Chapter II: Front Matter (2)

(4)Behold, the sower went forth to sow. And as he sowed, some fell by the way-side, and the birds came and devoured them. (5)And others fell on the rocky places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprang up, because they had not depth of earth. (6)And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had not root, they withered away. (7)And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns came up, and choked them. (8)And others fell on the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (9)He that has ears to hear, let him hear[13:9].

(10)And the disciples came and said to him: Why dost thou speak to them in parables? (11)And he answering said to them: To you it is given[13:11] to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but to them it is not given. (12)For whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but whoever has not, even what he has shall be taken from him. (13)Therefore I speak to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, nor understand. (14)And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says:

With the hearing ye will hear, and will not understand;
And seeing ye will see, and will not perceive.
(15)For the heart of this people is become gross,
And their ears are dull of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed;
Lest haply they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And turn, and I shall heal them.

(16)But happy are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. (17)For verily I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what ye are beholding, and did not see, and to hear what ye are hearing, and did not hear.

(18)Hear therefore the parable of the sower. (19)When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands not, then comes the evil one and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is that which was sown by the way-side.

(20)And that sown on the rocky places, this is he that hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it; (21)and has not root in himself, but is only for a time; and when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he is offended.

(22)And that sown among the thorns, this is he that hears the word, and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (23)And that sown on the good ground, this is he that hears the word and understands; who bears fruit, and produces, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

(24)Another parable he put forth to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field. (25)But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat, and went away. (26)And when the blade sprang up and produced fruit, then appeared the darnel also. (27)And the servants of the householder came and said to him: Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? From whence then has it darnel? (28)He said to them: An enemy did this. The servants said to him: Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? (29)He said: Nay, lest while ye gather up the darnel, ye root up the wheat with them. (30)Let both grow together until the harvest. And in time of harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the darnel, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.

(31)Another parable he put forth to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard, which a man took and sowed in his field. (32)Which is the least indeed of all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.

(33)Another parable he spoke to them: The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

(34)All these things Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables; and without a parable he spoke nothing to them; (35)that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying:

I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.

(36)Then having sent away the multitudes[13:36], he went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying: Explain to us the parable of the darnel of the field. (37)And answering he said to them:

He that sows the good seed is the Son of man. (38)The field is the world. The good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; but the darnel are the sons of the evil one, (39)and the enemy that sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels. (40)As therefore the darnel are gathered up and are burned with fire, so shall it be in the end of the world. (41)The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all the causes of offense, and those who do iniquity, (42)and will cast them into the furnace of fire; there will be the wailing, and the gnashing of teeth! (43)Then will the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that has ears to hear, let him hear[13:43].

(44)Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and concealed; and for joy thereof[13:44], he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.

(45)Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking goodly pearls; (46)and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

(47)Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a net, cast into the sea, and gathering together of every kind. (48)Which, when it was filled, they drew up upon the beach, and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. (49)So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will go forth, and will separate the wicked from among the just, (50)and will cast them into the furnace of fire; there will be the wailing, and the gnashing of teeth!

(51)Did ye understand all these things? They say to him, Yea, Lord. (52)And he said to them: Therefore every scribe, instructed in the kingdom of heaven, is like to a householder, who brings forth out of his treasure new and old.

(53)And it came to pass, when Jesus finished these parables, that he departed thence. (54)And coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue; so that they were astonished, and said: Whence has this man this wisdom, and the miracles? Is not this the carpenter's son? (55)Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, and Joseph[13:55], and Simon, and Judas? (56)And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then has this man all these things? (57)And they were offended at him. But Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.

(58)And he did not many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

XIV.

AT that time Herod the tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus. (2)And he said to his servants: This is John the Immerser; he is risen from the dead, and therefore do these powers[14:2] work in him.

(3)For Herod laid hold of John, and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, the wife of Philip, his brother. (4)For John said to him: It is not lawful for thee to have her. (5)And though desiring to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they held him as a prophet. (6)But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. (7)Whereupon he promised with an oath, to give her whatever she should ask. (8)And she, being urged on by her mother, says: Give me here, on a platter, the head of John the Immerser. (9)And the king was sorry; but for the sake of the oath, and of those who reclined at table with him, he commanded it to be given. (10)And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. (11)And his head was brought on a platter, and was given to the damsel, and she brought it to her mother. (12)And his disciples came and took up the body, and buried it; and they went and reported it to Jesus.

