66 66 THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 66 If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the roots, and be thou planted "in the sea; and it should obey you. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when "he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat'? And will not "rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward "thou shalt eat and drink'? Doth he thank that servant because he "did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise 'ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, 6 say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do.'" 3 666 66 66 666 CHAPTER XLI. The Coming of the Kingdom of God.-Parables—the Importunate - the Pharisee and Publican. Divorce. Jesus and Little Widow A ND when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of · "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they "say, Lo here!' or, Lo there!' for, behold, the kingdom of God is "within you." 6 And he said unto the disciples, 6 "The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the "Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you,' See here;' or, See there:' go not after them, nor follow them. For as "the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth "unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in "his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of3 Noah,5" so shall it be also in "the days of the Son of man, They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that 3 Noah 5" entered "into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went "out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed "them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is "revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his "stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that "is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. "Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall "lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. "Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and 3 66 3 THE UNJUST JUDGE. THE PUBLICAN AND PHARISEE. "the other left. 99 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, Matt. 19.3.6. "and the other left." Mark 10. 2_9. Luke 17. 35_37. 18. 1-14. And they answered and said unto him, "Where, Lord?" And he said unto them, "Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered to"gether.' And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, 66 66 66 666 "There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.' And he would not for a while but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will "avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' And the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his "own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long "with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 66 666 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and "the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, "unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, "I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the publican, standing afar off, "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell I tell you, this man 66 "went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one "that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself "shall be exalted." 3 α а And the Pharisees came2 unto him, tempting him, and1 asked him,2 « to. 2 saying unto him, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" And he answered and said unto them,1 "What did Moses command you?" And they said, "Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.' 1 "Have ye not read, that God 2 which made them at the beginning "of the creation,2 made them male and female, and said, 'For this cause “shall a man leave 2 his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: "and they twain shall be one flesh'? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." bhe. 1 so then. 2 100 Matt. 19. 7_15. Mark 10. 10_16. Luke 18. 15_17. a he. 2 ¿ for. 2 c heart. 2 d And they. 23 e little.1 f infants. 3 g to. 3 h would. 3 i touch. 2 3 k and. 12 'the. 1 m them. 13 " heaven. I • not. 2 P laid. I ? ou. I They say unto him, 66 66 DIVORCE. Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?" "Moses" because of the hardness of your hearts 1° wrote you this "precept, and suffered you to put away your wives: but from the "beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, "committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth "commit adultery.' 99 1 66 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. And he saith unto them, 66 "Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and "be married to another, she committeth adultery." "If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry." But he said unto them, “All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. "For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's "womb and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs "for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him "receive it." Then were there also 3 brought young children 2f unto him, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: but when his' disciples saw it, they rebuked 3 those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and 2 called them unto him, and 3 said unto them, 3 "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for "of such is the kingdom of God." Verily I say unto you, Whosoever "shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no 30 wise enter therein." 66 2 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them, and departed thence.1 2 CHAPTER XLII. Matt. 19. 16. Luke 18. 18. r one. 1 2 said unto.1 to. 3 u have. 1 The Rich Young Ruler.-Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard. A r 1 2 a ND when he was gone forth into the way,2 behold there came certain ruler3 running, and kneeled to him, and asked him,2 saying, 3 "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may1t inherit" "eternal life?" 2 THE RICH YOUNG RULER. 101 And Jesus" said unto him, 66 Matt. 19. 17-28. Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, Luke 18. 19-29. "God. Thou knowest the commandments:2 if thou wilt enter into life, 'keep the commandments." 66 He saith unto him, "Which?" Jesus said, e e • he. 1 e Do. 23 "Thou shalt do no murder," Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou Do not kill. 23 "shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,' Defraud not,2 "Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neigh"bour as thyself." 66 The young man1f answered and said unto him, Now when Jesus heard these things," he3 beholding him loved him, and said unto him,2 And he. 2 3 g saith.1 Then. 2 i whatsoever. 2 * And. 23 "Yet one thing thou lackest: if thou wilt be perfect,' go thy way, give to. I 2 "and sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou "shalt have treasure in heaven :3 and come, take up the cross, and "follow me." 2 But' when the young man heard that saying," he was very3 sad,2° and went away grieved:" for he was very rich and had great possessions.2 And when Jesus saw that he was about, and saith unto his disciples, he. 3 " this. 3 sad at that saying. 2 P sorrowful. 1 ? Then, 1 r said. 13 Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall "How hardly shall they that have riches' enter into the kingdom of hardly. "God!" t And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, "Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into "the kingdom of God? And again I say unto you,' It" is easier for a "camel to go through the eye of a needle," than for a rich man to enter "into the kingdom of God." And when his disciples heard it,' they were astonished out of measure," saying among themselves, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. The things which are impossible with men "possible with God." 3 66 Then answered Peter and said unto him, "Behold, we have forsaken" all, and have followed thee; 2 what shall we have therefore?" li And Jesus answered and 2 said unto them, "Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the "regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye1 said. 3 this. 1 ▲ left. 2 3 THE VINEYARD AND THE LABOURERS. с e "also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "And every one" that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or "father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake,' "and the gospel's,2 or5 for the kingdom of God's sake,3 shall receive2 a5ƒ "hundredfold now in this 2 present time,3 houses and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in "the world to come shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are "first shall be last; and the last shall be first. 66 66 66 6 66 2 1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a5 house"holder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third "hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.' And they went their way. Again he went out about the "sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour "he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, 'Why """stand ye here all the day idle?' They say unto him, ' Because no man "hath hired us.' He saith unto them, 'Go ye also into the vineyard; "and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.' So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, 'Call the labourers, "and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.' And "when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received "every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they "should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, saying, 'These last have wrought but one hour, "and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden "and heat of the day.' But he answered one of them, and said, 'Friend, "I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take "that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto "thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? "thine eye evil, because I am good?' So the last shall be first, and the "first last:* for many be called, but few chosen." 1 66 66 CHAPTER XLIII. Is The Sufferings of Jesus again Foretold.-The Ambition of James and John.-Jericho.-The Two Blind Men.-Zaccheus.-The Parable of the Ten Pounds. AND they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went 3 before them and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. Then he took 2 unto him again the twelve disciples apart in the way,' and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, saying, 2 m |