Matthew 13:2-21:46 but so great a multitude flocked about him, that he went into a bark, and sat down there, while all the people stood on the shore.

Living_Oracles⁽ⁱ⁾ ² but so great a multitude flocked about him, that he went into a bark, and sat down there, while all the people stood on the shore. ³ Then he discoursed to them of many things in parables. ⁴ The sower, said he, went out to sow; and, in sowing, some seeds fell by the way-side, and the birds came and picked them up: ⁵ some fell on rocky ground, where they had but little earth: these sprang up the sooner, because the soil had no depth: ⁶ but after the sun had beat upon them, they were scorched, and having no root, withered away. ⁷ Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked them. ⁸ Others fell into good ground, and yielded increase, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty fold. ⁹ Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear. ¹⁰ Then the disciples addressed him, saying, Why do you speak to them in parables? ¹¹ He answering, said to them, Because it is your privilege, and not theirs, to know the secrets of the Reign of Heaven. ¹² For to him that has, more shall be given, and he shall abound; but from him that has not, even that which he has shall be taken. ¹³ For this reason I speak to them in parables; because they seeing, see not; and hearing, hear not, nor regard; ¹⁴ insomuch that this prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in them, "You will indeed hear, but will not understand; you will look, but will not perceive. ¹⁵ For this people's understanding is stupefied, their ears are deafened, and their eyes they have closed; lest seeing with their eyes, hearing with their ears, and apprehending with their understanding, they should reform, and I should reclaim them." ¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. ¹⁷ For, indeed, I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which you see, but have not seen them; and to hear the things which you hear, but have not heard them. ¹⁸ Understand you, therefore, the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When one hears the doctrine of the Reign, but considers it not, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which was sown in his heart. This explains what fell by the way-side. ²⁰ That which fell on rocky ground, denotes him who, hearing the word, receives it at first with pleasure; ²¹ yet, not having it rooted in his mind, retains it but a while; for when trouble or persecution comes, because of the word, instantly he relapses. ²² That which fell among thorns, denotes that hearer in whom worldly cares, and deceitful riches, choke the word, and render it unfruitful. ²³ But that which fell into good soil, and bore fruit, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty fold, denotes him, who not only hears and considers, but obeys the word. ²⁴ Another parable he proposed to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a field, in which the proprietor has sown good grain: ²⁵ but while people were asleep, his enemy came, and sowed darnel among the wheat, and went off. ²⁶ When the blade was up, and putting forth the ear, then appeared also the darnel. ²⁷ And the servants came, and said to their master, Sir, you sowed good grain in your field; whence, then, has it darnel? ²⁸ He answered, An enemy has done this. They said, Will you, then, that we weed them out? ²⁹ He replied, No, lest in weeding out the darnel, you tear up the wheat. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, first gather the darnel, and make them into bundles for burning; then carry the wheat into my barn. ³¹ Another similitude he proposed to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man planted in his field; ³² for though it is the smallest of seeds, when grown, larger than any herb, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air take the shelter in its branches. ³³ Another similitude he gave them: The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman mingled in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. ³⁴ All these similitudes Jesus spoke to the people; for he taught them only by similitudes; ³⁵ in this verifying the word of the Prophet, "I will discourse in parables; I will utter things concerning which, all antiquity has been silent." ³⁶ Then Jesus, leaving the multitude, retired to the house, where his disciples accosted him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the darnel in the field. ³⁷ Jesus answering, said to them, He who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world; the good seed are the sons of the kingdom; and the darnel are the sons of the evil one; ³⁹ the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the conclusion of this state; and the reapers are the angels. ⁴⁰ As, therefore, the darnel is gathered and burnt, so shall it be at the conclusion of this state. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels who shall gather out of his kingdom all seducers and iniquitous persons, ⁴² and throw them into the burning furnace: weeping and gnashing of teeth shall be there. ⁴³ Then shall the righteous shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears to hear let him hear. ⁴⁴ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field, which, when a man has discovered, he conceals the discovery, and for joy thereof, sells all that he has, and buys that field. ⁴⁵ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl extremely precious, which a merchant, in quest of fine pearls, ⁴⁶ having found, sold all that he had, and purchased it. ⁴⁷ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a sweep-net cast into the seam which encloses fish of every kind. ⁴⁸ When it is full, they draw it ashore, and gather the good into vessels, but throw the useless away. ⁴⁹ So it shall be at the conclusion of this state. