2 [14:9]And the king was sorry; but on account of the oath, and those reclining with him, he commanded it to be given. [14:10]And he sent and beheaded John in the prison; [14:11]and his head was brought on a plate and given to the girl, and she carried it to her mother. [14:12]And his disciples went and took up the body and buried it, and came and told Jesus.

3 [14:13]And when Jesus heard of it he departed thence in a ship to a solitary place by himself. And the mult.i.tudes hearing of it followed him on foot from the cities.

4 [14:14]And going out he saw a great mult.i.tude, and had compa.s.sion on them, and cured their sick. [14:15]And when it was evening his disciples came to him, saying, The place is solitary, and the hour is already past; dismiss the mult.i.tudes that they may go to the villages and buy themselves food. [14:16]But Jesus said to them, They need not go away; give them food to eat. [14:17]And they said to him, We have here only five loaves and two fishes. [14:18]And he said, Bring them here to me. [14:19]And commanding the mult.i.tudes to sit down on the gra.s.s, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and, looking up to heaven, blessed them, and having broken them gave the bread to the disciples, and the disciples to the mult.i.tudes. [14:20]And they all eat and were filled; and they took up the fragments which remained over, twelve travelling-baskets full; [14:21]and those that eat were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

5 [14:22]And he immediately constrained the disciples to go into a ship and go before him to the other side, till he should dismiss the mult.i.tudes. [14:23]And having dismissed the mult.i.tudes, he went on a mountain by himself to pray. And when it was evening he was there alone. [14:24]But the ship was now in the midst of the lake tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. [14:25]And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them walking on the lake. [14:26]And when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were troubled and said, It is an apparition; and they cried out for fear. [14:27]But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, Be of good courage; it is I; be not afraid. [14:28]And Peter answered and said to him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters. [14:29]And he said, Come. And Peter going down from the ship walked on the waters to go to Jesus.

[14:30]But seeing the wind strong he was afraid; and beginning to sink, cried, saying, Lord save me! [14:31]and Jesus immediately stretching out his hand, took hold of him and said, Man of little faith, why did you doubt? [14:32]And when they entered into the ship, the wind ceased; [14:33]and those in the ship came and worshipped him; saying, Truly you are the Son of G.o.d.

6 [14:34]And having crossed over, they came to Gennesaret. [14:35]And when the men of that place knew him, they sent to all the country around, and brought to him all that were sick, [14:36]and requested of him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were entirely cured.

CHAPTER XIII.

CHRIST'S DOCTRINE OF JEWISH TRADITIONS, ETC.

1 [15:1]THEN came the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, saying, [15:2]Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders, for they wash not their hands when they eat bread? [15:3]And he answered and said to them, Why do you transgress the command of G.o.d by your tradition? [15:4]For G.o.d said, Honor your father and mother; and he that reviles father or mother, let him surely die. [15:5]But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother what you might be profited with by me is a gift, [15:6]then he shall not honor his father or his mother; and you have made the law of G.o.d of no effect by your tradition. [15:7]

Hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophecy of you, saying; [15:8]This people honors me with the lips, but their heart is far from me. [15:9]But in vain do they worship me, teaching teachings and commandments of men.

2 [15:10]And having called the mult.i.tude, he said, Hear and understand.

[15:11] Not that which enters into the mouth, defiles the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth that defiles the man. [15:12]Then the disciples came to him, and said to him, Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this word? [15:13]And he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up. [15:14]Let them go; they are blind guides of the blind. But if the blind lead the blind, they will both fall into the pit.

[15:15]And Peter answered and said to him, Explain the parable to us.

[15:16]And he said, Are you so entirely without understanding?

[15:17]Do you not understand that whatever goes into the mouth pa.s.ses into the stomach, and is cast out on the earth? [15:18]But the things which proceed from the mouth come from the heart, and these defile the man. [15:19]For from the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies: [15:20]these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.

3 [15:21]And Jesus going out thence departed to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. [15:22]And behold, a woman of Canaan from those regions came out and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is badly affected with a demon. [15:23]But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and asked him, saying, Dismiss her, for she cries after us. [15:24]But he answered and said, I am not sent, except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [15:25]And she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me! [15:26]But he answered and said, It is not right to take the children's bread and cast to the dogs. [15:27]But she said, Yes, Lord; for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the table of their masters. [15:28]Then Jesus answered and said to her, O woman, great is your faith! Be it to you as you wish; and her daughter was cured from that hour.

