16.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (CONCLUDED):
JUDGE NOT, PEARLS BEFORE SWINE,
PRAYER, THE GOLDEN RULE, THE STRAIT
GATE,"I NEVER KNEW YOU," ROCK
FOUNDATION
A.D. 28, Age 31 Near Capernaum.
Matthew 7, 1-29.
JUDGE not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be
judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the
beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out
the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite,
first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast
out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
¶Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
¶Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or
if he asks a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven
give good things to them that ask him?
¶ *Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth
to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and
narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
¶Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they
are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
¶Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
¶Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken
him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended,
and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house: and it fell not:
for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be
likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
When Jesus had ended these sayings, † the people were astonished at his doctrine:
for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Footnotes
24:* The Golden Rule—the spirit of which pervades not only the Sermon on tthe Mount but Christ's life
throughout. Luke's phrasing of the Golden Rule is in 20 of this book.
24:† Matthew 7, 28-29. Mark also so declares (Mark 1, 22. See 13 in this book).
17.
A LEPER CLEANSED—THE DRAUGHT OF
FISH—PALSIED MAN CURED
A.D. 28. Age 31. By Lake Gennesaret. Capernaum.
Matthew 8, 1-4; 9, 2-7; Mark 1, 40-45; 2, 1-12; Luke 5, 1-15; and 18-25.
WHEN Jesus was come down from the mountain, multitudes followed him. And,
behold, there came a leper, who, seeing Jesus, besought him, saying, Lord, if thou
wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will;
be thou clean.
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Jesus straitly charged him,
See thou tell no man; but go thy way: say nothing to any man. Shew thyself to the
priest, and offer the gift for thy cleansing, those things which Moses commanded, for
a testimony unto them.
But he began to blaze abroad the matter; and so much the more went there a fame
abroad of Jesus.
¶It came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon Jesus to hear the word of God,
he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships. He entered into one, which
was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he
sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon,
Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
Simon answering said, Master we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing:
nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
When they had this done, they inclosed a multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
They beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should
come and help them. They came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to
sink.
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I
am a sinful man, O Lord.
For he was astonished at the draught of the fishes: and so was also James, and
John, which were partners with Simon.
Jesus said unto Simon,
Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
They brought their ships to land, forsook all, and followed Jesus.
¶Again Jesus entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he
was in the house. Straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there
was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached
the word unto them.
¶And, behold, men brought one sick of the palsy, lying on a bed borne by four. They
could not come nigh unto Jesus for the press: and when they could not find by what
way they might bring him in, they went upon the housetop, and uncovered the roof,
and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy,
Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. *
Certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, said within
themselves, This man blasphemeth: who can forgive sins, but God alone? Jesus
knowing their thoughts said,
What reason ye in your hearts? Why reason ye these things? Wherefore think ye
evil? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or
to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of
man hath power on earth to forgive sins,
He saith to the sick of the palsy,
I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go thy way into thine house.
And he arose, took up his bed, and departed to his house.
Footnotes
25:* Matthew, and Mark. Luke's narrative has it, "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee." (Luke 5, 20.)
18.
MATTHEW (LEVI) CALLED—HIS BANQUET—
THE WHOLE NEED NOT A PHYSICIAN—
JOHN'S DISCIPLES FAST: CHRIST'S FAST
NOT—TWO PARABLES: OLD GARMENT, NEW
WINE
A.D. 28, Age 31. Capernaum.
Luke 5, 27-39; Matthew 9, 9-17; Mark 2, 13-22.
JESUS went forth again by the sea side; and the multitudes resorted unto him, and
he taught them.
¶As he passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew (Levi, a publican *),
sitting at the receipt of custom: he said unto him,
Follow me.
And he rose up, left all, and followed Jesus.
¶Levi made him a great feast † in his own house: and, behold, many publicans and
others sat at meat with Jesus and his disciples.
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye
eat with publicans and sinners? Why eateth your master with publicans and sinners?
When Jesus heard that, he saith unto them,
They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn
what that meaneth. I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: ‡ for I am not come to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance.
¶The disciples of John used to fast often: and they come and say unto Jesus, Why
do thy disciples fast not? Jesus said unto them,
Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days
will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they
fast in those days.
¶And he spake also a parable unto them, No man also seweth a piece of new cloth upon an old garment; else the new piece
that filleth it up agreeth not with the old: it taketh away from the old, and the rent is
made worse.
Another parable put he forth.
