saying, 'These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?' So the last shall be first, and the first last."

THE LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM

THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS.

And they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going before them: and they were amazed; and they that followed were afraid.

And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were to happen unto him, saying, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and all the things that are written by the prophets shall be accomplished unto the Son of man; and he shall be delivered unto the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles: and they shall mock him, and shall spit upon him, and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and after three days he shall rise again."

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them: and they perceived not the things that were said.

THE SONS OF THUNDER.

Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons James and John, worshipping him, and asking a certain thing of him.

And he said unto her, "What wouldest thou?"

She saith unto him, "Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom."

But Jesus answered and said, "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"

And they said unto him, "We are able."

And Jesus said unto them, "The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: but to sit on my right hand or on my left hand is not mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my Father."

And when the ten heard it, they began to be moved with indignation concerning James and John.

And Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, "Ye know that they who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you: but whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all. Even as the Son of man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO.

And they come to Jericho: and as they went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great mult.i.tude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the wayside, begging. And hearing the mult.i.tude going by, he inquired what this meant, and they told him that Jesus of Nazareth pa.s.seth by. And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me."

And Jesus stood still, and said, "Call ye him."

And they call the blind man, saying unto him, "Be of good cheer: rise, he calleth thee." And he, casting away his garment, sprang up, and came to Jesus.

And Jesus answered him, and said, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?"

And the blind man said unto him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight."

And Jesus said unto him, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole."

And straightway he received his sight, and followed him in the way, glorifying G.o.d. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto G.o.d.

THE VISIT TO ZACCHaeUS.

And he entered and was pa.s.sing through Jericho. And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.

And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature. And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pa.s.s that way.

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

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