4 [15:29]And returning thence Jesus came to the lake of Galilee, and going up on the mountain sat down there. [15:30]And great mult.i.tudes came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the dumb, the crippled, and many others; and they cast them at Jesus' feet, and he cured them; [15:31]so that the mult.i.tude wondered, seeing the dumb talk, the crippled sound, the lame walk, and the blind see; and they glorified the G.o.d of Israel.

5 [15:32]And Jesus calling his disciples, said, I pity the mult.i.tude, for it is now three days that they have continued with me, and they have nothing to eat; I will not dismiss them fasting lest they faint by the way. [15:33]But his disciples said to him, Whence shall we obtain so much bread in the wilderness as to fill so great a mult.i.tude?

[15:34]And Jesus said to them, How many loaves have you? And they said, Seven, and a few small fishes. [15:35]And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground, [15:36]and taking the seven loaves and the fishes, and giving thanks, he broke, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the mult.i.tudes. [15:37]And they all eat and were filled; and they took up the fragments that remained, seven store-baskets full. [15:38]And those who eat were four thousand men, besides women and children. [15:39]And dismissing the mult.i.tude he went into the ship, and came into the bounds of Magadan.

CHAPTER XIV.

CHRIST REPLYING TO THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES, ETC.

1 [16:1]AND the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to Jesus to try him desired him to show them a sign from heaven. [16:2]But he answered and said to them, When it is evening you say, It will be fair weather for the sky is red; [16:3]and in the morning, It will rain to-day for the sky is red and lowering. You know how to distinguish the face of the sky, but you cannot distinguish the signs of the times. [16:4]An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign; and no sign shall be given it except the sign of Jonah. And he left them and departed.

2 [16:5]And when his disciples came to the other side they forgot to take bread. [16:6]And Jesus said to them, Observe and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. [16:7]But they reasoned within themselves, saying, It is because we have not taken bread. [16:8]But Jesus knowing it, said, Why do you reason within yourselves, men of little faith, because you have not taken bread? [16:9]Do you not yet understand nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many travelling-baskets you took up? [16:10]nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many store-baskets you took up? [16:11]Why do you not understand that I spoke to you not of bread, to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? [16:12]Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

3 [16:13]And Jesus coming into the parts of Cesarea Philippi, asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is? [16:14]And they said, Some, John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. [16:15]And he said to them, Who say you that I am? [16:16]And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living G.o.d. [16:17] And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonas, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. [16:18] And I tell you that you are Peter [a rock], and upon this rock will I build my a.s.sembly, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it.

[16:19]And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on the earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you unbind on the earth shall be unbound in heaven. [16:20]Then he charged his disciples to tell no man that he was the Christ.

4 [16:21]From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and raised on the third day.

[16:22]And Peter taking hold of him said, rebuking him, Far be it from you, Lord! This shall not be to you. [16:23]But he turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You are an offense to me! For you regard not the things of G.o.d, but those of men.

5 [16:24]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.

[16:25]For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake, shall find it. [16:26]For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his life? Or what will a man give as an exchange for his life? [16:27]For the Son of man is about to come in the glory of his Father, with his angels, and then shall he render to every one according to his doing. [16:28]I tell you truly, that some of those standing here shall not taste death till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

CHAPTER XV.

CHRIST TRANSFIGURED.--CURING A DEMONIAC, AND PAYING THE SACRED TRIBUTE.

1 [17:1]AND after six days Jesus took Peter, and James, and John, his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. [17:2]And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments were white as the light. [17:3]And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elijah conversing with him. [17:4]And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you please, we will make here three tabernacles, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. [17:5]While he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold a voice from the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; hear him.

[17:6]And when they heard this the disciples fell on their faces, and were greatly afraid. [17:7]And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. [17:8]And lifting up their eyes they saw no man, except Jesus alone.

