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Chapter 140
Jesus and the three disciples return to Capernaum. Jesus receives the report of the seventy. With his disciples he goes through all Galilee encouraging the believers. He heals a woman. Relates the parable of the little seed and the great tree.
1. The time had come for the return of the three score and ten whom Jesus sent abroad to preach.
2. And Jesus, Peter, James and John began their journey back to Galilee.
3. They went up through Samaria; they passed through many villages and towns, and everywhere the people thronged theways to see the man the seventy had told about; and Jesus taught and healed the sick.
4. And when they reached Capernaum the seventy were there; and they were filled with joy; they said,
5. The Spirit of the Lord of hosts was with us all the way, and we were filled.
6. The power of the sacred Word was manifest in us; we healed the sick; we caused the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the blind to see.
7. The very devils trembled when we spoke the Word, and they were subject unto us.
8. And Jesus said, As you were going on your way, the heavens were bright with light, the earth was bright, they seemed to meet and be at one; and I beheld, and Satan fell as lightning from the heavens.
9. Behold, for you have power to tread on serpents and on scorpions, and these are symbols of the enemies of men. You are protected in the way of right, and naught can harm.
10. And as you went I heard a master say, Well done.
11. But you may not rejoice because you have the power to heal the sick and make the devils tremble by the Word; for such rejoicing is from carnal self.
12. You may rejoice because the nations of the earth have ears to hear the Word, and eyes to see the glory of the Lord, and hearts to feel the inner breathing of the Holy Breath.
13. And you may well be glad because your names are written in the Book of Life.
14. Then Jesus looked to heaven and said, I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast revealed thyself to babes, and taught them how to light the path and lead the wise to thee.
15. What thou hast given to me, lo, I have given to them, and through the sacred Word I have bestowed on them the understanding heart,
16. That they might know and honour thee through Christ, who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
17. And then he said aside, unto the seventy and twelve, Most blessed are your eyes because you see the things you see;
18. And blessed they are your ears because they hear the things they hear;
19. And blessed are your hearts because you understand.
20. In ages that are gone the wise of earth, the prophets, seers and kings, desired to hear and see and know what you have heard and seen and known; but they had not attained and could not hear, and see and know.
21. And Jesus said again, Lo, I have gone before you many moons, and I have given to you the bread of heaven and the cup of life;
22. Have been your buckler and your stay; but now that you have learned the way, and have the strength to stand alone, behold, I lay my body down and go to him who is the All.
23. In forty days then we will turn our faces towards Jerusalem where I will find the altar of the Lord and give my life in willing sacrifice for men.
24. Let us arise and go through all the coasts of Galilee, and give a salutation of good cheer to all the sons of God by faith.
25. And they arose and went; they entered every town and village on the coast, and everywhere they said, The benedictions of the Christ abide with you for evermore.
26. Now, in a certain town they went up to the synagogue upon the Sabbath day, and Jesus taught.
27. And as he spoke, two men brought on a cot a woman bent near double with disease; she had not risen from her bed for eighteen years without a helping hand.
28. And Jesus laid his hand upon the woman, and he said, Arise, be free from your infirmity.
29. And as he spoke the Word the woman found that she was straight and strong, and she arose and walked and said, Praise God.
30. The ruler of the synagogue was filled with wrath because the healer healed upon the Sabbath day.
31. He did not censure Jesus face to face, but turning to the multitudes he said,
32. You men of Galilee, why do you break the laws of God? There are six days in every week when you may bring the afflicted to be healed.
33. This is the day that God has blessed, the Sabbath day in which men may not work.
34. And Jesus said, You inconsistent scribes and Pharisees! Upon the Sabbath day you take your beasts of burden from their stalls, and lead them forth to eat and drink; is this not work?
35. This daught of your father Abraham, who has been bound for eighteen years, has come in faith to be made free.
36. Now, tell me, men, is it a crime to break her bonds and set her free upon the Sabbath day?
37. The ruler said no more; the people all rejoiced and said, Behold the Christ!
38. And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, The kingdom of the Christ is like a little seed that one put in the ground;
39. It grew and after many years became a mighty tree, and many people rested in its shade, and birds built nests and reared their young among its leafy boughs.
Chapter 141
Jesus speaks words of encouragement. Rebukes an officious Pharisee. Attends a wedding feast. Heals a dropsical man. Rebukes guests who seek chief seats. Relates a parable of a wedding feast.
1. And Jesus went into another town upon the coast and spoke good words of cheer to those who followed him.
2. And one stood forth and said, Lord, are there few that enter into life?
3. And Jesus said, The way is rough that leads to life; the gate is narrow and is guarded well; but every one who seeks in faith shall find the way, and they who know the Word may enter in.
4. But many seek the way for selfish gain; they pound upon the gate of life; but it is fast.
5. The watchman from the turret says, I know you not; your speech is that of Ashdod, and your robes are those of sin; depart and go your way.
6. And they will go their way with weeping and with gnashing of the teeth.
7. And they will be enraged when they will be enraged when they see their father Abraham with Isaac, Jacob and the porphets, resting in the kingdom of the Christ, and they themselves debarred.
8. And, lo, I say that men will come from lands afar, from east, from west, from north, from south and sit with me in consciousness of life.
9. Behold, I say, the last shall be the first, the first shall be the last.
10. All men are called unto the kingdom of the Christ; but few are chosen, for the pure in heart alone can see the king.
11. And as he spoke a Pharisee came up and said, You man of Galilee, if you would save your life remain not here; flee instantly, for Herod swears that he will take your life, and even now his officers are seeking you.
12. And Jesus said, Why is it that the Pharisees are so concerned about my life? And then he said unto the man who spoke,
13. Go forth and say to that sly fox, Behold, I heal the sick and cast the unclean spirits out to-day, tomorrow, and the days to come, and then I will attain.
14. Go say to him, I need not fear in Galilee, for I must meet the cruel wrath of men within Jerusalem. 15 And while they tarried in the place a man, a Pharisee, invited Jesus and a few of those who followed him, to dine with him upon the Sabbath day, to celebrate the marriage of his son.
16. Among the guests was one afflicted with a dropsical disease.
17. And Jesus said to those who had been sent to get from his own lips some words by which they might accuse him of a crime,
18. You lawyers and you Pharisees, what do you say about the lawlessness of healing on the Sabbath day? Here is a man, one of your own, and he is sore distressed.
