The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth Part 7

CHAPTER 12.

[1] And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, [2] Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an a.s.s tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

[3] And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

[4] And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, [5] And brought the a.s.s, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

[6] And a very great mult.i.tude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

[7] And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

[8] The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

[9] And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: [10] The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

[11] Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

[12] And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

[13] Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

[14] And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

[15] And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, [16] Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; [17] And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

[18] And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

[19] And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

[20] And when even was come, he went out of the city.

[21] And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, [22] And he said unto them, But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

[23] He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

[24] And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

[25] Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of G.o.d before you.

[26] Hear another parable: [27] A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

[28] And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

[29] And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

[30] And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

[31] And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others: beating some, and killing some.

[32] Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

[33] But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our's.

[34] And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

[35] What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

[36] And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

[37] But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the mult.i.tude, because they took him for a prophet.

[38] And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, [39] The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, [40] And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

[41] Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

[42] But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: [43] And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully and slew them.

[44] But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

[45] Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

[46] Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

[47] So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

[48] And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: [49] And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

[50] Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

[51] For many are called, but few are chosen.

[51] Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

[53] And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of G.o.d in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

[54] Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

[55] But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

[56] Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

[57] And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

[58] They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto G.o.d the things that are G.o.d's.

[59] When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

[60] The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, [61] Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

[62] Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: [63] Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

[64] And last of all the woman died also.

[65] Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

[66] Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of G.o.d.

[67] For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of G.o.d in heaven.

[68] But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by G.o.d, saying, [69] I am the G.o.d of Abraham, and the G.o.d of Isaac, and the G.o.d of Jacob? G.o.d is not the G.o.d of the dead, but of the living.

[70] And when the mult.i.tude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

[71] And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

[72] And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our G.o.d is one Lord: [73] And thou shalt love the Lord thy G.o.d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

[74] And the second is like, namely this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

[75] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

[76] And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one G.o.d; and there is none other but he: [77] And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.

CHAPTER 13.

[1] When spake Jesus to the mult.i.tude, and to his disciples, [2] Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: [3] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not accordingly.

[4] For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

[5] But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, [6] And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues.

[7] And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

[8] But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren.

[9] And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

[10] Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

[11] But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

[12] And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

[13] But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

[14] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater d.a.m.nation.

[15] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compa.s.s sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of h.e.l.l than yourselves.

[16] Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

[17] Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

[18] And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

[19] Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

[20] Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

[21] And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

[22] And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of G.o.d, and by him that sitteth thereon.

[23] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay t.i.the of mint and anise and c.u.mmin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

[24] Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

[25] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

[26] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

[27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

[28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

[29] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, [30] And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

[31] Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

[32] Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

[33] Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the d.a.m.nation of h.e.l.l?

[34] And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

[35] And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.