Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of G.o.d! 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 G.o.d.

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 G.o.d: for with G.o.d 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.

CHAPTER LI.

ZEBEDEE'S CHILDREN--HEALS TWO BLIND MEN NEAR JERICHO.

And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve disciples apart in the way, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, _saying_,

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. And the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: and they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, James and John, worshipping _him_, and desiring a certain thing of him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them,

What would ye that I should do for you?

They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. And Jesus answered and said,

Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

They say unto him, We are able. And Jesus said unto them,

Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but _it shall be given to them_ for whom it is prepared of my Father.

And when the ten heard _it_, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren, James and John. But Jesus called them _to him_, and saith unto them,

Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever shall be great among you shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

And it came to pa.s.s, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: and hearing the mult.i.tude pa.s.s by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth pa.s.seth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, _thou_ Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, _Thou_ Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying,

What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?

And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him,

Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee?

And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying G.o.d: and all the people, when they saw _it_, gave praise unto G.o.d.

And _Jesus_ entered and pa.s.sed through Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, _thou_ son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, _Thou_ Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee, And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him,

What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?

The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him,

Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

CHAPTER LII.

n.o.bLEMAN & SERVANTS--MARY ANOINTS JESUS.

And, behold, _there was_ a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pa.s.s that _way_. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him,

Zaccheus, make haste, and come down: for to day I must abide at thy house.

And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw _it_, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

And Zaccheus stood and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore _him_ fourfold. And Jesus said, unto him,

This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of G.o.d should immediately appear. He said therefore,

A certain n.o.bleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this _man_ to reign over us.

And it came to pa.s.s, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

And another came, saying, Lord, behold, _here is_ thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin; for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, _thou_ wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give _it_ to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

And the Jews' pa.s.sover was nigh at hand; and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem, before the pa.s.sover, to purify themselves.