Matthew 12:37-19:2 For it is by your words that you will be acquitted, and by your words that you will be condemned."

Twentieth_Century⁽ⁱ⁾ ³⁷ For it is by your words that you will be acquitted, and by your words that you will be condemned." ³⁸ At this point, some Teachers of the Law and Pharisees interposed. "Teacher," they said, " we want to see some sign from you." ³⁹ "It is a wicked and unfaithful generation," answered Jesus, "that is asking for a sign, and no sign shall be given it except the sign of the Prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For, just as 'Jonah was inside the sea-monster three days and three nights,' so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹ At the Judgment, the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's proclamation; and here is more than a Jonah! ⁴² At the Judgment the Queen of the South will rise up with the present generation, and will condemn it, because she came from the very ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and here is more than a Solomon! ⁴³ No sooner does a foul spirit leave a man, than it passes through places where there is no water, in search of rest, and does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says 'I will go back to the home which I left'; but, on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, and swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in, and make their home there; and the last state of that man proves to be worse than the first. So, too, will it be with this wicked generation." ⁴⁶ While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside, asking to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone told him this, and Jesus replied: ⁴⁸ "Who is my mother? and who are my brothers?" ⁴⁹ Then, stretching out his hands towards his disciples, he said: "Here are my mother and my brothers! ⁵⁰ For any one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother." ¹³ ¹ That same day, when Jesus had left the house and was sitting by the Sea, ² such great crowds gathered round him, that he got into a boat, and sat in it, while all the people stood upon the beach. ³ Then he told them many truths in parables. "The sower," he began, "went out to sow; and, ⁴ As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it had not much soil, and, having no depth of soil, sprang up at once. ⁶ As soon as the sun had risen, it was scorched, and, having no root, withered away. ⁷ Some, again, fell into the brambles; but the brambles shot up and choked it. ⁸ Some, however, fell on good soil, and yielded a return, sometimes one hundred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty fold. ⁹ Let him who has ears hear." ¹⁰ Afterwards his disciples came to him, and said: "Why do you speak to them in parables?" ¹¹ "To you," answered Jesus, "the knowledge of the hidden truths of the Kingdom of Heaven has been imparted, but not to those. ¹² For, to all who have, more will be given, and they shall have abundance; but, from all who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ¹³ That is why I speak to them in parables, because, though they have eyes, they do not see, and though they have ears, they do not hear or understand. ¹⁴ And in them is being fulfilled that prophecy of Isaiah which says--'You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, And, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving, ¹⁵ For the mind of this nation has grown dense, And their ears are dull of hearing, Their eyes also have they closed; Lest some day they should perceive with their eyes, And with their ears they should hear, And in their mind they should understand, and should turn--And I should heal them.' ¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear; ¹⁷ For I tell you that many Prophets and good men have longed for the sight of the things which you are seeing, yet never saw them, and to hear the things which you are hearing, yet never heard them. ¹⁸ Listen, then, yourselves to the parable of the Sower. ¹⁹ When any one hears the Message of the Kingdom without understanding it, the Evil One comes and snatches away what has been sown in his mind. This is the man meant by the seed which was sown along the path. ²⁰ By the seed which was sown on rocky places is meant the man who hears the Message, and at once accepts it joyfully; ²¹ But, as he has no root, he stands for only a short time; and, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Message, he falls away at once. ²² By the seed which was sown among the brambles is meant the man who hears the Message, but the cares of life and the glamour of wealth completely choke the Message, so that it gives no return. ²³ But by the seed which was sown on the good ground is meant the man who hears the Message and understands it, and really yields a return, sometimes one hundred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty fold." ²⁴ Another parable which Jesus told them was this-- "The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But, while every one was asleep, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and then went away. ²⁶ So, when the blades of corn shot up, and came into ear, the tares made their appearance also. ²⁷ On this the owner's servants came to him, and said 'Was not it good seed that you sowed in your field? Where, then, do the tares in it come from?' ²⁸ 'An enemy has done this,' was his answer. 