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: *else the bottles will be marred: the
new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new
wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new; for he saith, The old is better.
Footnotes
26:* publican: a taxgatherer.
26:† The three accounts of Levi's feast (particularly of the bridechamber parable) exhibit interesting
variations of text: Luke 5, 29-39; Mark 2, 15-22; Matthew 9, 10-17.
26:‡ Hosea 6. 6.
19.
IN THE CORNFIELD ON THE SABBATH—"THE
SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MAN"—THE
WITHERED HAND—THE PHARISEES
CONSPIRE—THE TWELVE ORDAINED—
PARABLES
A.D. 28. Age 31. Capernaum.
Matthew 12, 1-16: Mark 2, 23-28; 3, 1-15; 22-29: Luke 6, 1-13; 11, 24-26.
AT that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the cornfields; and his disciples
were a hungered, and began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat,
rubbing them with their hands.
But certain of the Pharisees said unto Jesus, Behold, why do thy disciples on the
sabbath day that which is not lawful? Jesus said unto them,
Have ye never read so much as this: what David did, when himself was a hungered,
and had need, he, and they which were with him: how he went into the house of God
in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did take and eat the shewbread, and
gave also to them which were with him, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither
for them which were with him, but for the priests alone?
Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the
temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had
known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have
condemned the guiltless.
The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: therefore the Son of
man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
¶On another sabbath, Jesus entered into the synagogue and taught.
There was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and Pharisees
watched Jesus, whether he would heal on the sabbath day. But he knew their
thoughts, and he said to the man,
Rise up, and stand forth in the midst.
He arose and stood forth. Then said Jesus unto them,
I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to
save life, or to kill? to save life, or to destroy it?
But thy held their peace. And Jesus said,
What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit
on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man
better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
When Jesus had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the
hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man,
Stretch forth thine hand.
He did so: and his hand was restored whole, like as the other.
¶The Pharisees were filled with madness; they went forth, and straightaway took
counsel with the Herodians what they might do to Jesus.
Jesus knew it: he withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea. And he straitly
charged them that they should not make him known.
¶Jesus goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they
came. He ordained twelve, whom also he named apostles, that they should be with
him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal
sicknesses, and to cast out devils.
¶The scribes said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of devils casteth he out
devils. Jesus said unto them in parables, *
How can Satan cast out Satan?
And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house
be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against
himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first
bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and
blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: but he that shall blaspheme
against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
Because they said, he hath an unclean spirit.
*When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places,
seeking rest: and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came
out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and
taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Footnotes
27:* Wine-skins were the "bottles."
28:* This record of Christ's reply to the scribes is Mark's (3, 22-29). In 26 of this book Christ's
similar reply to certain Pharisees is from Matthew and Luke.
29:* Thus Luke (11, 24-26). In 27 of this book the same saying is phrased somewhat differently in
the narrative from Matthew (12, 43-45).
20.
THE TWELVE BY NAME—THE SERMON IN THE
PLAIN: BENISONS AND ADMONITIONS,
PRECEPTS, THE GOLDEN RULE AGAIN),
JUDGE NOT, GIVE
A.D. 28. Age 31. Near Capernaum.
Matthew 10, 2-4: Mark 3, 16-19: Luke 6, 14-38.
IN those days Jesus went out into a mountain, and continued all night in prayer to God. When it was day, he called unto him his twelve disciples.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: †Simon [whom he also surnamed
Peter], and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
James the son of Alpheus, and Thomas; and Lebbeus whose surname was
Thaddeus [Jude]; Philip, Bartholomew [Nathanael]; and Matthew the publican [Levi]; and Simon called Zelotes, the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also was the
traitor, and betrayed Jesus.
¶Jesus came down with them, and stood in the plain; and the company of the
disciples stood with them. A multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and
from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him, and to be healed.
¶Jesus lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said,
Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled.
Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Blessed are ye, when men shall have you, and when they shall separate you from
their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son
of man's sake.
Before ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for
in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger.
Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the
false prophets.
¶But I say unto you which hear,
Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that
taketh away by cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask
them not again.
*And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those
that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have
ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to
receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much
again.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your
reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto
the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is
merciful.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be
condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same
measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Footnotes
29:† As to the names of "the twelve," a comparison of the texts is interesting: Matthew 10, 2-4; Mark
3, 14-19; Luke 6, 13-16; and ("the eleven") Acts 1, 13.