19. Shall I, in God's own strength, say out the healing Word and heal this man?
20. The lawyers and the Pharisees were dumb; they answered not.
21. Then Jesus spoke the healing Word and healed the man and he, rejoicing, went his way.
22. Then Jesus said again unto the lawyers and the Pharisees, Which one of you who has a horse or cow, if it would fall into a pit upon the Sabbath day would fall would not call in his friends to help to draw it out?
23. And not a man could answer, Here am I.
24. As Jesus looked upon the guests who had been bidden to the feast and saw them crowding in to get the highest seats, he said to them,
25. You selfish men, why do you strive to take the highest seats when you are but invited guests? You do not show our host the courtesies of life.
26. When men are bidden to a marriage feast they should sit in the lower seats until the host shall place them where he wills.
27. You may, unbidden, take the highest seat; but then a man more honourable may come and when the host shall bid you rise and take a lower seat that he may honour his more worthy guest, you cannot help but blush for very shame in your humility.
28. But if you take the lowest seat and then are honoured by your host and asked to take a higher seat, you are esteemed an honoured guest.
29. In this event we note a principle in life, That he who would exalt himself shall be abased, and he who humbles low himself shall be exalted in the sight of men.
30. Then Jesus spoke to all the guests; he said, When any one of you would make a feast it should not be for friends, or kindred, or the rich;
31. For they consider such a courtesy loaned out, and they feel called upon to make a greater feast for you, just in the payment of a debt.
32. But when you make a feast invite the poor, the lame, the blind; in this a blessing waits for you, for well you know that you will get naught in return; but in the consciousness of helping those who need, you will be recompensed.
33. And then he spoke a parable; he said, A wealthy man prepared a feast; he sent his servants forth to bit his chosen ones to come; but they desired not to go, and they formed such excuses as they thought would satisfy the would-be host.
34. One said, I have just bought a piece of land, and I must go and prove my title to the land; I pray to be excused.
35. Another said I must go down and prove my ownership in sheep that I have bought; I pray to be excused.
36. Another said, I have been married but a little time and so I cannot go; I beg to be excused.
37. Now, when the servants came and told the man who had prepared the feast that those he had invited would not come,
38. The man ws grieved in heart; and then he sent his servants forth into the streets and alleys of the town to bring up to the feast the poor, the lame, the blind.
39. The servants went abroad and found the poor, the lame, the blind, and brought them in; but there was room for more.
40. The host then sent his men of arms to bring by force the people to his feast; and then the house was full.
41. And God has made a feast for men. Long years ago he sent his servants forth unto the favoured sons of men. They would not hear his call; they came not to the feast.
42. He then sent forth his servants to the strangers and the multitudes; they came, but there is room for more.
43. Behold, for he will send his angels forth with mighty trumpet blast, and men will be compelled to come up to the feast.
SECTION XVII
PE
The Third Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus
(first half | second half)
Chapter 142
The path of discipleship, its difficulties. The cross and its meaning. The danger of wealth. The young man who loved wealth more than he loved Christ. Parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
1. Now, Jesus and the twelve went to another town, and as they entered it they said, Peace be to all; good will to all.
2. A multitude of people followed and the master said to them, Behold, for you are followers for selfish gain.
3. If you would follow me in love, and be disciples of the Holy Breath, and gain at last the crown of life, you must leave all there is of carnal life behind.
4. Be not deceived; stay, men, and count the cost.
5. If one would build a tower, or a home, he first sits down and counts the cost to be assured that he has gold enough to finish it.
6. For well he knows that if he makes a failure of his enterprise he may lose all his wealth, and be the butt of ridicule.
7. And if a king desires to take the kingdom of another king, he calls his trusted men and they consider well their strength; he will not measure arms with one of matchless power.
8. Count well the cost before you start to follow me; it means the giving up of life, and all you have.
9. If you love father, mother, wife, or child, more than love the Christ, you cannot follow me.
10. If you follow wealth or honour more than you love the Christ, you cannot follow me.
11. The paths of carnal life do not run up the mountain side towards the top; they run around the mount of life, and if you go straight to the upper gate of consciousness you cross the paths of carnal life; tread in them not.
12. And this is how men bear the cross; no man can bear another's cross.
13. Take up your cross and follow me through Christ into the path of true discipleship; this is the path that leads to life.
14. This way of life is called the pearl of greatest price, and he who finds it must put all he has beneath his feet.
15. Behold, a man found in a certain field the croppings of a wondrous mine of gold, and he went forth and sold his home and aal he had and bought the field; then he rejoiced in wealth.
16. Now, there were present, scribes and Pharisees of wealth who loved their money, and their bonds and lands, and they laughed loud to scorn what Jesus said.
17. Then Jesus spoke to them and said, You are the men who justify yourselves in sight of men; God knows your wickedness of heart;
18. And you must know, O men, that whatsoever is revered and is exalted by the carnal mind, is an abomination in the sight of God.
19. And Jesus went his way, and as he went a young man ran and knelt down at his feet and said, Good master, tell me what to do that I may have eternal life.
20. And Jesus said, Why do you call me good? No one is truly good but God himself.
21. And God has said, If you would enter into life, keep the Commandments of the law.
22. The young man asked, To which commands did he refer?
23. And Jesus said, You shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not do adulterous things; you shall not falsely testify;
24. and you shall love your God with all your heart, and you shall love your neighbour as yourself.
25. The man replied, These things I have observed from youth; what lack I yet?
26. And Jesus said, One thing you lack; your heart is fixed on things of earth; you are not free.
27. Go forth and sell all that you have, and give your money to the poor, and come follow me, and you shall have eternal life.
28. The man was grieved at what the master said; for he was rich; he hid his face and went in sorrow on his way.
29. And Jesus looked upon the sorrowing man and said, It is so hard for men with hoardedwealth to enter through the door into the kingdom of the soul.
30. And his disciples were amazed at what he said.
31. He answered them and said, I tell you, men, that they who trust in riches cannot trust in God and cannot come into the kingdom of the soul:
32. Yea, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a man with hoarded wealth to find the way of life. And his disciples said, Who then can find the way? Who can be saved?
33. And Jesus said, The rich may give his gold away; the high may kiss the dust, and God will save.
34. Then Jesus spoke this parable to them:
35. A rich man lived in splendid state; he wore the finest garments men could make; his boards were loaded with the costliest viands of the land.
36. A beggar, blind and lame, whose name was Lazarus, was wont to sit beside the waste gate of this home that he might share with dogs the refuse from the rich man's board.
37. It came to pass that Lazarus died, and angels carried him away unto the bosom of our father Abraham.
38. The rich man also died, and he was buried in a costly tomb; but in the purifying fires he opened up his eyes dissatisfied.