'Do you wish us, then,' they asked,' to go and gather them together?' ²⁹ 'No,' said he, 'for fear that, while you are gathering the tares, you should root up the wheat as well. ³⁰ Let both grow side by side till harvest; and then I shall say to the reapers, Gather the tares together first, and tie them in bundles for burning; but bring all the wheat into my barn.'" ³¹ Another parable which he told them was this-- "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard-seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. ³² This seed is smaller than all other seeds, but, when it has grown up, it is larger than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that 'the wild birds come and roost in its branches.'" ³³ This was another parable which Jesus related-- "The Kingdom of Heaven is like some yeast which a woman took and covered up in three pecks of flour, until the whole had risen." ³⁴ Of all this Jesus spoke to the crowd in parables; indeed to them he used never to speak at all except in parables, ³⁵ in fulfillment of these words in the Prophet--'I will speak to them in parables; I will utter things kept secret since the foundation of the world.' ³⁶ Then Jesus left the crowd, and went into the house. Presently his disciples came to him, and said: "Explain to us the parable of the tares in the field." ³⁷ And he answered: "The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world. By the good seed is meant the People of the Kingdom. The tares are the wicked, ³⁹ And the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest-time is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ And, just as the tares are gathered and burnt, so it will be at the close of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all that hinders and those who live in sin, ⁴² And 'will throw them into the fiery furnace,' where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. ⁴³ Then shall the righteous shine, like the sun, in the Kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears hear. ⁴⁴ The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again, and then, in his delight, went and sold everything that he had, and bought that field. ⁴⁵ Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of choice pearls. ⁴⁶ Finding one of great value, he went and sold everything that he had, and bought it. ⁴⁷ Or again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net which was cast into the sea, and caught fish of all kinds. ⁴⁸ When it was full, they hauled it up on the beach, and sat down and sorted the good fish into baskets, but threw the worthless ones away. ⁴⁹ So will it be at the close of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous, ⁵⁰ And 'will throw them into the fiery furnace,' where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. ⁵¹ Have you understood all this?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they answered. ⁵² Then he added: "So every Teacher of the Law, who has received instruction about the Kingdom of Heaven, is like a householder who produces from his stores things both new and old." ⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he withdrew from that place. ⁵⁴ Going to his own part of the country, he taught the people in their Synagogue in such a manner that they were deeply impressed. "Where did he get this wisdom?" they said, "and the miracles? ⁵⁵ Is not he the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶ And his sisters, too--are not they all living among us? Where, then did he get all this?" ⁵⁷ These things proved a hindrance to their believing in him; whereupon Jesus said: "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house." ⁵⁸ And he did not work many miracles there, because of their want of faith. ¹⁴ ¹ At that time Prince Herod heard of the fame of Jesus, ² And said to his attendants: " This must be John the Baptist; he must be risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are active in him." ³ For Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and shut him up in prison, to please Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother Philip. ⁴ For John had said to him 'You have no right to be living with her.' ⁵ Yet, though Herod wanted to put him to death, he was afraid of the people, because they looked on John as a Prophet. ⁶ But, when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before his guests, and so pleased Herod, ⁷ That he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, the girl said 'Give me here, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist.' ⁹ The king was distressed at this; yet, on account of his oath and of the guests at his table, he ordered it to be given her. ¹⁰ He sent and beheaded John in the prison; ¹¹ And his head was brought on a dish and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. ¹² Then John's disciples came, and took the body away, and buried it; and went and told Jesus. ¹³ When Jesus heard of it, he retired privately in a boat to a lonely spot. The people, however, heard of his going, and followed him in crowds from the towns on foot. ¹⁴ On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them; and he cured all the sick among them. ¹⁵ In the evening the disciples came up to him, and said: " This is a lonely spot, and the day is now far advanced; send the crowds away, that they may go to the villages, and buy themselves food." ¹⁶ But Jesus said: "They need not go away, it is for you to give them something to eat." ¹⁷ "We have nothing here," they said, "except five loaves and two fishes." ¹⁸ "Bring them here to me," was his reply. ¹⁹ Jesus ordered the people to take their seats on the grass; and, taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to Heaven, and said the blessing, and, after he had broken the loaves, gave them to his disciples; and they gave them to the crowds. ²⁰ Every one had sufficient to eat, and they picked up enough of the broken pieces that were left to fill twelve baskets. ²¹ The men who ate were about five thousand in number, without counting women and children. ²² Immediately afterwards Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and cross over in advance of him, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ After dismissing the crowds, he