" much as he had not to pay, his lord com"manded him to be sold, and his wife, and " children, and all that he had, and payment "to be made. The servant therefore fell down, " and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have pa" tience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then "the lord of that servant was moved with com" passion, and loosed him, and forgave him the "debt. But the same servant went out, and "found one of his fellow-servants, which owed "him an hundred pence: and he laid hands " on him, and took him by the throat, saying, "Pay me that thou owest. And his fellow" servant fell down at his feet, and besought "him, saying, Have patience with me, and I "will pay thee all. And he would not: but "went and cast him into prison, till he should

pay the debt. So when his fellow-servants "saw what was done, they were very sorry, "and came and told unto their lord all that *" was done. Then his lord, after that he had "called him, said unto him, O thou wicked ser"vant, I forgave thee all that debt, because "thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also "have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, "even as I had pity on thee? and his lord was " wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, " till he should pay all that was due unto him. "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also

* Among the Jews the creditor had this power over the insolvent debtor.

The Roman penny was about 74d. English. How infinitely less are our offences against each other, than those we commit against God, and yet his compassions fail not! *To be imprisoned and punished with the utmost severity.

" unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

50. The Seventy Disciples are instructed and

sent out.

a

Place.

AFTER these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent Galilee, them two and two before his face in- probably

to every city and place, whither he Capernaum.

himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, "The harvest truly is great, but the la" bourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord " of the harvest, that he would send forth la" bourers into his harvest. Go your ways: be“hold, I send you forth as lambs among "wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor "shoes: and salute no man by the way. And "into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, "Peace be to this house. And if the son of

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b

C

peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: " if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the "same house remain, eating and drinking such "things as they give : for the labourer is worthy " of his hire, Go not from house to house." " And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they “ receive you, eat such things as are set before

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you: and heal the sick that are therein, and

* Seventy more besides the twelve Apostles.

Let nothing divert your mind from the purpose for which you are sent. Salutations in the Eastern countries were long and tedious.

2

"say unto them, The kingdom of God is come " nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye "enter, and they receive you not, go your ways " out into the streets of the same, and say,

Even the very dust of your city, which " cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: " notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the " kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But "I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable " in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

"Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, "Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been "done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago re"pented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But " it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon " at the judgment, than for you. And thou "Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, "shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth

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you heareth me; and he that despiseth you "despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, de " spiseth him that sent me."

* Tyre and Sidon were destroyed for their wickedness.

81. Jesus goes to Jerusalem at the feast of tabernacles. His conduct and discourses during the feast.

Time.

Six months

third

a

Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles A. D. 32. was at hand. His brethren therefore after the said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples also Passover. may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly: if thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him. Then Jesus said unto them, "My time is not yet come: but your time is "alway ready. The world cannot hate you; " but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that "the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this "feast; I go not up yet unto this feast; for

b

my time is not yet full come." When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.

But when his brethren were gone Place. up, then went he also up unto the Jerusalem. feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for

C

* At this feast the Jews dwelt seven days in tents, to remind them they had no permanent city here. Levit. xxiii. 34. Numb. xxix. 35.

i. 14.

At that time; though afterwards they did believe. Acts

• Various opinions concerning him.

some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. Howbeit, no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

a

Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, "My doctrine is not "mine, but his that sent me, If any man " will do his will, he shall know of the doc"trine, whether it be of God, or whether I "speak of myself. He that speaketh of him" self seeketh his own glory; but he that seek"eth his glory that sent him, the same is true, " and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not "Moses give you the law, and yet none of

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you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to " kill me?" the people answered and said, Thou hast a devil, who goeth about to kill thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, "I have done " one work, and ye all marvel. Moses there"fore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers,) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumci"sion, that the law of Moses should not be " broken; are ye angry at me, because I have

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a His friends durst not praise him.

How hath he got learning?

Is not the effect of human learning, but comes from God.

d Exod. iv. iii.

Thou art teside thyself.

f Cured the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda on the

sabbath day.

* A male child, on that day, if it be the eighth after its birth. Levit. xii. 3. Gen. xvii, 10.