(13)And when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from thence by ship, into a desert place apart. And the multitudes hearing of it, followed him on foot from the cities. (14)And going forth he saw a great multitude, and had compassion on them, and he healed their sick.

(15)And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying: The place is desert, and the time is already passed away; dismiss the multitudes, that they may go away into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. (16)But Jesus said to them: They need not go away; give ye them to eat. (17)And they say to him: We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. (18)He said: Bring them hither to me. (19)And he commanded that the multitudes should lie down on the grass, and took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven he blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. (20)And they all ate, and were filled; and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. (21)And they who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

(22)And straightway he constrained his disciples to enter into the ship, and to go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the multitudes.

(23)And having dismissed the multitudes, he went up into the mountain apart to pray; and when evening was come, he was there alone. (24)But the ship was already in the midst of the sea, vexed by the waves; for the wind was contrary. (25)And in the fourth watch of the night he went to them, walking on the sea. (26)And the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were troubled, saying: It is a spectre. And they cried out for fear. (27)But straightway Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good cheer; it is I, be not afraid. (28)And Peter answering him said: Lord, if it is thou, bid me come to thee on the water. (29)And he said: Come. And coming down from the ship, Peter walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (30)But seeing the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me. (31)And immediately Jesus, stretching forth his hand, took hold of him, and said to him: Thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

(32)And when they had entered into the ship, the wind ceased. (33)And those in the ship came and worshiped him[14:33], saying: Of a truth, thou art the Son of God.

(34)And passing over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. (35)And the men of that place, knowing him, sent out into all that country round, and brought to him all that were diseased (36)and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched were made whole.

XV.

THEN there come to Jesus the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, saying: (2)Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. (3)And he answering said to them: Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God, for the sake of your tradition? (4)For God commanded, saying[15:4]: Honor thy father and mother; and he that curses father or mother, let him surely die. (5)But ye say: Whoever says to his father or his mother, It is a gift, whatever thou mightest be profited with from me, (6)shall not honor his father or his mother; and ye made the word of God[15:6] of no effect, for the sake of your tradition.

(7)Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying:

(8)This people honor me with their lips,
But their heart is far from me.
(9)But in vain they worship me,
Teaching as doctrines commandments of men.

(10)And calling to him the multitude, he said to them: Hear, and understand: (11)Not that which enters into the mouth defiles the man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles the man.

(12)Then came to him his disciples, and said to him: Knowest thou that the Pharisees, when they heard the saying, were offended? (13)And he answering said: Every plant, which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up. (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)And Peter answering said to him: Explain to us this parable. (16)And he said: Are ye also even yet without understanding? (17)Do ye not yet understand, that whatever enters into the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the drain? (18)But the things that proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. (19)For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false-witnessings, blasphemies. (20)These are the things that defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defiles not the man.

(21)And Jesus, going forth from thence, withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. (22)And behold, a woman of Canaan, coming out from those borders, cried to him, saying: Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is grievously possessed with a demon. (23)But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying: Dismiss her; because she cries after us. (24)But he answering said: I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (25)But she came and bowed down to him, saying: Lord, help me. (26)But he answering said: It is not good to take the children's bread, and cast it to the dogs. (27)And she said: Yea, Lord; for the dogs also eat of the crumbs that fall from their masters' table. (28)Then Jesus answering said to her: O woman, great is thy faith; be it done to thee as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.

(29)And departing from thence, Jesus came near to the sea of Galilee; and going up into the mountain, he sat down there. (30)And great multitudes came to him, having with them lame, blind dumb, maimed, and many others, and laid them down at his feet, and he healed them; (31)so that the multitudes wondered, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

(32)And Jesus, having called to him his disciples, said: I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and I will not dismiss them fasting, lest they faint in the way. (33)And his disciples say to him: Whence should we have so many loaves in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? (34)And Jesus says to them: How many loaves have ye? And they said: Seven, and a few little fishes. (35)And he commanded the multitudes to lie down on the ground. (36)And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and broke, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. (37)And they all ate, and were filled. And they took up of the fragments that remained seven baskets full. (38)And they who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. (39)And dismissing the multitudes, he entered into the ship, and came into the borders of Magdala.

XVI.

AND the Pharisees and Sadducees came to him, and tempting desired him to show them a sign from heaven. (2)And he answering said to them: When it is evening, ye say: Fair weather! for the sky is red. (3)And in the morning: A storm to-day! for the sky is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the sky, but can ye not the signs of the times?