went up the hill by himself to pray; and, when evening fell, he was there alone. ²⁴ The boat was by this time some miles from shore, laboring in the waves, for the wind was against her. ²⁵ Three hours after midnight, however, Jesus came towards the disciples, walking on the water. ²⁶ But, when they saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they exclaimed, and cried out for fear. ²⁷ But Jesus at once spoke to them. "Courage!" he said, "It is I; do not be afraid!" ²⁸ "Master," Peter exclaimed, "if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water." ²⁹ And Jesus said: "Come." So Peter got down from the boat, and walked on the water, and went towards Jesus; ³⁰ But, when he felt the wind, he was frightened, and, beginning to sink, cried out: "Master! Save me!" ³¹ Instantly Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught hold of him. "O man of little faith!" he said, "Why did you falter?" ³² When they had got into the boat, the wind dropped. ³³ But the men in the boat threw themselves on their faces before him, and said: "You are indeed God's Son." ³⁴ When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. ³⁵ But the people of that place, recognizing Jesus, sent out to the whole country round, and brought to him all who were ill, ³⁶ Begging him merely to let them touch the tassel of his cloak; and all who touched were made perfectly well. ¹⁵ ¹ Then some Pharisees and Teachers of the Law came to Jesus, and said: ² "How is it that your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? For they do not wash their hands when they eat food." ³ His reply was: "How is it that you on your side break God's commandments out of respect for your own traditions? ⁴ For God said--'Honor thy father and mother,' and 'Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,' ⁵ But you say 'Whenever any one says to his father or mother "Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is 'Given to God,'" ⁶ He is in no way bound to honor his father.' In this way you have nullified the words of God on account of your traditions. ⁷ Hypocrites! It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you-- ⁸ 'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; ⁹ But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.'" ¹⁰ Then Jesus called the people to him, and said: "Listen, and mark my words. ¹¹ It is not what enters a man's mouth that 'defiles' him, but what comes out from his mouth--that does defile him!" ¹² On this his disciples came up to him, and said: "Do you know that the Pharisees were shocked on hearing what you said?" ¹³ "Every plant," Jesus replied, "that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. ¹⁴ Let them be; they are but blind guides; and, if one blind man guides another, both of them will fall into a ditch." ¹⁵ Upon this, Peter said to Jesus: "Explain this saying to us." ¹⁶ "What, do even you understand nothing yet?" Jesus exclaimed. ¹⁷ "Do not you see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is afterwards expelled? ¹⁸ But the things that come out from the mouth proceed from the heart, and it is these that defile a man; ¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts--murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander. ²⁰ These are the things that defile a man; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man." ²¹ On going away from that place, Jesus retired to the country round Tyre and Sidon. ²² There, a Canaanite woman of that district came out and began calling to Jesus: "Take pity on me, Master, Son of David; my daughter is grievously possessed by a demon." ²³ But Jesus did not answer her a word; and his disciples came up and begged him to send her away. "She keeps calling out after us," they said. ²⁴ "I was not sent," replied Jesus, "to any one except the lost sheep of Israel." ²⁵ But the woman came, and, bowing to the ground before him, said: "Master, help me." ²⁶ "It is not fair," replied Jesus, "to take the children's food and throw it to dogs." ²⁷ "Yes, Master," she said, "for even dogs do feed on the scraps that fall from their owners' table." ²⁸ "Your faith is great," was his reply to the woman; "it shall be as you wish!" And her daughter was cured that very hour. ²⁹ On leaving that place, Jesus went to the shore of the Sea of Galilee; and then went up the hill, and sat down., you will do what not only what has been done to the fig tree, but, even if you should say to this hill 'Be lifted up and hurled into the sea!' it would be done. ³⁰ Great crowds of people came to him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, or dumb, and many others. They put them down at his feet, and he cured them; ³¹ And the crowds were astonished, when they saw the dumb talking, the cripples made sound, the lame walking about, and the blind with their sight restored; and they praised the God of Israel. ³² Afterwards Jesus called his disciples to him, and said: "My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, for fear that they should break down on the way." ³³ "Where can we," his disciples asked, "in a lonely place find enough bread for such a crowd as this?" ³⁴ "How many loaves have you?" said Jesus. "Seven," they answered, "and a few small fish." ³⁵ Telling the crowd to sit down on the ground, ³⁶ Jesus took the seven loaves and the fish, and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke them, and gave them to the disciples; and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ³⁷ Every one had sufficient to eat, and they picked up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left. ³⁸ The men who ate were four thousand in number without counting women and children. ³⁹ Then, after dismissing the crowds, Jesus got into the boat, and went to the neighborhood of Magadan. ¹⁶ ¹ Here the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and, to