39. He looked and saw the beggar resting peacefully in the bosom of his father Abraham, and in the bitterness of his soul he cried,
40. My father Abraham, look down in mercy on your son; I am tormented in these flames.
41. Send Lazarus, I beseech, that he may give me just a sup of water to cool my parched tongue.
42. But Abraham replied, My son, in mortal life, you had the best things of the earth and Lazarus had the worst, and you would not give him a cup of water there, but drove him from your door.
43. The law must be fulfilled, and Lazarus now is conforted, and you are paying what you owe.
44. Besides, there is a great gulf fixed between your zone and us, and if I would I could not send Lazarus to you, and you cannot come up to us till you have paid your debts.
45. Again the man in anguish said, O father Abraham, I pray, send Lazarus back to earth, and to my father's house, that he may tell my brothers who are yet in life, for I have five of them, about the horrors of this place, lest they come dowm to me and not to you.
46. And Abraham replied, They have the words of Moses and the seers, let them hear them.
47. The man replied, They will not hearken to the written word; bit if a amn would go up from the grave they might believe.
48. But Abraham replied, If they hear not the words of Moses and the seers they would not be persuaded even though one from the dead stood in their midst.
49. And Peter said, Lord, we have left our all to follow you; and what is our reward?
50. And Jesus said, Most verily I say to you, that you who have left all to follow me shall come into a newness of a life hid deep with Christ in God.
51. And you shall sit with me upon the throne of power, and judge with me the tribes of Israel.
52. And he who conquers carnal self, and follows me through Christ shall have a hundred fold of that which is the wealth of life on earth, and in the world to come, eternal life.
Chapter 143
Righteousness in rewards. Jesus relates the parable of the husbandman and the labourers. Makes known the divine law of divorce. The mystery of marriage.
1. The Lord was standing by the sea; the multitudes were there and one stood forth and said,
2. Does God bestow rewards as men bestow rewards, for what is done?
3. And Jesus said, Men never know what other men have done, this life is such a seeming life.
4. One man may seem to do a mighty work, and be adjudged by men as worthy of a great reward.
5. Another man may seem to be a failure in the harvest fields of life, and be dishonoured in the face of men.
6. Men do not know the hearts of men; God only knows the hearts of men, and whne the day is done he may reward with life the man who fell beneath the burdens of the day, and turn away the man who was the idol of the hearts of men.
7. And then he spoke a parable; he said, The kingdom of the soul is like a man who had a vast estate,
8. And in the morning time he went down to the market place to search for men to gather in his grain.
9. He found three men, and he agreed to give to each a penny for his service for the day, and sent them to his field.
10. Again he went down to the market place the third hour of the day and found five men in waiting, and he said, Go down into my field and serve, and I will pay you what is right; and they went down and served.
11. He went again; it was the sixth hour of the day, and seven men were waiting at the stand; he sent them to the field to serve.
12. And at the eleventh hour he went again; twelve men stood there in seeming idleness; he said to them, Why stand you here in idleness all day?
13. They said, Because we have no work to do; no man has hired us.
14. And then he sent them to his field to serve.
15. Now, when the evening came the man said to his steward, Call the labourers from the field, and pay them for his services. And all were paid, and each received a penny for his hire.
16. Now, when the twelve, who served but from the eleventh hour, received each one a penny for his hire, the three were sore aggrieved; they said,
17. These twelve have served but one short hour, and now they have an equal share with us who have toiled through the scorching hours of day; should we not have at least two pennies for our hire?
18. The man replied, My friends, I do no wrong to you. Did we mot have a fast agreement when you went to work? Have I not paid in full?
19. What is it unto you if I should pay these men a smaller or a larger sum? Take that which is your own and go your way, for I will give unto the twelve what I will give unto the three, the five, the seven.
20. They did their best and you could do no more than do your best.
21. The hire of man is based upon the intent of the heart.
22. As Jesus taught, a Pharisee came up and said, Lord, is it lawful for a amn to put away his wife?
23. And Jesus said, You ought to know; what says the law?
24. The Pharisee replied, The law provides that man may be divorced, may put away his wife.
25. And Jesus said, The hardness of the hearts of men induced the giver of the law to make provisions such as these; but from the first it was not so.
26. God made a woman for a man, and they were one; and afterwards he said, A man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife; they are no more divided; they are one, one flesh.
27. What God has joined no man can part.
28. Now, when they went up to the house, a man made free to ask again about this matter of divorce.
29. And Jesus said again what to the Pharisee he said; and then he gave the higher law of marriage life: 30 Whoever puts away his wife, except she be a courtesan, and then shall take another wife commits adultery.
31. The woman who shall leave a man, unless he be a libertine and an adulterer, and then becomes the wife of any other man, commits adultery.
32. And Thomas asked, What is adultery?
33. And Jesus said, The man who harbours lustful thoughts, who covets any woman not his wife, is an adulterer.
34. The wife who harbours lustful thoughts, and covets any man who is not wed to her, is not her husband, is a courtesan.
35. Men cannot make a law to bind two hearts.
36. When two are bound in love they have no thought of lust. The woman cannot leave the man; the man has no desire to send his wife away.
37. When men and women harbour lustful thoughts, and covet any other flesh, they are not one, not joined by God.
38. And Philip said, Lord, are there few that God has joined in holy marriage bonds?
39. And Jesus said, God knows the pure in heart; the lustful men and women are but creatures of the lustful self; they cannot be at one; nor can they be at one with God.
40. Nathaniel said, Is it not well that all men should refrain from taking on themselves the marriage vow?
41. And Jesus said, Men are not pure because they are unmarried men. The man who lusts is an adulterer if he has wife or not.
42. And then he said to all, Some things men know by being told, while other things they know not till the gate of consciousness shall open up for them.
43. I speak a mystery that now you cannot understand; but you shall some day understand.
44. A eunuch is a man who does not lust; some men are eunuchs born, some are eunuchs by the power of men, and some are eunuchs by the Holy Breath, who makes them free in God through Christ.
45. He who is able to receive the truth I speak, let him receive.
Chapter 144
The Christines at Tiberius. Jesus speaks on the inner life. Relates the parable of the prodigal son. The resentment of the elder brother.
1. When they had journeyed through the towns and cities of the land of Galilee, the Lord with his disciples came to Tiberius, and here they met a few who loved the name of Christ.
