XIII. CHAP. is he who heareth the word, and considereth it, who accordingly beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, one a hundred, one sixty, one thirty-fold." 24 He put forth to them another paParable of rable, saying, "The kingdom of the weeds heaven is like a man who sowed in the field; good seed in his field; and during the time of sleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, 26 and went away. So when the blade sprang up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the weeds also. 27 Then the servants of the houshold came near, and said unto him, 'Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field, whence then hath it 28 these weeds?' And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this.' The servants said unto him, Wilt thou, therefore, that we go and 29 pick them out?' But he said, Nay, lest whilst you pick out the weeds, ye root up the wheat with 30 them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of harvest. I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but lay up the wheat in my barn." 31 He put forth to them another of the mus- parable, saying, "The kingdom of tard seed; heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which is indeed one of the 32 smaller kinds of seeds; but when it is grown up, it is one of the greatest of herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and roost in its branches." the weeds Then Jesus left the multitudes 36 and went into the house, and his Parable of disciples came near to him, saying, explained "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." And he an-37 swered, "The sower of the good seed is the Son of man; the field is 38 the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom: and the weeds are the children of the evil one; the enemy who sowed the 39 seeds is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the 40 weeds are picked out and burned up in a fire, so will it be at the end of this world. The Son of man 41 will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all the faithless and the workers of iniquity, and will cast them into a 42 furnace of fire: there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then will 43 the righteous shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is 44 like treasure hidden in a field, which Hidden when a man hath found, he hideth treasure, it, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth the field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is 45 like a merchant seeking goodly Goodly pearls, who when he hath found pearls. one of great price, sold all that he 46 had, and bought it. I In eastern countries, this plant grows to a very considerable size. • See the verse just before Chap. xlix. of Isaiah. 3 In this concealment we have a picture of human nature, not a recommendation of the fact. The instruction which parables furnish, is to be derived from the general scope and drift of them. XIV. CHAP. "Again, the kingdom of heaven in prison because of Herodias his CHAP. XIV. is like a net cast into the sea, and The net. gathering together fishes of every 48 kind: Which when it was filled men drew to shore, and sitting down gathered the good into ves49 sels, but cast the bad away. So it will be in the end of the world; the angels will come forth and separate the wicked from the righteous, and 50 cast them into a furnace of fire; there will be wailing and gnashing 51 of teeth. Jesus saith unto them, "Understand ye all these things?" 52 They say unto him, "Yes, master." Then said he unto them, "Therefore every scribe or teacher of truth that is instructed for the kingdom of heaven, is like a householder who bringeth out of his treasury, 'things new and old." 53 And, when Jesus had finished Treatment these parables, he departed thence; of Jesus by and when he was come to Nazahis towns- reth his own town, he taught in their synagogues in such a manner that they were astonished, and said, "Whence hath this man such wis55 dom and these miracles? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren James and Joses, and Simon 56 and Judas? and are not all his sisters with us? whence then hath 57 this man all these things?" And they revolted at him. And Jesus said unto them, "A teacher is not without honour, except in his own town and in his own family." 58 And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. CHAP. At that time Herod the Tetrarch XIV. heard of the fame of Jesus, and said Account of to his servants, "This is John the of John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, Baptist. and therefore these mighty works the death are wrought by him." For Herod brother Philip's wife: for Johnhad loaves. And Jesus went out of the vessel, 14 and saw a great multitude, and had First mira pity on them, and cured their sick. cle of the And in the evening his disciples 15 came to him, saying, "This is a lonely place, and the day is far spent, send the multitudes away, that they may go to the towns and buy themselves food." But Jesus 16 said unto them, "They need not go, do you give them food to eat." And they say unto him, "We have 17 here but five loaves and two fishes." He said, "Bring them hither to 18 me." And when he had com-19 manded the multitudes to sit down on the grass, he took the five of what was before under the dominion of D CHAP. loaves, and two fishes, and looking up to heaven blessed God, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples to 20 the multitudes. And they all ate and were filled; and twelve panniers full of the remaining frag21 ments were taken away. And they who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. 