test Jesus, requested him to show them some sign from the heavens. ² But Jesus answered: [ "In the evening you say 'It will be fine weather, for the sky is as red as fire.' ³ But in the morning you say 'To-day it will be stormy, for the sky is as red as fire and threatening.' You learn to read the sky; yet you are unable to read the signs of the times!] ⁴ A wicked and unfaithful generation is asking for a sign, but no sign shall be given it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and went away. ⁵ Now the disciples had crossed to the opposite shore, and had forgotten to take any bread. ⁶ Presently Jesus said to them: "Take care and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." ⁷ But the disciples began talking among themselves about their having brought no bread. ⁸ On noticing this, Jesus said: "Why are you talking among yourselves about your being short of bread, O men of little faith? ⁹ Do not you yet see, nor remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took away? ¹⁰ Nor yet the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you took away? ¹¹ How is it that you do not see that I was not speaking about bread? Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." ¹² Then they understood that he had told them to be on their guard, not against the leaven of bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. ¹³ On coming into the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples this question-- "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" ¹⁴ "Some say John the Baptist," they answered, "Others, however, say that he is Elijah, while others again say Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets." ¹⁵ "But you," he said, "who do you say that I am?" ¹⁶ And to this Simon Peter answered: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." ¹⁷ "Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah," Jesus replied. "For no human being has revealed this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven. ¹⁸ Yes, and I say to you, Your name is 'Peter--a Rock, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the Powers of the Place of Death shall not prevail over it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be held in Heaven to be forbidden, and whatever you allow on earth will be held in Heaven to be allowed." ²⁰ Then he charged his disciples not to tell any one that he was the Christ. ²¹ At that time Jesus Christ began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and undergo much suffering at the hands of the Councillors, and Chief Priests, and Teachers of the Law, and be put to death, and rise on the third day. ²² But Peter took Jesus aside, and began to rebuke him. "Master," he said, "please God that shall never be your fate!" ²³ Jesus, however, turning to Peter, said: "Out of my way, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you look at things, not as God does, but as man does." ²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples: "If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let him renounce self, and take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake, loses his life shall find it. ²⁶ What good will it do a man to gain the whole world, if he forfeits his life? or what will a man give that is of equal value with his life? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is to come in his Father's Glory, with his angels, and then he 'will give to every man what his actions deserve.' ²⁸ I tell you, some of those who are standing here will not know death till they have seen the Son of Man coming into his Kingdom." ¹⁷ ¹ Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, and the brothers James and John, and led them up a high mountain alone. ² There his appearance was transformed before their eyes; his face shown like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ And all at once Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. ⁴ "Master," exclaimed Peter, interposing, "it is good to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." ⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and there was a voice from the cloud that said-- "This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight; him you must hear." ⁶ The disciples, on hearing this, fell on their faces, greatly afraid. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying as he did so: "Rise up, and do not be afraid." ⁸ When they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus himself alone. ⁹ As they were going down the mountain side, Jesus gave them this warning-- "Do not speak of this vision to any one, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead." ¹⁰ "How is it," his disciples asked, "that our Teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?" ¹¹ "Elijah indeed does come," Jesus replied, "and will restore everything; ¹² And I tell you that Elijah has already come, and people have not recognized him, but have treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, too, the Son of Man is destined to undergo suffering at men's hands." ¹³ Then the disciples understood that it was of John the Baptist that he had spoken to them. ¹⁴ When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, and, kneeling down before him, said: ¹⁵ "Master, take pity on my son, for he is epileptic and suffers terribly; indeed, he often falls into the fire and into the water; ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." ¹⁷ "O faithless and perverse generation!" Jesus exclaimed, "how long must I be among you? how long must I have patience with you? Bring the boy here to me." ¹⁸ Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy; and he was cured from that very hour. ¹⁹ Afterwards the disciples came up to Jesus, and asked him privately: "Why was it that we could not drive it