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous, ⁵⁰ and throw them into the burning furnace. Weeping and gnashing of teeth shall be there. ⁵¹ Jesus said, Do you understand all these things? They answered, Yes, Master. ⁵² He added, Every scribe, therefore, instructed for the Reign of Heaven, is like a householder, who brings out of his storehouse new things and old. ⁵³ And after he had finished these similitudes, he departed thence. ⁵⁴ Jesus being come into his own country, taught the inhabitants in their synagogue; and they said with astonishment, Whence has this man this wisdom, and this power of working miracles? ⁵⁵ Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And do not his brothers, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas, ⁵⁶ and all his sisters, live amongst us? Whence, then, has he all these things? ⁵⁷ Thus they were offended at him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is no where disregarded, except in his own country, and in his own family. ⁵⁸ And he did not many miracles there, because of their unbelief. ¹⁴ ¹ At that time, Herod the tetrarch, hearing of the fame of Jesus, ² said to his servants, This is John the Immerser; he is raised from the dead and therefore miracles are performed by him. ³ For Herod had caused John to be apprehended, imprisoned, and bound, on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; ⁴ for John had said to him, It is not lawful for you to have her. ⁵ And Herod would have put him to death, but was afraid of the populace, who accounted him a prophet. ⁶ But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and pleased Herod, ⁷ wherefore he swore he would grant her whatever she would ask. ⁸ She being instigated by her mother, said, Give me here, in a basin, the head of John the Immerser. ⁹ And the king was sorry; nevertheless, from a regard to his oath and his guests, he commanded that it should be given her. ¹⁰ Accordingly John was beheaded in the prison by his order. ¹¹ And his head was brought in a basin, and presented to the young woman; and she carried it to her mother. ¹² After which, his disciples went and brought the body, and having buried it, came and told Jesus. ¹³ When Jesus heard this, he embarked privately; and retired into a desert place; of which the people being informed followed him by land out of the cities. ¹⁴ Observing, as he landed, a great multitude, he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. ¹⁵ Toward the evening, his disciples accosted him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past, dismiss the multitude, that they may go to the villages; and buy themselves provisions. ¹⁶ Jesus answered, They need not go. Supply them yourselves. ¹⁷ They said to him, We have here but five loaves and two fishes. ¹⁸ He replied, Bring them hither to me. ¹⁹ Then having commanded the people to recline upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking toward heaven, blessed them; then breaking the loaves, he gave them to the disciples, and they distributed them among the people. ²⁰ When all had eat, and were satisfied, they carried off twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. ²¹ Now they that had eat were about five thousand men; besides women and children. ²² Immediately he obliged the disciples to embark and pass over before him, while he dismissed the multitude. ²³ Having dismissed the multitude, he retired by himself to a mountain to pray, and remained there alone. ²⁴ By that time the bark was half way over, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. ²⁵ In the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, being terrified, they exclaimed, An apparition! and cried out for fear. ²⁷ Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, Take courage; it is I, be not afraid. ²⁸ Peter answering, said to him, If it be you, Master, bid me to come to you on the water. ²⁹ Jesus said, Come. Then Peter getting out of the bark, walked on the water toward Jesus. ³⁰ But finding the wind boisterous, he was frightened; and beginning to sink, cried, Master, save me. ³¹ Jesus instantly stretching out his hand, caught him; and said to him, Distrustful man, wherefore did you doubt? ³² When they had gone aboard, the wind ceased. ³³ Then those in the bark came, and prostrated themselves before him, saying, You are assuredly God's son. ³⁴ Having passed over, they landed on the territory of Gennesaret; ³⁵ the inhabitants of which knowing him, sent through all that country, and brought to him all the diseased, ³⁶ who besought him to let them touch but a tuft of his mantle; and as man as touched were cured. ¹⁵ ¹ Then some Scribes and Pharisees of Jerusalem addressed him, saying, ² Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders; for they was not their hands before meals. ³ Jesus answering, said to them, Why do you yourselves by your tradition, transgress the commandment of God? ⁴ For God has commanded, saying, "Honor father and mother"; and "Whosoever reviles father or mother, let him be punished with death." ⁵ But you affirm, If a man say