" been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would " have repented long ago in sackcloth and "ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more " tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of " judgment than for you. And thou, Caper"naum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt " be brought down to hell: for if the mighty "works which have been done in thee, had "been done in Sodom, it would have remained "until this day. But I say unto you, That it "shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom " in the day of judgment, than for thee."

At that time Jesus answered and said, "I "thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and "earth, because thou hast hid these things from "the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them "unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it " seemed good in thy sight. All things are de"livered unto me of my Father: and no man "knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither "knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, "and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal " him.

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"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are "heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall " find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is

66

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easy, and my burden is light."

• Now so highly favoured by my presence, shalt be utterly destroyed.

▸ Babes in humility and a teachable temper.

41. A woman, who had been a sinner, is publicly reassured of forgiveness, by Jesus, sitting at meat with a Pharisee.

2

AND one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat meat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, "Simon, I have "somewhat to say unto thee." And he saith, Master, say on. "There was a certain creditor "which had two debtors: the one owed five "hundred pence, and the other fifty. And "when they had nothing to pay, he frankly " forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which " of them will love him most?" Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, "Thou " hast rightly judged." And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, "Seest thou

• Simon.

The Jews did not sit at their meals, but lay on ther side upon couches, with their feet bare.

a

" this woman? I entered into thine house, thou "gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath "washed my feet with tears, and wiped them " with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me "no kiss: but this woman since the time I "came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My "head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this "woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which " are many, are forgiven; for she loved much : " but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth "little." And he said unto her, "Thy sins are "forgiven." And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in " peace."

42. During Jesus' second Circuit through Galilee he heals a Demoniac ; and the Scribes and Pharisees blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

AND Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. And the twelve were with him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, called Mary Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna,

b

* A customary mark of civility among the Jews.

Washing the feet, and anointing the head with oil, were the first civilities that were paid among the Jews on entering

and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

And they went into an house. Place. And the multitude cometh together Capernaum. again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?*

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is "brought to desolation; and every city or "house divided against itself shall not stand : "and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided " against himself; how shall then his kingdom "stand? and if I by Beelzebub cast out de"vils, by whom do your childrem cast them " out? therefore they shall be your judges. "But if 1 cast out devils by the Spirit of God, "then the kingdom of God is come unto you. "Or else how can one enter into a strong man's "house, and spoil his goods, except he first "bind the strong man? and then he will spoil "his house. He that is not with me is against "me; and he that gathereth not with me scat"tereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you,

• Is not this the expected Messiah.

a

" All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be "forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy "against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven "unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word " against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven "him: but whosoever speaketh against the "Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, "neither in this world, neither in the world to "come; because they said, He hath an un" clean spirit. Either make the tree good, and "his fruit good; or else make the tree cor"rupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is " known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, "how can ye, being evil, speak good things ? "for out of the abundance of the heart the "mouth speaketh. A good man out of the "good treasure of the heart bringeth forth "good things: and an evil man out of the " evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But " I say unto you, That every idle word that " men shall speak, they shall give account "thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy "words thou shalt be justified, and by thy " words thou shalt be condemned."

:

43. The Scribes and Pharisees are reproved for seeking a sign.

THEN certain of the Scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, "An evil and adulterous genera“tion seeketh after a sign; and there shall no