The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth Part 4

[8] How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

[9] And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

[10] Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

[11] Moreover if thy brother shall trespa.s.s against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

[12] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

[13] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect even to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a Gentile man and an heathen.

[14] Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

[15] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

[16] Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

[17] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

[18] But forasmuch as he had not wherewith to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

[19] The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

[20] Then the lord of that servant was moved with compa.s.sion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

[21] But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

[22] And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

[23] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

[24] So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

[25] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant! I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: [26] Shouldest not thou also have had compa.s.sion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

[27] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

[28] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespa.s.ses.

[29] After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

[30] Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

[31] Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

[32] Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

[33] And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

[34] And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

[35] And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

[36] And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: [37] But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, [38] Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of G.o.d is come nigh unto you.

[39] But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

[40] Now the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand.

[41] His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

[42] For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

[43] For neither did his brethren believe in him.

[44] Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

[45] The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

[46] Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come.

[47] When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.

[48] But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

[49] Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?

[50] And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.

[51] Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

[52] Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.

[53] And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

[54] Jesus answered them, and said, [55] Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

[56] The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

[57] Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.

[58] Moses therefore gave unto you circ.u.mcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circ.u.mcise a man.

[59] If a man on the sabbath day receive circ.u.mcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

[60] Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

[61] Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?

[62] But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?

[63] The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.

[64] So there was a division among the people because of him.

[65] And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

[66] Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

[67] The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

[68] Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?

[69] Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?

[70] But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.

[71] Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) [72] Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

[73] They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

[74] And every man went unto his own house.

CHAPTER 8.

[1] Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

[2] And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

[3] And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, [4] They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

[5] Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

[6] This they said, tempting him, that they might have cause to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

[7] So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

[8] And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

[9] And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

[10] When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

[11] She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

[12] And as Jesus pa.s.sed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

[13] And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

[14] Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of G.o.d should be made manifest in him.

[15] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

[16] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

[17] To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

[18] And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

[19] And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

[20] I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

[21] But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

[22] The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

[23] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

[24] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

[25] And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and put tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

[26] He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

[27] And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy G.o.d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

[28] And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

[29] But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

[30] And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

[31] And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he pa.s.sed by on the other side.

[32] And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and pa.s.sed by on the other side.

[33] But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compa.s.sion on him, [34] And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

[35] And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.