The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth Part 3

[31] Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

[32] And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

[33] Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

[34] When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

[35] But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; [36] Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

[37] He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

[38] But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

[39] And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

[40] For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

[41] If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

[42] Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: [43] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

[44] But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

[45] So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

[46] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

[47] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

[48] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

[49] Then Jesus sent the mult.i.tude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

[50] He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; [51] The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; [52] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

[53] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

[54] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and all them which do iniquity; [55] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[56] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

[57] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

[58] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: [59] Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

[60] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: [61] Which, when it was full, they drew it to sh.o.r.e, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

[62] So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, [63] And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[64] Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

[65] Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

[66] And he said, So is the kingdom of G.o.d, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; [67] And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

[68] For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

[69] But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

[70] And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of G.o.d? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

[71] It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: [72] But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

[73] And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

[74] But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

CHAPTER 6.

[1] And it came to pa.s.s that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

[2] And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

[3] And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

[4] Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of G.o.d.

[5] And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

[6] And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of G.o.d.

[7] And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.

[8] And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

[9] And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and [10] Many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

[11] And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

[12] When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

[13] And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

[14] And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

[15] But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

[16] And it came to pa.s.s, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

[17] And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

[18] Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

[19] And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

[20] And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

[21] But when he saw the mult.i.tudes, he was moved with compa.s.sion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

[22] And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; [23] And commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: [24] But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

[25] Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor bra.s.s in your purses, [26] Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

[27] And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

[28] And when ye come into an house, salute it.

[29] And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

[30] And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

[31] Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

[32] Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

[33] But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; [34] And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

[35] But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: [36] Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

[37] What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

[38] And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in h.e.l.l.

[39] Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

[40] But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

[41] Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

[42] And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

[43] And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

[44] After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

[45] Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

[46] And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

[47] For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

[48] And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

[49] Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

[50] And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: [51] There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

[51] If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

[52] And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

[53] And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; [54] Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

[55] And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

[56] For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, [57] Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: [58] All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

[59] And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

CHAPTER 7.

[1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

[2] And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, [3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

[5] Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

[6] Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

[7] And if thine eye causeth offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into h.e.l.l fire.