to father or mother, I devote whatever of mine shall profit you, ⁶ he shall not afterward honor by his assistance, his father or his mother. Thus, by your tradition, you annul the commandment of God. ⁷ Hypocrites, well do you suit the character which Isaiah gave of you, saying, ⁸ "This people honor me with their lips. though their heart is estranged from me. ⁹ But in vain they worship me, while they teach institutions merely human." ¹⁰ Then, having called the multitude, he said to them, Hear, and be instructed. ¹¹ It is not what goes into the mouth pollutes the man; but it is what proceeds out of the mouth, that pollutes the man. ¹² On which his disciples accosting him, said, Did you observe how the Pharisees, when they heard that saying were offended? ¹³ He answered, Every plant, which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be extirpated. ¹⁴ Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind; and if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch. ¹⁵ Then Peter addressing him, said, Explain to us that parable. ¹⁶ Jesus answered, Are you also void of understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not apprehend, that whatever enters the mouth passes into the stomach, and is thrown out into the sink. ¹⁸ But that which proceeds out of the mouth, issues from the heart, and so pollutes the man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed malicious contrivances, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, calumnies. ²⁰ These are the things which pollute the man; but to eat with unwashed hands pollutes not the man. ²¹ Then Jesus withdrew into the confines of Tyre and Sidon; ²² and behold! a Canaanitish woman of these territories came to him, crying, Master, Son of David, have pity on me; my daughter is grievously afflicted by a demon. ²³ But he gave her no answer. Then his disciples interposed, and entreated him, saying, Dismiss her, for she clamors after us. ²⁴ He answering said, My mission is only to the lost sheep of the stock of Israel. ²⁵ She, nevertheless, advanced, and prostrating herself before him, said, O Lord, help me. ²⁶ He replied, It is not seemly to take the children's bread, and throw it to the dogs. ²⁷ True, Sir, returned she. Yet even the dogs are allowed the crumbs which fall from their master's table. ²⁸ Then Jesus, answering, said to her, O woman! great is your faith. Be it to you as you desire. And that instant her daughter was healed. ²⁹ Jesus having left that place, came nigh to the sea of Galilee, and repaired to a mountain, where he sat down; ³⁰ and great multitudes flocked to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the dumb, the cripple, and several others, whom they laid at his feet; and he healed them: ³¹ insomuch that the people beheld, with admiration, the dumb speaking, the cripple sound, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. ³² Then Jesus called to him his disciples, and said, I have compassion on the multitude because they have now attended me three days, and have nothing to eat; I will not dismiss them fasting, lest they faint by the way. ³³ His disciples answered, Whence can we get bread enough, in the solitude, to satisfy such a crowd? ³⁴ He asked them, How many loaves have you? They said, Seven, and a few small fishes. ³⁵ Then commanding the people to recline upon the ground, ³⁶ he took the seven loaves and the fishes, which, having given thanks, he divided and gave to his disciples, who distributed them among the people. ³⁷ When all had eat, and were satisfied, they carried off seven hand-baskets full of the fragments that remained. ³⁸ Now they that had eat were four thousand men, besides women and children. ³⁹ Then having dismissed the multitude, he embarked, and sailed to the coast of Magdala. ¹⁶ ¹ Thither some Pharisees and Sadducees repaired, who, to try him, desired that he would show them a sign in the sky. ² He answering, said to them, In the evening you say, it will be fair weather, for the sky is red: ³ and in the morning, There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and lowering. You can judge aright of the appearance of the sky, but can you not discern the signs of the times? ⁴ An evil and adulterous race demands a sign, but no sign shall be given it, except the sign of the Prophet Jonah. Then leaving them he departed. ⁵ Now his disciples, before they came over, had forgot to bring loaves with them. ⁶ Jesus said to them, Take head, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. ⁷ On which they said, reasoning among themselves, This is because we have brought no loaves with us. ⁸ Jesus perceiving it, said, What do you reason amongst yourselves, O you distrustful! that I speak thus, because you have brought no loaves. ⁹ Have you no reflection? or do you not remember the five loaves among the five thousand, and how many baskets you filled with the fragments: ¹⁰ nor the seven loaves among the four thousand, and how many hand-baskets you filled? ¹¹ How is it, that you do not understand, that I spoke not concerning bread, when I bade you beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? ¹² Then they understood, that he cautioned them not against the leaven which the Pharisees and the Sadducees used in bread, but against their doctrine. ¹³ As Jesus was going to the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of Man is? ¹⁴ They answered, Some say, John the Immerser; others, Elijah; others, Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets. ¹⁵ But who, returned he, do you say that I am? ¹⁶ Simon Peter answering, said, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. ¹⁷ Jesus replying, said to him, Happy are you, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ I tell you, likewise, you are named Stone; and on this rock I will build my congregation, over which the gates of Hades shall not prevail. ¹⁹ Moreover, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you shall bind on the earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you shall loose on the earth, shall be loosed in heaven. ²⁰ Then he forbade his disciples to tell any many that he is the Messiah. ²¹ From that time Jesus began to disclose to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and there suffer much from the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and that he must be raised the third day. ²² On which, Peter taking him aside, reproved him, saying, Be this far from you, Master; this shall not befall you. ²³ But he turning, said to Peter, Get you thence, adversary, you are an obstacle in my way; for you relish not the things of God, but the things of men. ²⁴ Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come under my guidance, let him renounce himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁵ For, whosoever would save his life, shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it. ²⁶ What is a man profited, if he should gain the whole world, with the forfeit of his life? or what will a man not give in ransom for his life? ²⁷ For the Son of Man, vested with his Father's glory, shall come hereafter with his heavenly messengers, and recompense every one according to his actions. ²⁸ Indeed, I say to you, some of those who are present, shall not taste death, until they see the Son of Man enter upon his Reign. ¹⁷ ¹ After six days, Jesus took Peter, and James, and John, brother of James, apart to the top of a high mountain, ² and was transfigured in their presence, His face shone as the sun; and his raiment became white as the light. ³ And presently appeared to them Moses and Elijah conversing with him. ⁴ Peter, upon this, addressing Jesus, said, Master, it is good for us to stay here; let us make here, if you will, three booths; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. ⁵ While he was speaking, behold! a bright cloud covered them, and out of the cloud a voice came, which said, This is my Son, the beloved in whom I delight; hear him. ⁶ The disciples, hearing this, fell upon their faces, and were greatly frightened. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, Arise; be not afraid. ⁸ Then lifting up their eyes, they saw none but Jesus. ⁹ As they went down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell no person what you have seen, until the Son of Man rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elijah must come first? ¹¹ Jesus answering, said to them, To consummate the whole, Elijah, indeed, must come first. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah is come already, though they did not acknowledge him, but have treated him as they pleased. Thus they will treat the Son of Man also. ¹³ Then the disciple understood, that he spoke concerning John the Immerser. ¹⁴ When they were come to the multitude, a man came to him, who kneeling, said, ¹⁵ Sir, have pity on my son; for he is grievously distressed with lunacy; often he falls into the fire, and often into the water, ¹⁶ and I presented him to your disciples; but they could not cure him. ¹⁷ Jesus answering, said, O unbelieving and perverse race! how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to me. ¹⁸ Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and he came out: and the lad was instantly cured. ¹⁹ At that time the disciple came to him privately, saying, Why could not we expel the demon? ²⁰ Jesus answered, Because of your unbelief; for, indeed, I say to you, if you had faith, though but as a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this mountain, Remove to yonder place, and it would remove: yes, nothing would be impossible to you. ²¹ This kind, however, is not dispossessed, unless by prayer and fasting. ²² While they remained in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of Man is to be delivered up to men, ²³ who will kill him: but the third day he shall be raised again. And they were grieved exceedingly. ²⁴ When they were come to Capernaum, the collectors came and asked Peter, Does not your teacher pay the didrachma? ²⁵ He said, Yes. Being come into the house, before he spoke, Jesus said to him, What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth exact tribute or custom? from their own sons, or from others? ²⁶ Peter answered, From others. Jesus replied, The sons then are exempted. ²⁷ Nevertheless, lest we shall give them offense, go to the sea and throw a line, draw out the first fish that is hooked, and, having opened its mouth, you shall find a stater; take that, and give it to them for me and you. ¹⁸ ¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus inquiring, Who shall be the greatest in the Reign of Heaven? ² Jesus calling to him a child, placed him in the midst of them, ³ and said, Indeed, I say to you, unless you be changed, and become as children, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whosoever, therefore, shall become humble like this child. ⁵ Nay, whosoever receives one such child, in my name, receives me: ⁶ but whosoever shall ensnare any of these little ones, who believe in me, it were better for him that an upper millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were sunk in the ocean. ⁷ Alas for the world because of snares! Snares indeed there must be; nevertheless, alas for the ensnarer! ⁸ Wherefore, if your hand or foot ensnare you, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter lame or maimed into life, than having two hands or feet to be cast into the everlasting fire. ⁹ And if your eye ensnare you, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter one-eyed into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. ¹⁰ Beware of contemning any of these little ones; for I assure you, that in heaven, their angels continually behold the face of my heavenly Father: ¹¹ and the Son of Man is come to recover the lost. ¹² What think you? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them has strayed, will he not leave the ninety-nine upon the mountains, and go in quest of the stray? ¹³ And if he happens to find it, indeed, I say to you, he derives greater joy from it, than from the ninety-nine which went not astray. ¹⁴ Thus it is not the will of your Father in heaven, that any of these little ones should be lost. ¹⁵ Wherefore, if your brother trespass against you, go and expostulate with him, when you and he are alone together. If he hear you, you have gained your brother; ¹⁶ but if he will not hear, take one or two along with you, that by the testimony of two or three witnesses everything may be ascertained. ¹⁷ If he despises them, tell the congregation; and if he despise the congregation also, let him be to you as a pagan or a publican. ¹⁸ Indeed, I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind on the earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹ Again, I say to you, whatever two of you upon the earth shall agree to ask, shall be granted them by my Father, who is in heaven. ²⁰ For wherever two or three are assembled in my name, I am in the midst of them. ²¹ Then Peter approaching, said to him, Master, if my brother repeatedly trespass against me, how often must I forgive him? must I seven times? ²² Jesus answered, I say to you, not seven times, but seventy times seven times. ²³ In this the Administration of Heaven resembles a king, who determined to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ Having begun to reckon, one was brought, who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ But that servant not having the means to pay; his master, to obtain payment, commanded that he, and his wife and children, and all that he had should be sold. ²⁶ Then the servant, throwing himself prostrate before his master, cried, Have patience with me, my lord, and I will pay the whole. ²⁷ And his master had compassion upon him, and dismissed him, remitting the debt. ²⁸ But this servant, as he went out, meeting one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred denarii, seized him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe. ²⁹ His fellow-servant, falling down, besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you. ³⁰ And he would not, but instantly caused him to be imprisoned, until he should discharge the debt. ³¹ His fellow-servants seeing this, were deeply affected, and went, and informed their master of all that had passed. ³² Then his master, having given orders to call him, said to him, You wicked servant: all that debt I forgave you, because you besought me. ³³ Ought not you to have shown such pity to your fellow-servant, as I showed to you? ³⁴ So his master, being provoked, delivered him to the jailors, to remain in their hands until he should clear the debt. ³⁵ Thus will my heavenly Father treat every one of you, who forgives not, from his heart, his brother. ¹⁹ ¹ When Jesus had ended this discourse, he left Galilee, and came to the confines of Judea, upon the Jordan, ² whither great multitudes followed him, and he healed their sick. ³ Then some Pharisees came to him, and trying him asked, Can a man lawfully, upon every pretense, divorce his wife? ⁴ He answered, Have you not read, that at the beginning, when the Creator made man, he formed a male and a female, ⁵ and said, "For this cause a man shall leave father and mother, and adhere to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." ⁶ Wherefore they are no longer two, but one flesh. What, then, God has conjoined, let not man separate. ⁷ They replied, Why, then, did Moses command to give a writing of divorce, and dismiss her? ⁸ He answered, Moses, indeed, because of your intractable disposition, permitted you to divorce your wives, but it was not so from the beginning. ⁹ Therefore, I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for whoredom, and marries another, commits adultery: and whoever marries the woman divorced, commits adultery. ¹⁰ His disciples said to him, If such be the condition of the husband, it is better to live unmarried. ¹¹ He answered, They alone are capable of living thus, on whom the power is conferred. ¹² For some are eunuchs from their birth; others have been made eunuchs by men; and others, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, have made themselves eunuchs. Let him act this part who can act it. ¹³ Then children were presented to him, that he might lay his hands on them, and pray, but the disciples reproved them. ¹⁴ Jesus said, Let the children alone, and hinder them not from coming to