(4)An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and no sign shall be given to it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed.

(5)And coming to the other side, his disciples forgot to take bread. (6)And Jesus said to them: Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (7)And they reasoned among themselves, saying: Because we took no bread! (8)And Jesus knowing it said: Ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye took no bread? (9)Do ye not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? (10)Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? (11)How is it that ye do not understand, that I spoke not to you of bread? But, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees! (12)Then they understood, that he did not bid them beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

(13)And having come into the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples, saying: Who do men say that the Son of man is[16:13]? (14)And they said: Some, John the Immerser; and others, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.

(15)He says to them: But who do ye say that I am? (16)And Simon Peter answering said: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17)And Jesus answering said to him: Happy art thou, Simon Bar-jonah[16:17]; for flesh and blood did not reveal it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. (18)And I also say to thee, that thou art Peter[16:18a], and upon this rock I will build my church[16:18b]; and the gates of the underworld shall not prevail against it. (19)And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

(20)Then he charged his disciples, that they should tell no one that he is the Christ.

(21)From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be put to death, and rise on the third day.

(22)And Peter taking him aside began to rebuke him, saying: Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be to thee. (23)But he turned and said to Peter: Get thee behind me, Satan[16:23]; thou art an offense to me; for thou thinkest not the things of God, but those of men.

(24)Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any one will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (25)For whoever will save his life shall lose it; and whoever may lose his life for my sake, shall find it. (26)For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? Or what shall a man give as an exchange[16:26] for his soul? (27)For the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he will reward each one according to his works.

(28)Verily I say to you, there are some of those standing here, who shall not taste death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

XVII.

AND after six days Jesus takes with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and brings them up into a high mountain apart. (2)And he was transfigured before them; and his face shone as the sun, and his garments became white as the light. (3)And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. (4)And Peter answering said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here. If thou wilt, let us make here three tents; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. (5)While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (6)And the disciples, hearing it, fell on their face, and were exceedingly afraid. (7)And Jesus coming to them touched them, and said: Arise, and be not afraid. (8)And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one save Jesus only.

(9)And as they came down out of the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is risen from the dead.

(10)And his disciples asked him, saying: Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? (11)And he answering said: Elijah indeed comes, and will restore all things. (12)But I say to you, that Elijah is already come, and they knew him not, but did with him whatever they would. So also is the Son of man about to suffer by them.

(13)Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Immerser.

(14)And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling down to him, and saying: (15)Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is lunatic, and is sorely afflicted; for ofttimes he falls into the fire, and oft into the water. (16)And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. (17)And Jesus answering said: O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him hither to me. (18)And Jesus rebuked him; and the demon went out from him, and the child was cured from that hour.

(19)Then the disciples, coming to Jesus apart, said: Why could not we cast him out? (20)And he said to them: Because of your want of faith. For verily I say to you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard, ye shall say to this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you. (21)But this kind goes not forth, except by prayer and fasting.

(22)And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said to them: The Son of man is about to be delivered into the hands of men (23)and they will put him to death, and he will rise on the third day. And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

(24)And they having come to Capernaum, those who received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said: Does not your teacher pay the half-shekel[17:24]? (25)He says, Yes. And when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying: What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take customs, or tribute? Of their sons, or of strangers? (26)He says to him: Of strangers. Jesus said to him: Then are the sons free. (27)But that we may not offend them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the fish that first comes up; and opening its mouth thou wilt find a shekel; that take, and give to them for me and thee.

XVIII.

AT that time came the disciples to Jesus, saying: Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

(2)And Jesus, calling a little child to him, placed it in the midst of them, (3)and said: Verily I say to you, if ye do not turn and become as the little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (4)Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (5)And whoever shall receive one such little child, in my name, receives me. (6)But whoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to offend, it were better for him that an upper millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were plunged in the depth of the sea.

(7)Woe to the world, for causes of offense! For it must needs be that causes of offense come; but woe to that man, through whom the cause of offense comes! (8)But if thy hand or thy foot causes thee to offend, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to enter into life lame or maimed, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the everlasting fire. (9)And if thine eye causes thee to offend, pluck it out and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire.

(10)Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. (11)For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.

(12)What think ye? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them is gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine upon the mountains, and go and seek that which is gone astray? (13)And if it be that he find it, verily I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine that went not astray. (14)So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones perish.