2. And Jesus told them many things about the inner life; but when the multitudes came up, he spoke a parable; he said,
3. A ceratin man with great possessions had two sons. The youngest son grew tired of life at home and said,
4. My father, pray divide your wealth and give the portion that is mine to me, and I will seek my fortune in another land.
5. The father did as he desired, and with his wealth the young man went into a foreign land.
6. He was a profligate and soon had squandered all his wealth in ways of sin.
7. When nothing else remained for him to do he found employment in the fields to care for swine.
8. And he was hungry, and no one gave him aught to eat, and so he ate the carob pods that he was feeding to the swine.
9. And after many days he found himself and said unto himself, My father is a man of wealth; he has a score of servants who are bountifully fed while I, his son, am starving in the fields among the swine.
10. I do not hope to be received again as son, but I will rise and go straight to my father's house, and I will make confession of my waywardness;
11. And I will say, My father, I am come again; I am profligate, and I have lost my wealth in ways of sin; I am not worthy to be called your son.
12. I do not ask to be received again as son, but let me have a place among your servants, where I may have a shelter from the storms and have enough to eat.
13. And he arose and sought his father's house, and as he came his mother saw him while yet a great way off.
14. (A mother's heart can feel the first faint yearning of a wandering child.)
15. The father came, and hand in hand they walked a-down the way to meet the boy, and there was joy, great joy.
16. The boy tried hard to plead for mercy and a servant's place; but love was all too great to listen to the plea.
17. The door was opened wide; he found a welcome in the mother's heart, and in the father's heart.
18. The father called the servants in, and bade them bring the finest robe for him; the choicest sandals for his feet; a ring of purest gold for him to wear.
19. And then the father said, My servants, go and kill the fatted calf; prepare a feast, for we are glad;
20. Our son we thought was dead is here alive; a treasure that we thought was lost is found.
21. The feast was soon prepared and all were merry, when the eldest son who had been serving in a distant field and knew not that his brother had returned, came home.
22. And when he learned the cause of all the merriment he was offended, and would not go into the house.
23. His father and his mother both besought him tearfully to disregard the waywardness and folly of their son; but he would not; he said,
24. Lo, all these years I have remained at home, have served you every day, have never yet transgressed your most severe commands;
25. And yet you never killed for me a kid, nor made for me a simple feast that I might make merry with my friends;
26. But when your son, this profligate, who has gone forth and squandered half your wealth in ways of sin, comes home, because he could do nothing else, you kill for him the fatted calf and make a wondrous feast.
27. His father said, My son, all that I have is yours and you are ever with us in our joys;
28. And it is well to show our gladness when your brother, who is near and dear to us, and who we thought was dead, returns to us alive.
29. He may have been a profligate; may have consorted with gay courtesans and thieves, yet he is still your brother and our son.
30. Then JEsus said so all might hear; He who has ears to hear, and hearts to understand will comprehend the meaning of this parable.
31. Then Jesus and the twelve came to Capernaum.
Chapter 145
Jesus speaks on the establishment of the Christine kingdom and the future coming of the Lord in power. Exhorts to faithfulness. Parable of the unjust judge. Parable of the Pharisee and the publican.
1. A company of Pharisees came up to speak with Jesus and they said, Rabboni, we have heard you say, The kingdom is at hand.
2. We read in Daniel that the God of heaven will form a kingdom, and we ask, Is this the kingdom of the God you speak about? If so, when will it come?
3. And Jesus said, The prophets all have told about this kingdom of the God, and it is just at hand; but men can never see it come.
4. It never can be seen with carnal eyes; it is within.
5. Lo, I have said, and now I say again, None but the pure in heart can see the king, and all the pure in heart are subjects of the king.
6. Reform, and turn away form sin; prepare you, O prepare! the kingdom is at hand.
7. And then he spoke to his disciples and he said, The seasons of the son of man are past.
8. The time will come when you will wish above all else to see again one of these days; but you can see it not.
9. And many men will say, Lo, here is Christ; lo, there is Christ. Be not deceived; go not into their ways.
10. For when the son of man will come again no man need point the way; for as the lightning lights the heavens, so will the son of man light up the heavens and earth.
11. But, lo, I say, that many generations will have come and gone before the son of man shall come in power; but when he comes no one will say, Lo, here is Christ; lo, there.
12. But as it was before the flood in Noah's day, so shall it be. The people ate, they drank,were filled with merriment and sang for joy,
13. And did not know their doom until the ark was done and Noah entered in; but then the flood came on and swept them all away.
14. So, also, in the days of Lot; the people ate and drank; they bought, they sold, they planted and they reaped, they went their ways in sin, and they cared not;
15. But when the righteous Lot went from their city's gates the earth beneath the city shook, and brimstone fires fell from heaven;
16. The gapping jaws of earth flew wide, and swallowed up their homes, their wealth, and they went down to rise no more.
17. So shall it be when comes the son of man in power.
18. I charge you men, as I will charge men then, Seek not to save your wealth, or you will lose your lives. Go forth, and look not back upon the crumbling walls of sin. Do not forget Lot's wife.
19. Whoever tries to save his life will lose his life; whoever freely gives his life in serving life will save his life.
20. Then comes the sifting time. Two men will be in bed; one will be called, the other left; two women will be working side by side; one will be snatched away, the other left.
21. And his disciples said, Explain to us this parable; or is it not a parable?
22. And Jesus said, The wise will understand, for where the bread of heaven is, there you will find the pure in heart; and where the carcass lies will gather all the birds of prey.
23. But lo, I say, before these days will come, the son of man will be betrayed by one of you into the hands of wicked men, and he will give his life for you and all the world.
24. Yea, more; the Holy Breath will come in power and fill you with the wisdom of the just.
25. And you will tell the wondrous story in Judea and in Samaria and in the farther lands of earth.
26. And then to teach that men should pray and never faint, he told this parable:
27. There was a judge who feared not God, nor yet regarded man.
28. There was a widow who oft implored the judge to right her wrongs and to avenge her foes.
29. At first the judge would hear her not, but after many days he said,
30. I fear not God, and I regard not man, yet, lest this widow wear me out by pleading every day I will avenge her on her foes.
31. When the disciples asked the meaning of this parable, the Lord replied, The wise can understand; the foolish have no need to know.