me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. ¹⁵ And having laid his hands on them, he departed thence. ¹⁶ Afterward, one approaching, said to him, Good Teacher, what good must I do to obtain eternal life? ¹⁷ He answered, Why do you call me good? God alone is good. If you would enter into that life, keep the commandments. ¹⁸ He said to him, Which? Jesus answered, "You shall not commit murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony. ¹⁹ "Honor father and mother; and love your neighbor as yourself." ²⁰ The young man replied, All these I have observed from my childhood. In what am I still deficient? ²¹ Jesus answered, If you would be perfect, go sell your estate, and give the price to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. ²² The young man hearing this, went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. ²³ Then Jesus said to his disciples, Indeed, I say to you, it is difficult for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven: ²⁴ I say further, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. ²⁵ The disciples, who heard this with amazement, said, Who then can be saved? ²⁶ Jesus, looking at them, answered, With men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible. ²⁷ Then Peter replying, said, As for us, we have forsaken all, and followed you; what then shall be our reward? ²⁸ Jesus answered, Indeed, I say to you, that at the Renovation, when the Son of Man shall be seated on his glorious throne, you, my followers, sitting upon the twelve thrones, shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And whoever shall have forsaken, on my account, houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, shall receive a hundred fold, and inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many shall be first that are last, and last that are first. ²⁰ ¹ For the Administration of Heaven will resemble the conduct of a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² Having agreed with some for a denarius a-day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ About the third hour he went out, and seeing others unemployed in the market place, ⁴ said to them, Go you likewise into my vineyard, and I will give you what is reasonable. Accordingly they went. ⁵ Again, about the sixth hour, and about the ninth, he went out and did the same. ⁶ Lastly, about the eleventh hour, he went out, and finding others standing, said to them, Why do you stand here all the day doing nothing? ⁷ They answered, Because no person has hired us. He said to them, Go you also into my vineyard, and you shall receive what is reasonable. ⁸ When it was night, the proprietor of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first. ⁹ Then they who had been hired at the eleventh hour came, and received each a denarius. ¹⁰ When the first came, they imagined they should receive more; but they got only a denarius a-piece. ¹¹ Upon receiving it, they murmured against the householder, ¹² saying, These last have worked but one hour; yet you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day. ¹³ He answering, said to one of them, Friend, I do you no injury. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what is yours, and depart. It is my will to give to this last as much as to you. ¹⁵ And may not I do what I will with my own? Is your eye evil, because I am good? ¹⁶ Thus the last shall be first, and first last; for there are many called, but few chosen. ¹⁷ When Jesus was on the road to Jerusalem, he took the twelve aside, and said to them, ¹⁸ We are now going to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man shall be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, who will condemn him to die, ¹⁹ and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked, and scourged, and crucified; but the third day he will rise again. ²⁰ Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to him with her sons, and, prostrating herself, entreated he would grant the request she had to make. ²¹ He said to her, What do you wish? She answered, That, in your Reign, one of these my two sons may sit at your right hand, the other at your left. ²² Jesus replying, said, You know not what you ask. Can you drink such a cup as I must drink? They said to him, We can. ²³ He answered, You shall indeed drink such a cup. But to sit on my right hand, and at my left, I can not give, unless to those for whom it is prepared by my Father. ²⁴ The then, hearing this, were full of indignation against the two brothers; ²⁵ but Jesus, calling them to him, said, You know that the Princes of the nations domineer over them, and the great exercise their authority upon them. ²⁶ It must not be so amongst you: on the contrary, whosoever would become great amongst you, let him be your servant; ²⁷ and whosoever would be chief amongst you, let him be your slave: ²⁸ even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. ²⁹ As they left Jericho, followed by a great multitude, ³⁰ two blind men, who sat by the way-side, hearing that Jesus passed by cried, saying, Master, Son of David, have pity on us. ³¹ The multitude charged them to be silent: but they cried the louder, saying, Master, Son of David, have pity on us. ³² Then Jesus stopping, called them, and said, What do you want me to do for you? ³³ They answered, Sir, to make us see. ³⁴ Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. Immediately they received sight, and followed him. ²¹ ¹ When they were nigh Jerusalem, being