30:* The Golden Rule (Luke 6, 31). Compare with the paraphrase (Matthew 7, 12) in 16 of this book.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (CONCLUDED):
JUDGE NOT, PEARLS BEFORE SWINE,
PRAYER, THE GOLDEN RULE, THE STRAIT
GATE,"I NEVER KNEW YOU," ROCK
FOUNDATION
A.D. 28, Age 31 Near Capernaum.
Matthew 7, 1-29.
JUDGE not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be
judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the
beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out
the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite,
first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast
out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
¶Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
¶Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or
if he asks a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven
give good things to them that ask him?
¶ *Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth
to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and
narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
¶Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they
are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
¶Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
¶Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken
him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended,
and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house: and it fell not:
for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be
likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
When Jesus had ended these sayings, † the people were astonished at his doctrine:
for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Footnotes
24:* The Golden Rule—the spirit of which pervades not only the Sermon on tthe Mount but Christ's life
throughout. Luke's phrasing of the Golden Rule is in 20 of this book.
24:† Matthew 7, 28-29. Mark also so declares (Mark 1, 22. See 13 in this book).
17.
A LEPER CLEANSED—THE DRAUGHT OF
FISH—PALSIED MAN CURED
A.D. 28. Age 31. By Lake Gennesaret. Capernaum.
Matthew 8, 1-4; 9, 2-7; Mark 1, 40-45; 2, 1-12; Luke 5, 1-15; and 18-25.
WHEN Jesus was come down from the mountain, multitudes followed him. And,
behold, there came a leper, who, seeing Jesus, besought him, saying, Lord, if thou
wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will;
be thou clean.
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Jesus straitly charged him,
See thou tell no man; but go thy way: say nothing to any man. Shew thyself to the
priest, and offer the gift for thy cleansing, those things which Moses commanded, for
a testimony unto them.
But he began to blaze abroad the matter; and so much the more went there a fame
abroad of Jesus.
¶It came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon Jesus to hear the word of God,
he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships. He entered into one, which
was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he
sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon,
Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
Simon answering said, Master we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing:
nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
When they had this done, they inclosed a multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
They beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should
come and help them. They came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to
sink.
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I
am a sinful man, O Lord.
For he was astonished at the draught of the fishes: and so was also James, and
John, which were partners with Simon.
Jesus said unto Simon,
Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
They brought their ships to land, forsook all, and followed Jesus.
¶Again Jesus entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he
was in the house. Straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there
was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached
the word unto them.
¶And, behold, men brought one sick of the palsy, lying on a bed borne by four. They
could not come nigh unto Jesus for the press: and when they could not find by what
way they might bring him in, they went upon the housetop, and uncovered the roof,
and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy,
Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. *
Certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, said within
themselves, This man blasphemeth: who can forgive sins, but God alone? Jesus
knowing their thoughts said,
What reason ye in your hearts? Why reason ye these things? Wherefore think ye
evil? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or
to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of
man hath power on earth to forgive sins,
He saith to the sick of the palsy,
I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go thy way into thine house.
And he arose, took up his bed, and departed to his house.
Footnotes
25:* Matthew, and Mark. Luke's narrative has it, "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee." (Luke 5, 20.)
18.
MATTHEW (LEVI) CALLED—HIS BANQUET—
THE WHOLE NEED NOT A PHYSICIAN—
JOHN'S DISCIPLES FAST: CHRIST'S FAST
NOT—TWO PARABLES: OLD GARMENT, NEW
WINE
A.D. 28, Age 31. Capernaum.
Luke 5, 27-39; Matthew 9, 9-17; Mark 2, 13-22.
JESUS went forth again by the sea side; and the multitudes resorted unto him, and
he taught them.
¶As he passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew (Levi, a publican *),
sitting at the receipt of custom: he said unto him,
Follow me.
And he rose up, left all, and followed Jesus.
¶Levi made him a great feast † in his own house: and, behold, many publicans and
others sat at meat with Jesus and his disciples.
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye
eat with publicans and sinners? Why eateth your master with publicans and sinners?
When Jesus heard that, he saith unto them,
They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn
what that meaneth. I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: ‡ for I am not come to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance.
¶The disciples of John used to fast often: and they come and say unto Jesus, Why
do thy disciples fast not? Jesus said unto them,
Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days
will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they
fast in those days.
¶And he spake also a parable unto them, No man also seweth a piece of new cloth upon an old garment; else the new piece
that filleth it up agreeth not with the old: it taketh away from the old, and the rent is
made worse.
Another parable put he forth.