32. And then to teach a lesson unto certain of his followers who trusted in themselves and thought that they were holier than other men, he told this parable:
33. Two men went to the synagogue to pray; one was a Pharisee, the other was a publican.
34. The Pharisee stood forth and prayed thus with himself, O God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, who are extortioners, unjust, adulterers;
35. Not even like this publican. I fast two times a week, and I give tithes of all I get.
36. The publican came not a-near; he would not lift his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast and said,
37. O lord, be merciful to me; I am a sinner in thy sight; I am undone.
38. And now, you men, I say to you, The publican knew how to pray, and he was justified.
39. The Pharisee knew how to talk, but still he went away condemned.
40. Lo, every one who lauds himself himself shall be abased, and he who does not praise himself shall be exalted in the sight of God.
Chapter 146
Last meeting of Jesus with his disciples in Galilee. Miriam sings a song of praise. The song. The Christines begin their journey to Jerusalem. They rest at Enon Springs. The selfish request of the mother of James and John. The Christines reach Jerusalem.
1. The work of Jesus in the land of Galilee was done, and he sent forth a message, and the many came from many towns of Galilee; came to receive a benediction from his hand.
2. Among the multitudes who came was Luke, a Syrian from Antioch, a learned physician and a just and upright man.
3. Theophilus, a Grecian senator, a minister of Caesar's court, was also there; and many other men of honour and renown.
4. And Miriam sang: All hail the Day Star form on high!
5. All hail the Christ who ever was, and is and evermore shall be!
6. All hail the darkness of the shadowland! All hail the dawn of peace on earth; good will to men!
7. All hail triumphant king, who grapples with the tyrant Death, who conquers in the fight, and brings to light immortal life for men!
8. All hail the broken cross, the mutilated spear!
9. All hail the triumph of the soul! All hail the empty tomb!
10. All hail to him despised by men, rejected by the multitudes; for he is seated on the throne of power!
11. All hail! for he has called the pure in heart of every clime to sit with him upon the throne of power!
12. All hail, the rending veil! The way into the highest courts of God is open for the sons of men!
13. Rejoice, O men of earth, rejoice, and be exceeding glad!
14. Bring forth the harp and touch its highest strings; bring forth the lute, and sound its sweetest notes!
15. For men who were made low, are high exalted now, and they who walked in darkness and in the vale of death, are risen up and God and man are one for evermore,
16. Allelujah! praise the Lord for evermore. Amen.
17. And Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said,
18. My Father-God, let now the benediction of thy love, thy mercy and thy truth rest on these men.
19. The lamp is taken from their midst, and if the inner light be not aflame, lo, they must tread the ways of darkness and of death.
20. And then he said to all, Farewell
21. Then Jesus and his mother, and the twelve, and Miriam and Mary, mother of the two disciples, James and John,
22. And many other loyal souls who loved the Christ, went to Jerusalem, that they might celebrate the Jewish feast.
23. And as they journeyed on their way they came to Enon Springs, near unto Salim where the harbinger once taught.
24. And as they rested by the fountain, Mary, wife of Zebedee, and mother of the two disciples, James and John, came to the master and she said,
25. My Lord, I know the kingdom is about to come, and I would ask this boon: Command that these my sons shall sit with you upon the throne, the one upon the right, the other on the left.
26. And Jesus said to her, You know not what you ask.
27. And then he turned to James and John and said, Are you prepared and are you strong enough to drink the cup that I will drink?
28. They said, Yes, master, we are strong enough to follow where you go.
29. Then Jesus said, You shall indeed drink of my cup; but I am not the judge of who will sit upon my right or my left.
30. The men who live the life and keep the faith will sit upon the throne of power.
31. Now, when the apostles heard the pleadings of the mother for her sons, and knew that James and John were seeking special favours from the Lord, they were indignant and they said,
32. We surely thought that James and John had risen above the selfish self. Who can we trust among the sons of men?
33. And Jesus called the ten apart and said to them, How hard for men to comprehend the nature of the kingdom of the soul!
34. These two disciples do not seem to know that rulership in heaven is not akin to rulership on earth.
35. In all the kingdoms of the world, the men of power, they who exalt themselves, show their authority, and rule with iron rule;
36. But you must know that they who rule the sons of light are they who seek no earthly power, but give their lives in willing sacrifice for men.
37. Whoever would be great must be the minister of all. The highest seat in heaven is at the feet of him who is the lowest man of earth.
38. I had a glory with our Father-God before the worlds were made, and still I come to serve the race of men; to be the minister of men; to give my life for men.
39. And then the Christines journeyed on and came unto Jerusalem.
Chapter 147
Jesus speaks to the people in the temple regarding the messiahship. Rebukes the Jews for treachery. The Jews attempt to stone him, but are prevented by Joseph. The Christines go to Jericho, and later to Bethabara.
1. Now, many Jews from Galilee, Judea and Samaria were in Jerusalem and at the feast.
2. The porch of Solomon was filled with scribes and Pharisees and doctors of the law, and Jesus walked with them.
3. A scribe approaching Jesus said, Rabboni, why do you keep the people waiting in suspense? If you are the Messiah that the prophets said would come, will you not tell us now?
4. And Jesus said, Lo, I have told you many times, but you believed me not.
5. No man can do the work that I have done and bring to men the truth as I have brought the truth who did not come from God.
6. What I have done and said are witnesses for me.
7. God calls, and they whose ears have attuned to hear the heavenly voice have heard the call and have believed in me; because God testifies for me.
8. You cannot hear the voice of God, because your ears are closed. You cannot comprehend the works of God, because your hearts are full of self.
9. And you are busybodies, mischief-makers, hypocrites. You take these men whom God has given me into your haunts and try to poison them with sophistries and lies, and think that you will snatch them from the fold of God.
10. I tell you, men, these men are tried and you can snatch not one of them away.
11. My Father who has given them to me is greater than you all, and he and I are one.
12. And then the Jews took stones to throw at him and cried, Now we have heard enough; away with him; let him be stoned.
13. But Joseph, member of the great Sanhedrim of the Jews, was in the porch and he came forth and said,
14. You men of Israel, do nothing rash; throw down those stones; your reason is a better guide than passion in such times as these.
15. You do not know your accusations to be true, and if this man should prove himself to be the Christ, and you should take his life, the wrath of God would rest upon you evermore.
16. And Jesus said to them, Lo, I have healed your sick, have caused your blind to see, your deaf to hear, your lame to walk, and cast out unclean spirits from your friends;
17. For which of these great works would you desire to take my life?
18. The Jews replied, We would not stone you for your works of grace, but for your vile, blasphemous words. You are but man and still you say that you are God.
19. And Jesus said, A prophet of your own said to the sons of men, Lo, you are gods!
20. Now, hark, you men, if he could say that to the men who simply heard the word of God, why should you think that I blaspheme the name of God because I say, I am a son of God?
