14

the disciples understood that he spake to them of John the baptist.

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man, who falling on his knees, said, O sir, have pity on my son; for he is afflicted with an epilepsy, and suffereth 15 grievously. For he often falleth into the fire and often into the 16 water. I brought him to thy disciples, but they could not 17 cure him. And Jesus answering, said, O faithless and per

verse generation! How long shall I be with you? How long 18 shall I endure you? Bring him hither to me. Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it went out of him, and from that hour the child was cured.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private, and said, Why could not we cast it out? And Jesus said to them, Because of 20 your unbelief. For verily I say to you, If you have faith as a

grain of mustard seed, you might say to that mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it would remove; and no21 thing would be impossible to you: but this kind [of power] goeth not forth, unless by prayer and fasting.

22 Now while they remained in Galilee Jesus said to them,

The son of man will soon be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will put him to death; and on the third day he will be raised up. And they were exceedingly grieved.

24 And when they were come to Capernaum, the receivers of the assessments for the Temple came to Peter, and said, Doth 25 your teacher teacher pay the didrachm?* He saith, Yes. And when he 26 came into the house, before he spake, Jesus said to him, What thinkest thou Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth re27 ceive assessments? Of their own sons or of others? Peter saith

to him, Of others. Jesus saith to him, The sons then surely are free. However, that we may not offend them, go to the sea, and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that cometh

* That is two drachmas. The drachma was a piece of money, in value nearly equal to a quarter of a dollar; two drachmas make a didrachm, and two didrachms make a stater, nearly equal to a dollar: this was, as Josephus tells us, assessed and collected for repairing the temple.

up; and having opened its mouth thou wilt find a stater: take that and give it to them for me and thee.

XVIII.' At that time the disciples came to Jesus, say2 ing, Who is to be greatest in the kingdom of the heavens? Whereupon Jesus, having called to him a little child, placed 3 it in the midst of them and said, Verily I say to you, Unless you be changed, and be like children you shall never enter 4 the kingdom of the heavens. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is of higher dignity in the 5 kingdom of the heavens. And whoever shall receive one such 6 child in my name, receiveth me. But whoever shall occasion the stumbling of one of such little ones who believe in me, better were it for him that an upper millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were whelmed in the depth of the 7 sea. Alas for the world because of these stumbling blocks, for

these stumbling blocks must needs come: but alas for the 8 man by whom the stumbling block cometh. If then thy hand

or thy foot occasioneth thy stumbling, cut them off and cast them from thee. It is better for thee to enter lame or maimed into life, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the 9 fire which is everlasting. And if thine eye occasioneth thy stumbling, pluck it out and cast it from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life with but one eye, than having two eyes 10 to be cast into the vale of that fire. Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, Their angels in 11 heaven do continually behold the face of my father who is in heaven. For the son of man is come to save that which was lost.

12

What think you? If any man hath an hundred sheep, and one of them go astray, doth he not leave the ninety nine 13 on the mountains, and go in quest of the stray? And if he hap

pen to find it, verily I say to you, he rejoiceth over it more 14 than over the ninety nine which went not astray. Thus it is

not the will of your father who is in heaven that one of these 15 little ones should be lost. Wherefore if thy brother trespass against thee, go and expostulate with him when thou and he are alone. If he hearken to thee thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hearken to thee, then take with thee one or two, that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every

17 thing may be ascertained. And if he disregard them, tell the congregation; and if he disregard the congregation, let him be 18 to thee as the heathen and the publican. Verily I say to you, whatsoever ye shall bind on the earth will be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on the earth will be loosed in 19 heaven. Again I say to you, If two of you agree on the earth touching any thing which they may ask, it will be done for 20 them by my father who is in heaven. For where two or three are assembled for my name I am there in the midst of them.