2 [17:9]And when they went down from the mountain Jesus charged them, saying, Tell no man the vision till the Son of man is raised from the dead. [17:10]And the disciples asked him, saying, Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must first come? [17:11]And he answered and said, Elijah indeed comes, and shall restore all things. [17:12]But I tell you Elijah has come already, and they knew him not, but did to him what they pleased. In like manner, also, the Son of man is about to suffer from them. [17:13]Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptist.

3 [17:14]And when they came to the mult.i.tude, a man came to him, kneeling to him and saying, [17:15]Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic, and suffers greatly. For he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. [17:16]And I brought him to your disciples and they could not cure him. [17:17] Jesus answered and said, O unbelieving and perverse generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him here to me. [17:18]And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon went out of him, and the child was cured from that hour. [17:19]Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, Why could we not cast it out? [17:20]And Jesus said to them, On account of your unbelief. For I tell you truly, if you have a faith like a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Be removed thence to that place, and it shall be removed; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

[17:21]But this kind goes not out, except by prayer and fasting.

4 [17:22]And as they were returning in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, [17:23]and they will kill him, and on the third day he shall be raised; and they were grieved exceedingly.

5 [17:24]And when they came to Capernaum, those who received the didrachma [28 cents], came to Peter, and said, Does not your teacher pay the didrachma? [17:25]He said, Yes. And when he came into the house, Jesus antic.i.p.ated him, saying, What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive taxes, or a tribute? From their children, or from strangers? [17:26]He said to him, From strangers.

Jesus said to him; Then are the children free; [17:27]but that we may not offend them, go to the lake, and cast in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and opening its mouth you will find a stater [56 cents]. Take that and give it to them, for me and you.

CHAPTER XVI.

CHRIST'S DOCTRINE OF GREATNESS.--OFFENSES AND THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

1 [18:1]AT that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? [18:2]And calling a little child, he set it in the midst of them, [18:3]and said, I tell you truly, that if you do not turn and become like little children, you can by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven. [18:4]Whoever humbles himself like this little child, shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven; [18:5]and whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me; [18:6]but whoever offends one of these little ones that believe in me, it would be better for him that a millstone should be hung to his neck, and that he should be plunged into the depths of the sea.

2 [18:7]Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must necessarily come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

[18:8]If your hand or foot offends you, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame, or crippled, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.

[18:9]And if your eye offends you, pluck it out and cast it from you.

It is better for you to enter into life having one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into the h.e.l.l of fire.

3 [18:10]See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels always behold the face of my Father in heaven.

[18:12]What think you? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them is lost, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain, and go and seek for the lost one? [18:13]And if he finds it, I tell you truly that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which were not lost.

[18:14]So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

4 [18:15]But if your brother sins against you, go and reprove him between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. [18:16]But if he does not hear you, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established; [18:17]and if he will not hear them, tell the a.s.sembly; and if he will not hear the a.s.sembly, let him be to you as a gentile and a publican. [18:18]I tell you truly, that whatever you bind on the earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you unbind on the earth shall be unbound in heaven. [18:19]Again, I tell you, that if two of you shall agree on the earth concerning any thing for which they shall ask, they shall have it from my Father in heaven; [18:20]for where two or three are a.s.sembled together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

5 [18:21]Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Till seven times?

[18:22]Jesus said to him, I say not to you till seven times, but till seventy times seven. [18:23]On this account, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle with his servants. [18:24]And beginning to settle, a debtor of ten thousand talents [$10,000,000] was brought to him. [18:25]And he having nothing to pay, the lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. [18:26]Then the servant fell down and worshipped him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay all. [18:27]And the lord of that servant having compa.s.sion on him released him, and forgave him the debt.

6 [18:28]But that servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants who owed him one hundred denarii [$14], and seizing him, he choked him, saying, Pay what you owe me. [18:29]Then his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay you.

[18:30]But he would not; but went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debt. [18:31]Then his fellow-servants seeing what was done, were greatly displeased, and went and related to their lord all things that were done. [18:32]Then his lord called him, and said to him, Evil servant; I forgave you all that debt because you besought me [to do it]. [18:33]Ought you not also to pity your fellow-servant, as I pitied you? [18:34]And his lord was displeased, and delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all the debt. [18:35]So also will my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not each one his brother from your hearts.

CHAPTER XVII.