Chapter X

CHRIST ANOINTED BY THE WOMAN, HIS TRAVELS AND ATTENDANTS, THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

1 [7:36]AND one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him; and going into the Pharisee's house he reclined. [7:37]And behold, a certain woman in the city, a sinner, knowing that he was reclining in the house of the Pharisee, brought a vase of ointment, [7:38]and standing behind, by his feet, weeping, washed his feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head; and she kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. [7:39]And the Pharisee who invited him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying, If this was a prophet he would have known who and what kind of a woman this is who touches him; for she is a sinner.

2 [7:40]And Jesus answered and said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he said, Teacher, say it. [7:41]A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him five hundred denarii [$70], and the other fifty [$7]. [7:42]And having nothing to pay, he gave [the debt] to both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? [7:43]Simon answered and said, I suppose the one to whom he gave most. And he said to him, You have judged rightly. [7:44]And turning to the woman, he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I came into your house; you gave me no water for my feet; but she has wet my feet with tears, and wiped them with her hairs. [7:45]You gave me no kiss; but she, from the time that I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. [7:46]You anointed not my head with oil; but she has anointed my feet with ointment. [7:47]Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she has loved much; but he to whom little is forgiven, loves little. [7:48]And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. [7:49]And those who reclined with him said within themselves, Who is this that forgives sins also? [7:50]And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace.

3 [8:1]And he travelled in order through the cities and villages, proclaiming and preaching the good news of the kingdom of God; and the twelve were with him, [8:2]and certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, from whom went out seven demons, [8:3]and Joanna the wife of Chusa, Herod's steward, and Susannah, and many others, who served them with their property.

4 [8:4]And a great multitude having come together, and persons having come to him from every city, he said in a parable, [8:5]A sower went out to sow his seed; and in his sowing, some fell by the way, and was trodden down, and the birds of heaven devoured it; [8:6]and some fell on the rock, and springing up it was dried up, because it had no moisture; [8:7]and some fell in the midst of thorns, and the thorns springing up choked it; [8:8]and some fell on good ground, and growing up bore fruit a hundred fold. Having said these things, he cried, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

5 [8:9]And his disciples asked him, What does this parable mean? [8:10]And he said, It is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. [8:11]But the parable signifies this; the seed is the word of God; [8:12]those by the way are those who hear, then comes the devil and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved; [8:13]those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, and they have no root; they believe for a time, and in a time of trial fall away; [8:14] and that which fell among thorns signifies those who hear, and going away are choked by cares and riches and the pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. [8:15]But that on the good ground signifies those who, with a noble and good heart, hearing the word retain it, and bear fruit persistently.

6 [8:16]But no one lights a candle and covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it in a candlestick, that those coming in may see the light. [8:17]For there is nothing hid which shall not be manifest, nor concealed which shall not be known and come to light. [8:18]See therefore how you hear; for whoever has, to him shall be given, and whoever has not, from him shall be taken away even what he seems to have.

7 [8:19]And his mother and brothers came to him, and were not able to approach him on account of the multitude. [8:20]And it was told him by some, saying, Your mother and your brothers stand without, wishing to see you. [8:21]And he answered and said to them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and perform it.