21

Then Peter accosting him, said, Master, how often is my brother to trespass against me and I to forgive him? Till seven 22 times? Jesus saith to him, I do not say to thee seven times, 23 but seventy times seven. In this respect the reign of the

heavens may be compared to a certain king who determined 24 to settle accounts with his servants. And having begun to set

tle; there was one brought to him, who owed him ten thousand 25 talents.* And as he had not wherewithal to pay; his lord ordered him and his wife and all that he had, to be sold and pay26 ment to be made. The servant therefore falling prostrate before him, saith, Have patience with me, my lord, and I will 27 pay thee all. And the lord of that servant, being moved with 28 compassion, dismissed him and forgave him the debt. And as that servant was going out, he met one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred deniars; † and seizing him by the 29 throat, he said, Pay me what thou owest. His fellow servant therefore falling at his feet, besought him, saying, Have pa30 tience with me and I will pay thee all. And he would not; but

went and cast him into prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw this they were deeply affected 32 and went and told their lord all that was done. Thereupon his 33 lord having called him in, saith to him, Thou wicked slave, I forgave thee all that debt at thy entreaty; shouldst thou not then have had compassion on thy fellow servant as I had on 34 thee? So his lord, being incensed, delivered him to the exe

*A talent was equal to three thousand didrachms or fifteen hundred dollars.

A deniar was a piece of money equal to about one eighth of a dollar.

cutioners of justice until he should pay all that was due to 35 him. Thus also will my heavenly father deal with you, if you do not from your hearts forgive, every one the trespasses of his brother.

XIX.

When Jesus had finished these discourses he departed from Galilee and came to the borders of Judea, on the bank 2 of the Jordan. And great multitudes followed him, and he 3 healed them there. And the Pharisees came to him, and trying him said, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for 4 every fault? In reply to which he said to them, “Have you not read that the Creator at the beginning made them a male 5 and a female?" Moreover he said, "For this cause a man is to leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife, and 6 they two shall be one flesh; so that they are no longer two

but one flesh. Therefore what God hath conjoined, let not 7 man separate." They say to him, Why then did Moses com8 mand to give a bill of divorce and dismiss her? He saith to them, Because of your intractable disposition Moses permitted you to put away your wives; but it was not so from the 9 beginning. Now I say to you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for whoredom and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he who marrieth her who was put 10 away committeth adultery. His disciples say to him, If such

be the case between the husband and wife, it is not expedient to 11 marry. Whereupon he said to them, All men cannot admit 12 this inference. But with respect to them to whom it is granted

13

(for there are some who have been eunuchs from their birth, and some have been made eunuchs by men, and there are some who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven) let him admit it, who can admit it.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray for them; and his disciples rebuked 14 them. Whereupon Jesus said, Let the children alone, and do not hinder them to come to me; for of such is the kingdom 15 of the heavens. And when he had laid his hands on them he departed thence.

16

And behold there came one who said to him, Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have an everlasting 17 life? In reply to which Jesus said to him, Why callest thou

me good? There is none good but God only. But if thou 18 desirest to enter into that life, keep the commandments. He saith to him, Which? And Jesus said, These-Thou shalt not commit murder-Thou shalt not commit adultery-Thou 19 shalt not steal-Thou shalt not bear false witness-Honour 20 thy father and thy mother-and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The youth said to him, All these I have kept 21 from my childhood. What do I yet lack? Jesus said to him,

If thou wishest to be perfect, go, sell thy estate, and give to 22 the poor; and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me. Upon hearing this word, the youth went away 23 sorrowful; for he had great possessions. Thereupon Jesus said to his disciples, Verily I say to you, With difficulty will 24 a rich man enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you,

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle 25 than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When his

disciples heard this they were greatly astonished and said, Who 26 then can be saved? Thereupon Jesus looking earnestly at

them said, With men this is impossible; but with God all 27 things are possible. Then Peter addressing him said, Behold we have left all and followed thee, what then shall we have? 28 Thereupon Jesus said to him, Verily I say to you, With respect to you who have followed-me, at the renovation, when the son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you also shall sit on 29 twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields for the sake of my name, shall receive an hundred fold compensation.-He shall 30 indeed inherit an everlasting life. But many will be first who XX. are last; and last, who are first. For the reign of the

heavens is like a householder who went out early in the morn2 ing to hire labourers for his vineyard. And having agreed with some labourers for a deniar* a day, he sent them to his vine3 yard. And going out about the third hour† he saw some standing in the market place, unemployed, and said to them,

* A Roman silver coin. See ch. 18. 28.

The third hour about nine o'clock, A. M. The sixth noon. The ninth three, and the eleventh about five, P. M.