(15)But if thy brother shall sin against thee, go show him his fault between thee and him alone, If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (16)But if he hear not, take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (17)And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church; and if he neglect to hear the church also, let him be to thee as a heathen and a publican. (18)Verily I say to you: Whatever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

(19)Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree on earth, concerning any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. (20)For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

(21)Then Peter came to him, and said: Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times? (22)Jesus says to him: I say not to thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven.

(23)Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king, who desired to make a reckoning with his servants. (24)And when he had begun to reckon, there was brought to him one, who owed ten thousand talents[18:24]. (25)But as he was not able to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. (26)The servant therefore, falling, prostrated himself before him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. (27)And the lord of that servant, moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. (28)But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred denaries[18:28]; and laying hold of him he took him by the throat, saying: Pay me that thou owest. (29)Therefore his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee. (30)And he would not; but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. (31)And his fellow-servants, seeing what was done, were very sorry, and came and disclosed to their lord all that was done. (32)Then having called him, his lord says to him: Thou wicked servant; I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me. (33)Shouldest not thou also have had pity on thy fellow-servant, as I too had pity on thee? (34)And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him. (35)So also will my heavenly Father do to you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother.

XIX.

AND it came to pass, when Jesus finished these sayings, that he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judaea beyond the Jordan. (2)And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.

(3)And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him and saying: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

(4)And he answering said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made them[19:4] from the beginning made them male and female, (5)and said: For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. (6)So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God joined together, let not man put asunder.

(7)They say to him: Why then did Moses command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? (8)He says to them: Moses, for your hardness of heart, suffered you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not so. (9)And I say to you, that whoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her when put away, commits adultery.

(10)His disciples say to him: If the case of the man with the woman is so, it is not good to marry. (11)But he said to them: Not all can receive this saying, but they to whom it is given. (12)For there are eunuchs, who were so born from the mother's womb; and there are eunuchs, who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs, who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

(13)Then were brought to him little children, that he might put his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. (14)But Jesus said: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. (15)And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

(16)And, behold, one came to him and said: Teacher, what good shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (17)And, he said to him: Why dost thou ask me concerning good? One is the Good. But if thou desirest to enter into life, keep the commandments. (18)He says to him, Which? Jesus said: Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness; (19)Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (20)The young man says to him: All these I kept; what do I yet lack? (21)Jesus said to him: If thou desirest to be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (22)But when the young man heard this saying, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.

(23)And Jesus said to his disciples: Verily I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. (24)And again I say to 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. (25)And the disciples, hearing it, were exceedingly amazed, saying: Who then can be saved? (26)But Jesus, looking on them, said to them: With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (27)Then Peter answering said to him: Behold, we forsook all, and followed thee; what then shall we have? (28)And Jesus said to them: Verily I say to you, that ye who followed me, in the renovation, when the Son of man shall sit on his throne of glory, shall also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (29)And every one who forsook houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive manifold more, and shall inherit everlasting life. (30)But many first will be last, and last first.

XX.

FOR the kingdom of heaven is like to a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. (2)And having agreed with the laborers for a denary[20:2] a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

(3)And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place. (4)And to them he said: Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

(5)Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

(6)And about the eleventh he went out, and found others standing, and says to them: Why stand ye here all the day idle? (7)They say to him: Because no one hired us. He says to them: Go ye also into the vineyard.

(8)And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard says to his steward: Call the laborers, and pay them the hire, beginning from the last, unto the first. (9)And they of the eleventh hour came, and received every man a denary. (10)But when the first came, they supposed that they should receive more; and they also received each one a denary. (11)And on receiving it, they murmured against the householder, (12)saying: These last labored one hour, and thou madest them equal to us, who bore the burden of the day, and the burning heat.

(13)But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong. Didst thou not agree with me for a denary? (14)Take what is thine, and go. But I will give to this last, even as to thee. (15)Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

(16)So will the last be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few are chosen.

(17)And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart; and in the way he said to them: (18)Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, (19)and will deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify; and on the third day he will rise again.

(20)Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with her sons, bowing down and asking a certain thing of him. (21)And he said to her: What wilt thou? She says to him: Command that these my two sons shall sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left, in thy kingdom. (22)But Jesus answering said: Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of? They say to him: We are able. (23)And he says to them: Ye shall drink indeed of my cup; but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but is for them for whom it has been prepared by my Father. (24)And the ten, hearing it, were much displeased with the two brothers. (25)But Jesus, having called them to him, said: Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that are great exercise authority over them. (26)Not so shall it be among you; (27)but whoever would become great among you, let him be your minister; and whoever would be first among you, let him be your servant; (28)even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

(29)And as they were going forth from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. (30)And behold, two blind men sitting by the way-side, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried, saying: Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David. (31)And the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace. But they cried the more, saying: Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David. (32)And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said: What will ye that I shall do to you? (33)They say to him: Lord, that our eyes may be opened. (34)And Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received sight; and they followed him.

