Book: His Life

W >> William E. Barton, Theodore G. Soares, Sydney Strong >> His Life




And he said unto them, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for
the sabbath: so that the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath."




MANY CALLED AND FEW CHOSEN


A MULTITUDE OF DISCIPLES.

And the report of him went forth into all Syria: and they brought unto
him all that were sick, holden with divers diseases and torments,
possessed with demons, and epileptic, and palsied; and he healed them.

And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea: and a great
multitude from Galilee followed; and from Judaea, and from Jerusalem,
and from Idumaea, and beyond the Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon, a
great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came unto him.

And he spake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him
because of the crowd, lest they should throng him: for he had healed
many; insomuch that as many as had plagues pressed upon him that they
might touch him: for power came forth from him, and healed them all.

And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before
him, and cried, saying, "Thou art the Son of God."

And he charged them much that they should not make him known: that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet,
saying,

"Behold my servant whom I have chosen;
My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased;
I will put my Spirit upon him,
And he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles.
He shall not strive, nor cry aloud;
Neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed shall he not break.
And smoking flax shall he not quench.
Till he send forth judgment unto victory.
And in his name shall the nations hope."


SELECTION OF THE TWELVE.

And it came to pass in these days, that he went out into the mountain
to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was
day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, that they
might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to
have authority to cast out demons.

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: Simon, whom he
surnamed Peter, and Andrew, his brother; James, the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother, and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is sons of
thunder; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the publican;
James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon, who was called the
Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.




THE TEACHING OF THE KINGDOM


THE CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM.

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they
shall be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

"Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall
reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is
your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were
before you.

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor,
wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but
to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.

"Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the
stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Even so let
your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father who is in heaven.


THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE KINGDOM.

"Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not
to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and
earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from
the law, till all things be accomplished. Whosoever therefore shall
break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall
be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and
teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I
say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter
into the kingdom of heaven.

"Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'Thou shalt not
kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:'
but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall
be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother,
'Raca,' shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say,
'Thou fool,' shall be in danger of the hell of fire.

"If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy
gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy
brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary
quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary
deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer,
and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by
no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.

"Ye have heard that it was said, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery:' but
I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after
her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy
right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from
thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. And if thy right
hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for
it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and
not thy whole body go into hell.

"It was said also, 'Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give
her a writing of divorcement:' but I say unto you, that every one that
putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her
an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away
committeth adultery.

"Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'Thou
shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine
oaths:' but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by the heaven,
for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool
of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair
white or black. But let your speech be, 'Yea, yea; Nay, nay:' and
whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.

"Ye have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a
tooth:' but I say unto you, Resist not him that is evil: but whosoever
smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if
any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him
have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile,
go with him two. Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that
taketh away thy goods ask them not again, and from him that would
borrow of thee turn not thou away. All things therefore whatsoever ye
would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for
this is the law and the prophets.

"Ye have heard that it was said, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and
hate thine enemy:' but I say unto you, Love your enemies, do good to
them that hate you, bless them that curse you, pray for them that
despitefully use you, that ye may be sons of your Father who is in
heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. For if ye love them that love
you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if
ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even
the Gentiles the same? And if ye do good to them that do good to you,
what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same. And if ye lend to
them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend
to sinners, to receive again as much. But love your enemies, and do
them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great,
and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the
unthankful and evil. Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly
Father is perfect.


THE DANGER OF HYPOCRISY.

"Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of
them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

"When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as
the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may
have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their
reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy
right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who
seeth in secret shall recompense thee.

"And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to
stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets,
that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have
received their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine
inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in
secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee. And
in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they
think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not
therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have
need of before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither
will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad
countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of
men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; that
thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret:
and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.


SIMPLE TRUST IN GOD.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and
rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where
thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.

"The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single,
thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy
whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is
in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and
love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye
cannot serve God and mammon.

"Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall
eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put
on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?
Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they
reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them.
Are not ye of much more value than they? And which of you by being
anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?

"And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of
the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I
say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like
one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which
to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more
clothe you, O ye of little faith? Be not therefore anxious, saying,
'What shall we eat?' or, 'What shall we drink?' or, 'Wherewithal shall
we be clothed?' For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for
your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your
Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

"Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be
anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.


CHARITABLE JUDGMENT.

"Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful. And judge not, and
ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be
condemned: release, and ye shall be released: give, and it shall be
given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running
over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete
it shall be measured to you again."

And he spake also a parable unto them, "Can the blind guide the blind?
shall they not both fall into a pit? The disciple is not above his
teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but
considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how canst thou
say to thy brother, 'Brother, let me cast out the mote that is in
thine eye,' when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine
own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye,
and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy
brother's eye.

