And the scribes and chief priests heard _it_. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, and could not find what they might do: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine (and were very attentive to hear him.) And when even was come, he went out of the city.

And in the morning, as they pa.s.sed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them,

Have faith in G.o.d. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pa.s.s, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive _them_, and ye shall have _them_. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also, which is in heaven, may forgive you your trespa.s.ses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespa.s.ses.

CHAPTER LV.

PHARISEES QUESTION HIS AUTHORITY--PARABLE OF THE HOUSEHOLDER AND HIS VINEYARD.

And they come again to Jerusalem: and it came to pa.s.s, _that_ on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes, and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority to do these things?

And Jesus answered and said unto them,

I will also ask of you one question, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?

answer me.

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men: all the people will stone us: for all _men_ counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them,

Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

But what think ye? A _certain_ man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I _go_, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of _his_ father?

They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them,

Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of G.o.d before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen _it_, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Hear another parable:

There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a wine-press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country, for a long time. And at the season when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And the husbandmen caught _him_, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded _him_ in the head, and entreated _him_ shamefully, and sent _him_ away empty. And again he sent a third: and him they killed, and cast _him_ out. And many others; beating some, and killing some.

Having yet therefore one son, his well beloved, then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: he sent him also last unto them, saying, It may be they will reverence _him_, when they see him. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed _him_. When the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out _his_ vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their season.

And when they heard _it_, they said, G.o.d forbid. And he beheld them, and said unto them,

Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Therefore I say unto you, The kingdom of G.o.d shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But when they sought the same hour to lay hands on him, they feared the mult.i.tude, because they took him for a prophet: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them; and they left him, and went their way.

CHAPTER LVI.

THE MARRIAGE FEAST--TRIBUTE TO CESAR--JEWISH INFIDELITY.

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings _are_ killed, and all things _are_ ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of _it_, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated _them_ spitefully, and slew _them_.

But when the king heard _thereof_, he was wroth: and sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment; and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast _him_ into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few _are_ chosen.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in _his_ talk. And they watched _him_, and sent forth spies, certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of G.o.d in truth, neither carest thou for any _man_: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of G.o.d in truth. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give?

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said,

Why tempt ye me, _ye_ hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money; bring me a penny, that I may see _it_.

And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them,

Whose _is_ this image and superscription?

They say unto him, Cesar's. Then saith he unto them,

Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar's; and unto G.o.d the things that are G.o.d's.

And they could not take hold of his words before the people. When they had heard _these words_, they marvelled at his answer and held their peace, and left him, and went their way.

The same day came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, and leave _his_ wife _behind_ him, and leave no children, that his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, died, and having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: and the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them,

Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of G.o.d? The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels of G.o.d in heaven; and are the children of G.o.d, being the children of the resurrection.

And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush G.o.d spake unto him, saying, I _am_ the G.o.d of Abraham, and the G.o.d of Isaac, and the G.o.d of Jacob? He is not the G.o.d of the dead, but the G.o.d of the living; for all live unto him. Ye therefore do greatly err.

And when the mult.i.tude heard _this_, they were astonished at his doctrine. Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said. And after that they durst not ask him any _question at all_.

CHAPTER LVII.

JESUS ANSWERS SADDUCEES AND PHARISEES--WIDOWS OFFERING.