XXI.

AND when they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the mount of the Olives, Jesus sent forth two disciples, (2)saying to them: Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; loose and bring them to me. (3)And if any one say aught to you, ye shall say: The Lord has need of them; and straightway he will send them.

(4)Now all this has been done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying:

(5)Say to the daughter of Zion,
Behold, thy King comes to thee,
Meek, and mounted upon an ass,
And upon a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.

(6)And the disciples, having gone and done as Jesus commanded them, (7)brought the ass and the colt, and put on them their garments, and he sat thereon. (8)And most of the multitude spread their own garments in the way; and others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed in the way. (9)And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying: Hosanna[21:9] to the Son of David; Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. (10)And as he entered into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying: Who is this? (11)And the multitudes said: This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth of Galilee.

(12)And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all that sold and bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of those who sold doves. (13)And he says to them: It is written,

My house shall be called a house of prayer;
But ye make it a den of robbers.

(14)And 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 that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David, were much displeased, (16)and said to him: Dost thou hear what these say? And Jesus says to them: Yea; did ye never read: From the mouth of babes and sucklings thou preparedst praise?

(17)And leaving them, he went forth out of the city into Bethany, and lodged there.

(18)And in the morning, as he was returning into the city, he hungered. (19)And seeing a fig-tree by the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon but leaves only. And he says to it: Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward, forever. And immediately the fig-tree withered away. (20)And the disciples seeing it wondered, saying: How did the fig-tree immediately wither away? (21)And Jesus answering said to them: Verily I say to you, if ye have faith, and do not doubt, not only shall ye do what is done to the fig-tree, but even if ye say to this mountain, be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done. (22)And all things whatever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

(23)And when he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said: By what authority doest thou these things; and who gave thee this authority? (24)And Jesus answering said to them: I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I too will tell you by what authority I do these things. (25)John's immersion, whence was it? From heaven, or from men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying: If we say, From heaven, he will say to us: Why then did ye not believe him? (26)But if we say, From men, we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet. (27)And they answered Jesus, saying: We do not know. And he said to them: Neither do I say to you, by what authority I do these things.

(28)But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said: Son, go work to-day in the vineyard. (29)And he answering said: I will not; but afterward he repented, and went. (30)And he came to the other[21:30], and said likewise. And he answering said: I will, sir; and went not. (31)Which of the two did the father's will? They say to him: The first[21:31]. Jesus says to them: Verily I say to you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. (32)For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and ye did not believe him; but the publicans and the harlots believed him; and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

(33)Hear another parable. There was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and put a hedge around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husband-men, and went abroad. (34)And when the season of fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits. (35)And the husbandmen taking his servants, beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. (36)Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did to them likewise. (37)And afterward he sent to them his son, saying: They will reverence my son. (38)But the husbandmen, seeing the son, said among themselves: This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and have his inheritance. (39)And taking him, they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. (40)When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those husbandmen? (41)They say to him: He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out the vineyard to other husbandmen, who will deliver over to him the fruits in their seasons. (42)Jesus says to them: Did ye never read in the Scriptures:

The stone which the builders disallowed,
The same is become the head of the corner;
This is from the Lord,
And is wonderful in our eyes.

(43)Therefore I say to you, that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (44)And he that falls upon this stone will be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

(45)And the chief priests and Pharisees, hearing his parables, knew that he spoke of them. (46)And they sought to lay hold of him, but feared the multitudes, since they held him as a prophet.

XXII.

AND Jesus answering spoke to them again in parables, saying:

(2)The kingdom of heaven is like to a certain king, who made a marriage for his son. (3)And he sent forth his servants to call those who were bidden to the wedding; and they would not come. (4)Again he sent forth other servants, saying: Tell those who are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come to the marriage. (5)But they made light of it, and went away, one to his farm, another to his merchandise. (6)And the rest laid hold of his servants, and ill-treated and slew them. (7)And the king, hearing it, was angry; and sending forth his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (8)Then he says to his servants: The wedding is ready, but they who were bidden were not worthy. (9)Go therefore into the thoroughfares, and as many as ye find, bid to the marriage. (10)And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good; and the wedding was furnished with guests.