out?" ²⁰ "Because you have so little faith," he answered; "for, I tell you, if your faith were only like a mustard-seed, you could say to this mountain 'Move from this place to that!' and it would be moved; and nothing would be impossible to you." ²¹ OMITTED TEXT ²² While Jesus and his disciples were together in Galilee, he said to them: "The Son of Man is destined to be betrayed into the hands of his fellow-men, ²³ And they will put him to death, but on the third day he will rise." And the disciples were greatly distressed. ²⁴ After they had reached Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple-rate came up to Peter, and said: "Does not your Master pay the Temple-rate?" ²⁵ "Yes," answered Peter. But, on going into the house, before he could speak, Jesus said: "What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings take taxes or tribute? From their sons, or from others?" ²⁶ "From others," answered Peter. "Well then," continued Jesus, "their sons go free. ²⁷ Still, that we may not shock them, go and throw a line into the Sea; take the first fish that rises, open its mouth, and you will find in it a piece of money. Take that, and give it to the collectors for both of us." ¹⁸ ¹ On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him: "Who is really the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" ² Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said: ³ "I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all. ⁴ Therefore, any one who will humble himself like this child-- that man shall be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. ⁵ And any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me. ⁶ But, if any one puts a snare in the way of one of these lowly ones who believe in me, it would be best for him to be sunk in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung round his neck. ⁷ Alas for the world because of such snares! There cannot but be snares; yet alas for the man who is answerable for the snare! ⁸ If your hand or your foot is a snare to you, cut it off, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the Life maimed or lame, than to have both hands, or both feet, and be thrown into the aeonian fire. ⁹ If your eye is a snare to you, take it out, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the Life with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fiery Pit. ¹⁰ Beware of despising one of these lowly ones, for in Heaven, I tell you, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in Heaven. ¹¹ OMITTED TEXT ¹² What think you? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them strays, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills, and go and search for the one that is straying? ¹³ And, if he succeeds in finding it, I tell you that he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine which did not stray. ¹⁴ So, too, it is the will of my Father who is in Heaven that not one of these lowly ones should be lost. ¹⁵ If your Brother does wrong, go to him and convince him of his fault when you and he are alone. If he listens to you, you have won your Brother. ¹⁶ But, if he does not listen to you, take with you one or two others, so that 'on the evidence of two or three witnesses, every word may be put beyond dispute.' ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, speak to the Church; and, if he also refuses to listen to the Church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax-gatherer. ¹⁸ I tell you, all that you forbid on earth will be held in Heaven to be forbidden, and all that you allow on earth will be held in Heaven to be allowed. ¹⁹ Again, I tell you that, if but two of you on earth agree as to what they shall pray for, whatever it be, it will be granted them by my Father who is in Heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three have come together in my Name, I am present with them." ²¹ Then Peter came up, and said to Jesus: "Master, how often am I to forgive my Brother when he wrongs me? As many as seven times?" ²² But Jesus answered: "Not seven times, but 'seventy times seven.' ²³ And therefore the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ When he had begun to do so, one of them was brought to him who owed him six million pounds; ²⁵ And, as he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold towards the payment of the debt, together with his wife, and his children, and everything that he had. ²⁶ Thereupon the servant threw himself down on the ground before him and said 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' ²⁷ The master was moved with compassion; and he let him go, and forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But, on going out, that same servant came upon one of his fellow-servants who owed him ten pounds. Seizing him by the throat, he said 'Pay what you owe me.' ²⁹ Thereupon his fellow-servant threw himself on the ground and begged for mercy. 'Have patience with me,' he said, 'and I will pay you.' ³⁰ But the other would not, but went and put him in prison till he should pay his debt. ³¹ When his fellow-servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and went to their master and laid the whole matter before him. ³² Upon that the master sent for the servant, and said to him 'You wicked servant! When you begged me for mercy, I forgave you the whole of that debt. ³³ Ought not you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow- servant, just as I showed mercy to you?' ³⁴ Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay the whole of his debt. ³⁵ So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his Brother from his heart." ¹⁹ ¹ At the conclusion of this teaching, Jesus withdrew from Galilee, and went into that district of Judea which is on the other side of the Jordan. ² Great crowds followed him, and he cured them there.