LESSON CLXXXIII. The Sermon on the Mount, concluded. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because, strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 14 15 17 Ye Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's 18 clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a 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. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 18 19 20 21 22 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 which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in 23 thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which 25 built his house upon a 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 a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon 28 that house; and it fell and great was the fall of it. And 28 it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the » people were astonished at his doctrine. For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. V. 5-6. 8 LESSON CLXXXIV. The Healing of the Centurion's Servant. MATT. VIII. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, 7 grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do 10 this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, 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 west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and 1 Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall 18 be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the self-same hour. 11 LESSON CLXXXV. The Raising of the Widow's Son. And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went Now when he came nigh to 12 with him, and much people. 15 13 much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto 14 her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him 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 delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, 17 That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about. MATT. XI. V. 2-3. 4 LESSON CLXXXVI. John in Prison sends to Jesus. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John • again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and 6 the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed 8 is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say 10 unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before 11 thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist : notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist 13 until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 14 law prophesied until John. is Elias, which was for to hear, let him hear. 26 For all the prophets and the And if ye will receive it, this come. He that hath ears to But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor 19 drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a man gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. 18 20 LESSON CLXXXVII. Jesus upbraids Chorazin, etc. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Wo unto thee, Chorazin! wo unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had 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 23 for you. And thou, Capernaum, 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. 24 25 LESSON CLXXXVIII. Christ's Prayer.-His Promise of Rest. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid 97 these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed 26 them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered 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. 28 29 80 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 easy, and my burden is light. LUKE VII. V. 36. 87 LESSON CLXXXIX. A Woman anoints the Feet of Jesus. And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat 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 oint88 ment, 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 89 them with the ointment. 40 41 kissed his feet, and anointed 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, 44 Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered 42 43 |