Chapter L

YOUNG RULER--WARNING TO THE RICH--PARABLE OF LABOURERS.

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And Jesus said unto him,

Why callest thou me good? _there is_ none good but one, _that
is_, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments.

He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said,

Thou knowest the commandments. Thou shalt do no murder, Thou
shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt
not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and
mother, and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

The young man saith unto him, Master, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him,

One thing thou lackest: if thou wilt be perfect, go thy way,
sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross,
and follow me.

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he looked round about, and saith unto his disciples,

Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into
the kingdom of heaven!

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! 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.

When his disciples heard _it_, they were exceedingly amazed, and they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith,

With men _it is_ impossible, but not with God: for with God
all things are possible.

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee: what shall we have therefore? And Jesus 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, ye 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, shall receive an hundredfold, now in this time,
houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children,
and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come,
eternal life. But many _that are_ first shall be last; and the
last first.

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man _that is_ an
householder, which went out early in the morning to hire
laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the
laborers 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 market place, 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 laborers, 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? Is thine eye
evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the
first last; for many be called, but few chosen.