(11)And the king, coming in to view the guests, saw there a man not clothed with a wedding garment; (12)and he says to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (13)Then the king said to the attendants: Bind him hand and foot, and cast him forth into the outer darkness. There will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth! (14)For many are called, but few are chosen.

(15)Then the Pharisees went and took counsel, how they might ensnare him with a word[22:15]. (16)And they send out to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying: Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth; neither carest thou for any one, for thou regardest not the person of men. (17)Tell us, therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? (18)But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said: Why tempt ye me, hypocrites! (19)Show me the tribute money. And they brought to him a denary[22:19]. (20)And he says to them: Whose is this image, and the inscription? (21)They say to him: Caesar's. Then says he to them; Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (22)And hearing it they wondered, and left him and went away.

(23)On that day came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, (24)saying: Teacher, Moses said, If any one die having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed to his brother. (25)Now there were with us seven brothers; and the first married and died, and having no seed left his wife to his brother. (26)Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. (27)And last of all the woman died also. (28)In the resurrection therefore, of which of the seven shall she be wife? For they all had her.

(29)Jesus answering said to them: Ye err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. (30)For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. (31)But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying: (32)I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (33)And the multitudes, hearing it, were astonished at his teaching.

(34)And the Pharisees, hearing that he had put the Sadducees to silence, collected together; (35)and one of them, a lawyer, asked, tempting him and saying: (36)Teacher, what commandment is great in the law? (37)Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38)This is the great and first commandment. (39)And the second is like to it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self. (40)On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

(41)While the Pharisees were collected together, Jesus asked them, (42)saying: What think ye concerning the Christ? Of whom is he the son? They say to him: Of David. (43)He says to them: How then does David, in the Spirit, call him Lord, saying:

(44)The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit on my right hand,
Till I put thine enemies under thy feet.

(45)If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son? (46)And no one was able to answer him a word; nor durst any one from that day question him any more.

XXIII.

THEN Jesus spoke to the multitudes, and to his disciples, (2)saying: The scribes and the Pharisees sat down in Moses' seat. (3)All, therefore, whatever they bid you, do and observe; but do not according to their works, for they say and do not. (4)For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders, but will not move them with their finger. (5)But all their works they do to be seen by men; they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the fringes; (6)and love the first place at feasts, and the first seats in the synagogues, (7)and the greetings in the markets, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi[23:7]. (8)But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Teacher, and all ye are brethren. (9)And call not any your father on the earth; for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. (10)Neither be called leaders; for one is your leader, the Christ. (11)But the greatest of you shall be your servant. (12)And whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

(13)But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye go not in, nor suffer those who are entering to go in[23:13]:

(15)Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye traverse sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more a child of hell than yourselves.

(16)Woe to you, blind guides, who say: Whoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is bound. (17)Fools and blind; for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? (18)And, Whoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is bound. (19)Fools and blind; for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

(20)He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by all things thereon. (21)And he that swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who dwells therein. (22)And he that swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits thereon.

(23)Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye pay tithe of the mint and the dill and the cumin, and omitted the weightier things of the law, judgment, and mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not leave those undone.

(24)Blind guides! that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel.

(25)Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye cleanse the outside of the cup and the platter, but within they are full of rapacity and excess. (26)Blind Pharisee! Cleanse first the inside of the cup and the platter, that its outside also may become clean.

(27)Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye are like to whited sepulchres, which outwardly indeed appear beautiful, but within are full of bones of the dead, and of all uncleanness. (28)So also ye outwardly indeed appear righteous to men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

(29)Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous, and say: (30)If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. (31)So that ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of those who killed the prophets; (32)and fill ye up the measure of your fathers!

(33)Serpents! Brood of vipers! How can ye escape the judgment of hell?

(34)Therefore, behold, I send forth to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye will kill and crucify, and some of them ye will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; (35)that on you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. (36)Verily I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation.

(37)Jerusalem! Jerusalem! that killest the prophets, and stonest those sent to her; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (38)Behold, your house is left to you desolate. (39)For I say to you, ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

XXIV.

AND Jesus went out, and departed from the temple; and his disciples came to him, to show him the buildings of the temple. (2)And he answering said to them: See ye not all these things? Verily I say to you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.