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: *else the bottles will be marred: the
new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new
wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new; for he saith, The old is better.
Footnotes
26:* publican: a taxgatherer.
26:† The three accounts of Levi's feast (particularly of the bridechamber parable) exhibit interesting
variations of text: Luke 5, 29-39; Mark 2, 15-22; Matthew 9, 10-17.
26:‡ Hosea 6. 6.
19.
IN THE CORNFIELD ON THE SABBATH—"THE
SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MAN"—THE
WITHERED HAND—THE PHARISEES
CONSPIRE—THE TWELVE ORDAINED—
PARABLES
A.D. 28. Age 31. Capernaum.
Matthew 12, 1-16: Mark 2, 23-28; 3, 1-15; 22-29: Luke 6, 1-13; 11, 24-26.
AT that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the cornfields; and his disciples
were a hungered, and began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat,
rubbing them with their hands.
But certain of the Pharisees said unto Jesus, Behold, why do thy disciples on the
sabbath day that which is not lawful? Jesus said unto them,
Have ye never read so much as this: what David did, when himself was a hungered,
and had need, he, and they which were with him: how he went into the house of God
in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did take and eat the shewbread, and
gave also to them which were with him, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither
for them which were with him, but for the priests alone?
Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the
temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had
known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have
condemned the guiltless.
The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: therefore the Son of
man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
¶On another sabbath, Jesus entered into the synagogue and taught.
There was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and Pharisees
watched Jesus, whether he would heal on the sabbath day. But he knew their
thoughts, and he said to the man,
Rise up, and stand forth in the midst.
He arose and stood forth. Then said Jesus unto them,
I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to
save life, or to kill? to save life, or to destroy it?
But thy held their peace. And Jesus said,
What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit
on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man
better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
When Jesus had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the
hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man,
Stretch forth thine hand.
He did so: and his hand was restored whole, like as the other.
¶The Pharisees were filled with madness; they went forth, and straightaway took
counsel with the Herodians what they might do to Jesus.
Jesus knew it: he withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea. And he straitly
charged them that they should not make him known.
¶Jesus goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they
came. He ordained twelve, whom also he named apostles, that they should be with
him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal
sicknesses, and to cast out devils.
¶The scribes said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of devils casteth he out
devils. Jesus said unto them in parables, *
How can Satan cast out Satan?
And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house
be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against
himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first
bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and
blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: but he that shall blaspheme
against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
Because they said, he hath an unclean spirit.
*When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places,
seeking rest: and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came
out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and
taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Footnotes
27:* Wine-skins were the "bottles."
28:* This record of Christ's reply to the scribes is Mark's (3, 22-29). In 26 of this book Christ's
similar reply to certain Pharisees is from Matthew and Luke.
29:* Thus Luke (11, 24-26). In 27 of this book the same saying is phrased somewhat differently in
the narrative from Matthew (12, 43-45).
20.
THE TWELVE BY NAME—THE SERMON IN THE
PLAIN: BENISONS AND ADMONITIONS,
PRECEPTS, THE GOLDEN RULE AGAIN),
JUDGE NOT, GIVE
A.D. 28. Age 31. Near Capernaum.
Matthew 10, 2-4: Mark 3, 16-19: Luke 6, 14-38.
IN those days Jesus went out into a mountain, and continued all night in prayer to God. When it was day, he called unto him his twelve disciples.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: †Simon [whom he also surnamed
Peter], and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
James the son of Alpheus, and Thomas; and Lebbeus whose surname was
Thaddeus [Jude]; Philip, Bartholomew [Nathanael]; and Matthew the publican [Levi]; and Simon called Zelotes, the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also was the
traitor, and betrayed Jesus.
¶Jesus came down with them, and stood in the plain; and the company of the
disciples stood with them. A multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and
from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him, and to be healed.
¶Jesus lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said,
Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled.
Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Blessed are ye, when men shall have you, and when they shall separate you from
their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son
of man's sake.
Before ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for
in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger.
Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the
false prophets.
¶But I say unto you which hear,
Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that
taketh away by cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask
them not again.
*And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those
that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have
ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to
receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much
again.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your
reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto
the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is
merciful.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be
condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same
measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Footnotes
29:† As to the names of "the twelve," a comparison of the texts is interesting: Matthew 10, 2-4; Mark
3, 14-19; Luke 6, 13-16; and ("the eleven") Acts 1, 13.
30:* The Golden Rule (Luke 6, 31). Compare with the paraphrase (Matthew 7, 12) in 16 of this book.
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