21. If you believe not what I say you must have faith in what I do, and you should see the Father in these works, and know that I dwell in the Father-God, and that the Father dwells in me.
22. and then again the Jews took stones and would have stoned him in the temple court; but he withdrew himself from sight and left the porch and court and went his way:
23. And with the twelve he went to Jericho, and after certain days they crossed the Jordan and in Bethabara abode for many days.
Chapter 148
Lazarus dies and Jesus and the twelve return to Bethany. The resurrection of Lazarus, which greatly excites the rulers in Jerusalem. The Christines go to the hills of Ephraim, and there abide.
1. One day as Jesus and the twelve were in the silence in a home in Araba a messenger came and said.
2. Lord, Jesus, hear! your friend in Bethany is sick, nigh unto death: his sisters urge that you arise and come in haste.
3. Then turning to the twelve the master said, Lo, Lazarus has gone to sleep, and I must go and waken him.
4. And his disciples said, What need to go of he has gone to sleep; he will awaken by and by?
5. Then Jesus said, It is the sleep of death; for Lazarus is dead.
6. But Jesus did not haste to go; he stayed two days in Araba; and then he said, The hour has come and we must go to Bethany.
7. But his disciples urged him not to go; they said, The Jews are waiting your return that they may take your life.
8. And Jesus said, Men cannot take my life till I have handed unto them my life.
9. And when the time shall come I will myself lay down my life; that time is near, and God knows best; I must arise and go.
10. And Thomas said, Then we will also go; yes, we will offer up our lives and die with him. And they arose and went.
11. Now, Mary, Martha, Ruth and many friends were weeping in their home when one approached and said, The Lord has come; but Mary did not hear the words.
12. But Ruth and Martha heard, and they arose and went to meet the Lord; he waited at the village gate.
13. And when they met the master Martha said, You are too late, for Lazarus is dead; if you had only been with us I know that he would not have died.
14. But even now I know that you have power over death; that by the sacred Word you may cause life to rise from death.
15. And Jesus said, Behold, for Lazarus shall again.
16. And Martha said, I know that he will rise and live again when all the dead shall rise.
17. And Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life; he who has faith in me, though he be dead, yet shall he live;
18. And he who is alive, and has a living faith in me, shall never die. Do you believe what I have said?
19. And Martha said, Lord, I believe that you are come to manifest the Christ of God.
20. The Jesus said, Go back and call aside your sister, and my mother and the prophetess and say that I have come; and I will stay here by the gate till they have come to me.
21. And Ruth and Martha did as Jesus bade them do, and in a little while the Marys and the prophetess had met the Lord.
22. And Mary said, Why did you tarry thus? If you had been with us our brother, dear, would not have died.
23. Then Jesus went up to the house and when he saw the heavy grief of all, he was himself stirred up with grief, and said, Where is the tomb in which he lies?
24. They said, Lord, come and see. And Jesus wept.
25. The people said, Behold how Jesus loved this man!
26. And others said, Could not this Lord, who opened up the eyes of one born blind, have saved this man from death?
27. But soon the mourners stood beside the tomb, a sepulchre hewn out of solid rock; a massive stone closed up the door.
28. And Jesus said, Take you away the stone.
29. But Martha said, Lord, is it well? Behold our brother has been dead four days; the body must be in decay, and is it well that we should see it now?
30. The Lord replied, Have you forgotten, Martha, what I said while we were at the village gate? Did I not say that you should see the glory of the Lord?
31. And then they rolled the stone away; the flesh had not decayed; and Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said,
32. My Father-God, thou who hast ever heard my prayers, I thank thee now, and that these multitudes may know that thou hast sent me forth, that I am thine and thou art mine, make strong the Word of power.
33. And then he spoke the Word, and in a voice that souls can comprehend, he said, O Lazarus, awake!
34. And Lazarus arose and came out of the tomb. The grave clothes were about him fast, and Jesus said,
35. Loose him and let him go.
36. The people were amazed and multitudes confessed their faith in him.
37. And some went to Jerusalem and told the Pharisees about this resurrection of the dead.
38. The chief priests were confounded, and they said, What shall we do? This man is doing many mighty deeds, and if we do not stay him in his work, all men will look on him as king, and through the Romans he may take the throne, and we will lose our place and power.
39. And then the chief priests and the Pharisees in council met and sought a plan by which they might put him to death.
40. Caiaphas was the high priest then, and he came forth and said, You men of Israel, do you not know the law?
41. Do you not know that in such times as these we may give up one life to save our nation and our laws?
42. Caiaphas did not know that he was prophet, speaking out the words of truth.
43. He did not know the time had come for Jesus to be offered up a sacrifice for every man, for Jew and Greek, and all the world.
44. From that day forth the Jews conferred together every day, maturing plans to put the Lord to death.
45. Now, Jesus and the twelve did not remain in Bethany; but in the hills of Ephraim, upon the borders of Samaria, they found a home, and there abode for many days.
Chapter 149
The Jews gather in Jerusalem to attend the feast. The Christines go to Jericho. Jesus dines with Zaccheus. He relates the parable of the ten talents.
1. The great passover of the Jews, the feast of spring, was calling every loyal Jew up to Jerusalem.
2. Ten days before the feast the Lord and his disciples left the Ephraim hills and by the Jordan way, went down to Jericho.
3. And as they entered Jericho a wealthy publican came out to see the Lord; but he was small in stature and the throng was great and he could see him not.
4. A tree, a sycamore, stood by the way and he climbed up the tree and found a seat among its boughs.
5. When Jesus came, he saw the man and said, O Zacheus, make haste, come down; I would abide with you to-day.
6. And Zaccheus came down and joyfully received the Lord; but many of the stricter sect called out and said,
7. For shame! he goes to lodge with Zaccheu, the sinner and the publican.
8. But Jesus did not care for what they said; he went his way with Zaccheus, who was a man of faith, and as they talked together Zaccheus said,
9. Lord, I have ever tried to do the right; I give unto the poor half of my goods, and if by any means I wrong a man, I right the wrong by paying him four fold.
10. And Jesus said to him, Your life and faith are known to God, and lo, the benedictions of the Lord of hosts abide with you and all your house.
11. Then Jesus spoke a parable to all; he said, A vassal of an emperor was made a king, and he went to the foreign land to claim his rights and take the kingdom to himself.
12. Before he went he called ten trusted servants and to each he gave a pound and said,
13. Go forth and use these pounds as you have opportunity, that you may gain for me more wealth, And then he went his way.