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls
before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and
turn and rend you."


PRAYER.

And he said unto them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go
unto him at midnight, and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves;
for a friend of mine is come to me from a journey, and I have nothing
to set before him;' and he from within shall answer and say, 'Trouble
me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I
cannot rise and give thee?' I say unto you, Though he will not rise
and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity
he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that
asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you that is a
father, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a
stone; or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent; or if
he shall ask an egg, will give him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil,
know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall
your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?


SINCERITY.

"Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is
the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in
thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth
unto life, and few are they that find it.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but
inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits ye shall know them. Do
men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good
tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth
evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a
corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not
forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Therefore by
their fruits ye shall know them.

"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth
that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth
forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his
mouth speaketh.

"Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in
heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name
do many mighty works?' And then will I profess unto them, I never knew
you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

"Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them,
shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:
and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and
beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the
rock. And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them
not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the
sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall
thereof."

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the
multitudes were astonished at his teaching: for he taught them as one
having authority, and not as their scribes.




A TOUR IN GALILEE


THE WORTHY CENTURION.

After he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people, he
entered into Capernaum.

And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick and
at the point of death. And when he heard concerning Jesus, he sent
unto him elders of the Jews, asking him that he would come and save
his servant.

And they, when they came to Jesus, besought him earnestly, saying, "He
is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him; for he loveth our
nation, and himself built us our synagogue."

And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house,
the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, "Lord, trouble not
thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof:
wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say
the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set
under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one,
'Go,' and he goeth; and to another, 'Come,' and he cometh; and to my
servant, 'Do this,' and he doeth it."

And when Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned and
said unto the multitude that followed him, "Verily I say unto you, I
have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you,
that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down
with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: but the
sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness:
there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."

And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant
whole.


RAISING THE WIDOW'S SON.

And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went to a city called
Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great multitude. Now when
he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, there was carried out
one that was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow:
and much people of the city was with her.

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto
her, "Weep not."

And he came nigh and touched the bier: and the bearers stood still.
And he said, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise."

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to
his mother.

And fear took hold on all: and they glorified God, saying, "A great
prophet is arisen among us: and, God hath visited his people."

And this report went forth concerning him in the whole of Judaea, and
all the region round about.


A QUESTION FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST.

And the disciples of John told him in the prison of all these things.
And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to the Lord,
saying, "Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?"

And when the men were come unto him, they said, "John the Baptist hath
sent us unto thee, saying, 'Art thou he that cometh, or look we for
another?'"

In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits;
and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered and
said unto them, "Go and tell John the things which ye have seen and
heard; the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have
good tidings preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall find
no occasion of stumbling in me."


JESUS' ESTIMATE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to say unto
the multitudes concerning John, "What went ye out into the wilderness
to behold? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out to see? a
man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that are gorgeously
apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. But what went
ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a
prophet. This is he of whom it is written.

"'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
Who shall prepare thy way before thee.'

"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath
not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little
in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And all the people when
they heard, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the
baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for
themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him.

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven
suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. For all the
prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye are willing to
receive it, this is Elijah that is to come. He that hath ears to hear,
let him hear.

"But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto
children sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows and
say, 'We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did
not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say,
'He hath a demon.' The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they
say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans
and sinners!' And wisdom is justified of all her children."


THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

And Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, and the high
captains, and the chief men of Galilee. And the daughter of Herodias
danced in the midst, and pleased Herod, and them that sat at meat with
him; and the king said unto the damsel, "Ask of me whatsoever thou
wilt, and I will give it thee."

And he sware unto her, "Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give
it to thee, unto the half of my kingdom."

And she went out, and said unto her mother, "What shall I ask?"

And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."

And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked,
saying, "I will that thou forthwith give me on a platter the head of
John the Baptist."

And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and
of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her. And straightway the
king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his
head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head
on a platter, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her
mother.

And when his disciples heard thereof, they came and took up his
corpse, and laid it in a tomb; and they went and told Jesus.


FORGIVENESS OF THE REPENTANT WOMAN.

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And
he entered into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And
behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that
he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee's house, she brought an
alabaster cruse of ointment, and standing behind at his feet, weeping,
she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair
of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within
himself, saying, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived
who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a
sinner."

And Jesus answering said unto him, "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto
thee."

And he saith, "Teacher, say on."

"A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred
shillings, and the other fifty. When they had not wherewith to pay, he
forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?"

Simon answered and said, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most."

And he said unto him, "Thou hast rightly judged." And turning to the
woman, he said unto Simon, "Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy
house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my
feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. Thou gavest me no
kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my
feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she 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."

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