come to Bethphage, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ² saying, Go to the village opposite to you, where you will find an ass tied, and her colt with her; loose them, and bring them hither. ³ If any man say anything to you, say, Your Master wants them, and he will send them directly. ⁴ Now all this was done, that the words of the Prophet might be fulfilled, ⁵ "Say to the daughters of Zion, behold your King comes to you lowly, riding on an ass, even the colt of a laboring beast." ⁶ Accordingly the disciples went, and having done as Jesus had commanded them, ⁷ brought the ass and the colt, and covering them with their mantles, made him ride. ⁸ Now the greater part spread their mantles in the way; others lopped branches off the trees, and strowed them in the way, ⁹ while the crowd that went before and that followed, shouted, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be he that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven! ¹⁰ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, everybody asking, Who is this? ¹¹ The crowd answered, It is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, in Galilee. ¹² Then Jesus went into the temple of God, and drove thence all who sold and who brought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the stalls of those who sold doves, ¹³ and said to them, It is written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers." ¹⁴ Then the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ But the chief priests and the scribes, seeing the wonders which he performed, and the boys crying in the temple, Hosanna to the Son of David, ¹⁶ said to him with indignation, Do you hear what these say? Jesus answered, Yes. Have you never read, "From the mouth of infants and sucklings thou hast procured praise?" ¹⁷ And leaving them, he went out of the city of Bethany, where he remained that night. ¹⁸ Returning to the city in the morning, he was hungry, ¹⁹ and seeing a single fig tree by the road, he went to it; but finding only leaves on it, said, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward. And the fig tree withered forthwith. ²⁰ When the disciples saw it, they said with astonishment, how soon is the fig tree withered? ²¹ Jesus answered, Indeed, I say to you, if you have an unshaken faith, you may not only do as much as is done to the fig tree, but even if you should say to this mountain, Be lifted up, and thrown into the sea, it shall be done. ²² Whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, with faith, you shall receive. ²³ Being come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came near, as he was teaching, and said, by what authority do you these things? ²⁴ Jesus answering, said to them, I also have a question to propose, which if you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ Whence had John authority to immerse? From heaven or from men? Then they reasoned thus within themselves: If we say, From heaven, he will retort, Why then did you not believe him? ²⁶ And if we say, From men, we dread the multitude, amongst whom John is universally accounted a prophet. ²⁷ They, therefore, answered him, We can not tell. Jesus replied, Neither do I tell you, by what authority I do these things. ²⁸ But what do you think of this? A man had two sons, and addressing his elder son, said, Son, go work today in any vineyard. ²⁹ He answered, I will not, but afterward repented and went. ³⁰ Then addressing the younger, he bade him likewise. He answered, Immediately, Sir, but went not. ³¹ Now, which of the two obeyed his father? They said, The first. Jesus replied, Indeed, I say to you, even the publicans and harlots show you the way into the kingdom of God. ³² For John came to you in the way of sanctity, and you believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: yet you who saw this, did not afterward repent and believe him. ³³ Hear another parable: A landlord planted a vineyard, and hedged it round, and digged a wine press in it, and built a tower; and having farmed it out, went abroad. ³⁴ When the vintage approached, he sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive the fruits. ³⁵ But they seized his servants, beat one, drove away with stones another, and killed another. ³⁶ Again he sent other servants more respectable; but they received the same treatment; ³⁷ finally he sent his son to them: for he said, They will reverence my son. ³⁸ But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and keep possession of his inheritance. ³⁹ Then they seized him, thrust him out of the vineyard, and killed him. ⁴⁰ When, therefore, the proprietor of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those husbandmen? ⁴¹ They answered, He will put those wretched to a wretched death, and will let the vineyard to others, who will render him the fruits in the season. ⁴² Jesus replied, Did you never read in the scriptures, "A stone which the builders rejected, is made the head of the corner? This the Lord has effected, and we behold it with admiration." ⁴³ Know, therefore, that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation who will produce the fruits of it. ⁴⁴ For whosoever shall fall on this stone, shall be bruised; and on whomsoever it shall fall, it will crush him to pieces. ⁴⁵ The chief priests and the Pharisees hearing his parables, perceived that he spoke of them; ⁴⁶ but though they wished to lay hold on him, they were afraid of the populace, who reckoned him a prophet.