14. And after many days he came again, and called the ten, demanding a report.
15. The first one came and said, Lord, I have gained nine pounds; you gave me one and here are ten.
16. The king replied, Well done, you faithful man; because you have been faithful in a little thing I judge that you will be a faithful servant in a greater thing;
17. Behold, I make you ruler over nine important cities of my realm.
18. The second came and said,Lord, I have gained for you four pounds; you gave me one, and here are five.
19. The king replied, And you have proven up your faithfulness. Behold, I make you ruler over four important cities of my realm.
20. another came and said, Lord, I have doubled what you gave to me. You gave one pound to me and here are two.
21. The ruler said, And you have proved your faithfulness; Behold, I make you ruler over one important city of my realm.
22. Another came and said, Lord, here is what you gave to me. I knew you were an austere man, oft reaping where you did not sow and I was sore afraid, and so I took the pound you gave to me and hid it in a secret place; and here it is.
23. The king exclaimed, You slothful man! you knew what I required, that I expected every man to do his best.
24. If you were timid and afraid to trust your judgment in the marts of trade, why did you not go forth and put my money out for gain, that I could have my own with interest?
25. Then turning to the steward of his wealth the ruler said, Take you this pound and give it unto him who has by diligence earned nine.
26. For lo, I say, that every one who uses what he has and gains, shall have abundantly; but he who hides away his talent in the earth shall forfeit what he has.
Chapter 150
Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus. With the twelve he goes to Bethany. The multitudes come to welcome him and to speak with Lazarus.
1. The Christines started on their way to Bethany, and as they went, while yet in Jericho, they passed a beggar sitting by the way; and he was blind Bartimaeus.
2. And when the beggar heard the multitude pass by he said, What is it that I hear?
3. The people said to him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.
4. And instantly the man cried out, Lord Jesus, son of David, stay! have mercy on poor blind Bartimaeus!
5. The people said to him, Be quiet; hold your peace.
6. But blind Bartimaeus called again, Thou son of David, hear! have mercy on poor blind Bartiaeus!
7. And Jesus stopped and said, Bring him to me.
8. And then the people brought the blind man to the Lord, and as they brought him up they said, Be cheerful, now, Bartimaeus, the Lord is calling you.
9. And then he threw his cloak aside, and ran to Jesus as he waited by the way.
10. And Jesus said, What will you have, Bartimaeus?
11. The blind man said, Rabboni, open up mine eyes that I may see.
12. And Jesus said, Bartimaeus, look up; receive your sight; your faith has made you whole.
13. And he at once received his sight, and from the fulness of his heart he said, Praise God.
14. And all the people said, Praise God.
15. Then Jesus and the twelve went on to Bethany. It was six days before the feast.
16. And when the people knew that Jesus was in Bethany they came from near and far to see him and to hear him speak.
17. And they were anxious all to talk with Lazarus, whom Jesus had awakened form the dead.
18. Now in Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were all alert; they said, This Jesus will be at the feast, and we must not permit that he shall slip away again.
19. And they commanded every man to be alert and help to apprehend the Lord that they might take his life.
Chapter 151
Jesus teaches in the synagogue. Makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The multitudes, with the children, sing his praises, and say, Hosanna to the king! The Christines return to Bethany.
1. It was the day before the Sabbath day, the eighth day of the Jewish Nasan month, that Jesus came to Bethany.
2. And on the Sabbath day he went up to the synagogue and taught.
3. And on the morning of the first day of the week, the Sunday of the week, he called his twelve apostles unto him and said,
4. This day we go up to Jerusalem; be not afraid; my time has not yet come.
5. Now, two of you may go unto the village of Bethphage, and you will find an ass tied to a tree, and you will see a little colt near by.
6. Untie the ass and bring her here to me. If any one inquires why you take the ass, just say, The master has a need of her; and then the owner will come on with you.
7. And the disciples went as Jesus bade them go; they found the ass and colt a-near an open door; and when they would untie the ass the owner said Why would you take the ass away?
8. And the disciples said, The master has a need of her, and then the owner said, 'Tis well.
9. And then they brought the animal, and on her put their coats, and Jesus sat upon the ass and rode into Jerusalem.
10. And multitudes of people came and filled the way, and his disciples praised the Lord and said,
11. Thrice blessed is the king who in the name of God is come! All glory be to God, and peace on earth; good will to men!
12. And many spread their garments in the way, and some tore branches from the trees and cast them in the way.
13. And many children came with garlands of sweet flowers and placed them on the Lord, or strewed them in the way, and said, All hail the king! Long live the king!
14. The throne of David shall be built again. Hosanna to the Lord of hosts!
15. Among the throng were Pharisees, who said to Jesus as he passed, Rebuke this noisy throng; it is a shame for them to cry thus in the street.
16. The Lord replied, I tell you, men, if these should hold their peace the very stones would cry aloud.
17. And then the Pharisees conferred among themselves; they said, Our threats are idle words. Behold, for all the world is following him.
18. As Jesus drew a-near Jerusalem he paused and wept, and said, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the holy city of the Jews! yours was the glory of the Lord; but you have cast the Lord away.
19. Your eyes are closed, you cannot see the King; the kingdom of the Lord of heaven and earth has come; you comprehend it not.
20. Behold, the day will come when armies from afar will cast a bank about your way; will compass you about, and hem you in on every side;
21. Will dash you to the ground and slay you and your children in the streets.
22. And of your holy temple, and of your palaces and walls, they will not leave a stone upon a stone, because to-day you spurn the offers of the God of heaven.
23. When Jesus and the multitude had come into Jerusalem, excitement reigned, and people asked, Who is this man?
24. The multitudes replied, This is the king, the prophet, priest of God; this is the man from Galilee.
25. But Jesus tarried not; he went directly to the temple porch, and it was filled with people pressing hard to see the king.
26. The sick, the halt, the lame, the blind were there, and Jesus paused, and laid his hands on them and healed them by the sacred Word.
27. The temple and the temple courts were filled with children praising God. They said, Hosanna to the king! The son of David is the king! All hail the king! Praise God!
28. The Pharisees were filled with anger when they heard the children sing. They said to Jesus, Hear you what the children say?
29. And Jesus said, I hear, but have you never read the words of our own bard who said,
30. Out of the mouths of babes and suckings thou hast perfected praise!
31. And when the evening came the Lord and his disciples went again to Bethany.
Chapter 152
Jesus rebukes a barren fig tree. Drives the merchants out of the temple. Teaches the people. Returns to Bethany.
