them. Demons also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he, rebuking them, suffered them not to speak for they knew that he was Christ. And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place and the people sought him, and came unto him, and urged him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for, therefore, am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret;* and saw two barks+ aground near the edge of the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And going up into one of the barks, which was Simon's, he desired him to thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the bark. Now, when he had ceased speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering, said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net. And having done this, they enclosed a multitude of fishes; and their net broke. And they beckoned unto their companions who were in the other bark, to come and help *Lake of Gennesaret.—A fresh-water lake through which the river Jordan runs, called also the Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Tiberias, and the Sea of Chinneroth. + Barks, called ships in the Authorized and Rheims Versions, but every thing mentioned respecting them indicates that they were small fishing vessels. Josephus describes them as having but four or five men to each. The word bark is preferred to ship, as conveying the idea of a smaller vessel. The word boat will be used to translate a still smaller kind of vessel, mentioned in the Gospels. them. And they came, and filled both the barks, so that they were almost sinking. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For terror seized upon him and upon all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And so in like manner on James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And having brought their barks to land, they forsook all, and followed him. And it came to pass, when he was in one of the [neighbouring] cities, behold a man full of leprosy; who, seeing, Jesus, fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And stretching forth his hand, he touched him saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him to tell no man. But go, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.* Yet so much the more the fame of him spread abroad: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew into solitary places, and prayed. Show thyself to the priest, &c.-The priests under the Mosaic law were the judges whether any one were affected with leprosy, or cleansed from it. Jesus knew that if the priests were aware that this leprous man had been cured by him, they might have refused to acknowledge that he was clean. Jesus, therefore, directed him to go at once, without speaking of the matter, and present his offering to the priest as one cured of leprosy, that he, by receiving the offering, might give his testimony to his cure. WORDS, &C. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON VII. QUESTIONS ON LESSON VII. IN what cities did Jesus teach on the Sabbath-days? In what place in the city did he teach? Whom did he meet with in the synagogue? What did the demon do to him? What did Jesus do to the demon ? What effect had this miracle upon the people? In what condition was she? What did Jesus do for her? What took place when the sun was set? Why did the people wait till sun-set? What did Jesus do for them? When it was day, whither did he go? What did the people do? What did he say to the people? When he was near the lake of Gennesaret, what did the people do? What means did he take for obtaining room to speak to the people? Into whose bark did he go? After preaching to the people, what directions did he give? What was the effect of their following his directions? What effect had the miracle on their minds, and what did Peter say? What did they do after bringing the barks to land? When he was in one of the neighbouring cities, what did he meet with? What did the leprous man say to him? Whither then did Jesus retire, and for what purpose? LESSON VIIL Jesus cures a man sick of the palsy—calls Levi the publican. FROM LUKE, V. AND it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees* and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was there to heal them. And, behold, some men carrying in a bed a man who was paralytic, endeavoured to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the house-top, and let him down through the tiling, with his little bed, into the midst before Jesus. And seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the Scribest and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? But Jesus knowing their thoughts, answering, said unto them, What are ye reasoning * Pharisees.-These were a sect who separated themselves from others, because, as they imagined, they were more holy. Their holiness, however, consisted chiefly in attention to outward ceremonies, some of these not commanded by God, while in their hearts and lives they were very wicked. + Scribes.-These were originally persons employed in writing out copies of the Scriptures, but becoming, through means of their occupation, well acquainted with the law, they became lawyers or teachers of the law. They are the same persons who are called doctors of the law. The word doctor signifying a teacher. in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said to the paralytic man,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And instantly rising up before them, he took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day. 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. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. : And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others at the table with them. But the Scribes [of the place] and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering, said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came to call not the just, but sinners to repentance. And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise [the disciples] of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto them, Would ye make the companions of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them?" But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away * A Publican-A tax-gatherer for the Romans, who had conquered the country, and kept possession of it by force. Publicans were, therefore, very unpopular; and, as men of good character would not accept the office, they were generally men of bad character. ↑ Levi.-Called also Matthew, who was afterward chosen to be an apostle, and who wrote the gospel that bears his name. |