22 And immediately Jesus conJesus strained his disciples to get into the walketh on vessel, and go before him farther the water. on, while he sent the multitudes 23 away; and when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up a mountain apart to pray, and was 24 there in the evening alone. But the vessel was now in the midst of the lake, tossed by the waves; for 25 the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the 26 lake; and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were troubled, saying, "It is an apparition;" and they cried out 27 through fear. But Jesus immediately said unto them, "Take cou28 rage, it is I, be not afraid," and Peter answered him, and said, "Master, if it be thou, bid me come 29 to thee on the water;" and he said, "Come;" so Peter went down from the vessel, and walked 30 on the water towards Jesus. But perceiving the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, "Master, 31 save me." And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and saith unto him, "O thou of little faith, wherefore 32 didst thou doubt?" And when they had entered the vessel, the This was the second Jewish evening wwhich began at our six o'clock. The evening mentioned v. 15. began at our three in the afternoon. • Sometime between three and six in the morning. XV. wind ceased. Then they who were CHAP. in the vessel came and did him obeisance, saying, "Truly thou art a Son of God." And they passed over and came 34 into the country of Gennesaret. Cures great And when the men of that place multitudes. knew him again, they sent into all 35 the country round about, and brought unto him all who were disordered; and these besought him 36 that they might touch only the border of his garment, and as many as touched it were perfectly cured. Then come near to Jesus, Scribes CHAP. and Pharisees from Jerusalem, saying, "Why do thy disciples trans- Replies to gress the tradition of their forefa- the objecthers? for they wash not their washing. hands when they eat bread?" But 3 he answered, "Why do ye also set aside the commandment of God by your tradition? For God com-4 manded, saying, Honour thy Exod. father and mother; and he who xx. 12. revileth father or mother shall be xxi. 21. put to death. But ye teach, that 5 a man may say to his father or his mother, that by which I might have profited thee is an offering to God, and so not honour his father or his mother. Thus ye have made 6 the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypo-7 crites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, "This people hon-8 oureth me with their lips, while Isaiah their heart is far from me, but in xxix. 13. vain do they worship me teaching 9 doctrines which are only the commandments of men." And he 10 called to him the multitude and said unto them, "Hear and understand. Not that which goeth into 11 the mouth defileth a man, but that XV. tion about Deut. 3 In other words, none came without finding the expected relief, who were worthy of it. 4 No kind of meat or drink makes a man sinful, but the quantity may through intemperance, which is a vice of the mind. CHAP. which proccedeth out of the mouth and did him obeisance, saying, CHAP. XV. defileth a man." ment. 12 Then his disciples came to him Pharisees and said, "Knowest thou that the ispleased. Pharisees when they heard thy dis13 course revolted at thee!" And he answered, "Every plant which my Father hath not planted shall 14 be rooted up. Regard them not, they are blind leaders of the blind. But if one blind man lead another, they will both fall into a pit." 15 Then answered Peter, and said unto him, "Explain to us that saying which displeased the Pharisees." 16 And Jesus said, "Are ye also yet Nature of without understanding? do ye not real defile- yet perceive that whatsoever entereth into the mouth goeth into the stomach, and passeth through the 18 body into the vault! But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, 19 and defile the man! For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, evil speak20 ing. These are the things that defile the man, but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." Then Jesus went thence and withdrew into the parts about Tyre 22 and Sidon. And behold a Canaanitish woman coming from the borders of that country, cried out, and said unto him, "O! Master. thou son of David! have pity on me, my daughter is grievously afflicted with a demon." But he 21 "Master, help me!" But he an- XV. Then Jesus departed thence and 29. came near the lake of Galilee, and went up a mountain, and sat down there. And great multitudes came 30 near to him, having with them lame people, blind, dumb, those that had lost a limb, and many others, and laid them down at Jesus's feet, and he cured them: so that the 31 multitudes wondered when they perceived that the dumb spake, those who had lost a limb were made whole, the lame walked, and the blind saw; and they glorified the God of Israel. the loaves. Then Jesus called his disciples 32 unto him, and said, "I have com- Second passion on the multitude because miracle of they have now continued with me three days, and have nothing to eat, and I am unwilling to send them away fasting, lest they grow faint on the road." And his disciples 33 say unto him, "Whence should we have so many loaves in the desert, as to satisfy so great a multitude?" And Jesus saith unto 34 23 answered her not a word. And his them, "How many loaves have And they said, "Seven, and a few small fishes." And he 35 disciples came near, and besought ye?" s." commanded the multitudes to sit As if he had said, These men are not the objects of God's favour, but the contrary. • By granting her request, in curing her daughter at a distance. 3 By children are meant the Jews. CHAP. God, he brake them, and gave to 37 the multitude. So they all ate and CHAP, XVI. again require a sign, And the Pharisees and Sadducees came to try him by asking him to Pharisees show them a sign from heaven. But he answered them and said, "When it is evening, ye say it 3 will be fair weather, for the sky is red, and in the morning, it will be rainy weather to-day, for the sky is red and gloomy. Ye hypocrites, ye know how to discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the 4 signs of the times ? An evil and wicked generation seeketh after a sign, but no sign shall be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet." And he left them and went Caution away. 5 Now when his disciples were come to the other side of the lake, against the they found that they had forgotthe Phari- ten to bring any bread with them. Then Jesus said unto them, "See that ye beware of the leaven, of the 7 Pharisees and Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, say sees. seven loaves of the four thousand, CHAP. know Now when Jesus came into the 13 ing, "This is, because we have thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt The signs or proofs of this being the time of the appearance of the Messiah among you. That is, the bad doctrine of the Pharisees; sometimes it is used for bad practice and example. 3 Thus distinguished from another Cesarea on the coast of the Mediterranean. * It is not a mere human conjecture, but an inference derived in a wise and honest manner from the miracles which God enables me to do. |