1. Next day, the Monday of the week, the master with the twelve, went to Jerusalem.
2. And as they passed along the way they saw a fig tree full of leaves without a sign of fruit.
3. And Jesus spoke unto the tree; he said, You useless cumberer of the ground; you fig tree fair to look upon, but a delusive thing.
4. You take from the earth and air the food that fruitful trees should have.
5. Go back to earth and be yourself the food for other trees to eat.
6. When Jesus had thus spoken to the tree he went his way.
7. And when he reached the temple, lo, the rooms were filled with petty merchants selling doves and animals, and other things, for sacrifice; the temple was a mart of trade.
8. And Jesus was indignant at the sight, and said, You men of Israel, for shame! This is supposed to be the house of prayer; but it is now a den of thieves. Remove this plunder from this holy place.
9. The merchants only laughed and said, We are protected in our trade by those who bear the rule; we will not go.
10. Then Jesus made a scourge of cords, as he did once before, and rushed among the merchantmen, threw all their money on the floor;
11. Threw wide the cages of the doves, and cut the cords that held the bleating lambs and set them free.
12. And then he drove the merchants from the place, and with a clean, new broom he swept the floors.
13. Chief priests and scribes were filled with wrath, but feared to touch or even to rebuke the Lord, for all the people stood in his defence.
14. And Jesus taught the people all day long and healed a multitude of those diseased,
15. And when the evening came he went again to Bethany.
Chapter 153
The Christines go to Jerusalem. They note the withered fig tree; its symbolic meaning. Jesus teaches in the temple. Is censured by the priests. Relates a parable of a rich man's feast.
1. On Tuesday, early in the day, the master and the twelve went to Jerusalem.
2. And as they went the twelve observed the tree to which the Lord had talked the day before, and lo, the leaves were withered, just as if they had been scorched with fire.
3. And Peter said, Lord, see the tree! Its leaves are withered and the tree seems dead.
4. And Jesus said, So shall it be with those who bear no fruit. When God shall call them up to give account, lo, he will breathe upon them, and their leaves, their empty words, will wither and decay.
5. God will not let the fruitless trees of life encumber ground, and he will pluck them up and cast them all away.
6. Now, you can demonstrate the power of God. Have faith in God, and you can bid the mountains to depart, and they will crumble at your feet;
7. And you may talk to wind and wave, and they will hear, and will obey what you command.
8. God hears the prayer of faith and when you ask in faith you shall receive.
9. You may not ask amiss; God will not hear the prayer of any man who comes to him with blood of other men upon his hands.
10. And he who harbours envious thoughts, and does not love his fellow men, may pray for ever unto God, and he will hear him not.
11. God can do nothing more for men than they would do for other men.
12. And Jesus walked again within the temple courts.
13. The priests and scribes were much emboldened by the council of Caiaphas and the other men in power, and so they came to Jesus and they said,
14. Who gave you the authority to do as you have done? Why did you drive the merchants from the temple yesterday?
15. And Jesus answered them and said, If you will answer what I ask, then I will answer you; Was John, the harbinger, a man of God, or was he a seditious man?
16. The scribes and Pharisees were loath to answer him; they reasoned thus among themselves:
17. If we shall say, John was a prophet sent from God, then he will say,
18. John testified for me, that I am son of God, why do you not believe his words?
19. If we should say, John was a bold, seditious man, the people will be angered, for they think he was a prophet of the living God.
20. And so they answered Jesus and they said, We do not know; we cannot tell.
21. Then Jesus said, If you will tell me not, then I will tell you not who gave me power to drive the robbers from the house of God.
22. And then he spoke a parable to them; he said, A man once made a feast inviting all the rich and honoured people of the land.
23. But when they came, they found the door into the banquet hall was low, and they could enter not except they bowed their heads and fell down on their knees.
24. These people would not bow their heads and fall down on their knees, and so they went away; they went not to the feast.
25. And then the man sent forth his messengers to bid the common folks, and those of low estate, to come and feast with him.
26. These people gladly came; they bowed their heads and fell down on their knees, and came into the banquet hall and it was full, and every one rejoiced.
27. And then the master said, Behold, you priests and scribes, and Pharisees the Lord of heaven and earth has spread a sumptuous feast, and you were bidden first of all;
28. But you have found the door into the banquet hall so low that you must bow your heads and fall down on your knees to enter in, and you have scorned the king who made the feast, refused to bow your heads and fall down on your knees, and you have gone your way;
29. But now God calls again; the common folks and those of low estate have come in multitudes, have entered in unto the feast and all rejoice.
30. I tell you, men, that publicans and courtesans go through the gates into the kingdom of the God of heaven, and you are left without.
31. John came to you in righteousness; he brought the truth, but you believed him not.
32. But publicans and courtesans believed, and were baptised and now have entered in unto the feast.
33. I tell you now, as I have told you many times, The many have been called, but chosen are the few.
Chapter 154
Jesus teaches in the temple court. The parable of the householder and wicked husbandmen. Parable of the marriage feast and the guest without a wedding robe.
1. The multitudes would hear what Jesus had to say, and so they built a platform in the temple court, and Jesus stood upon the place and taught. He spoke in parables; he said,
2. A man possessed a vast estate; he planted out a vineyard, placed a hedge about it, built a tower, installed the press for making wine.
3. He placed his vineyard in the hands of husbandmen and then he journeyed to a distant land.
4. Now, in the vintage time the man sent forth a servant to receive and bring to him his portion of the fruitage of the vines.
5. The husbandmen came forth and beat the man; laid forty lashes on his back and cast him out beyond the vineyard gate.
6. And then the owner sent another man to bring to him his own. The husbandmen laid hold of him and sorely wounded him and cast him from the vienyard, leaving him half dead beside the way.
7. The owner sent another man to bring to him his own. The husbandmen seized hold of him and with a javelin they pierced his heart; then buried him beyond the hedge.
8. The owner was aggrieved. He thought within himself, What shall I do? and then he said, This will I do. My only son is here, and I will send him to the husbandmen,
9. They surely will respect my son and send me what is mine.
10. He sent his son; the husbandmen took counsel with themselves; they said, This is the only heir to all this wealth, and if we take his life the vast inheritance is ours.
11. They took his life and cast him out beyond the vineyard hedge.
12. The days will come; the owner will return to reckon with the husbandmen, and he will seize them every one, and cast them into scorching fires where they shall stay until they pay the debts they owe.
13. And he will place his vineyard in the care of honest men.
14. Then turning to the priests and scibes he said, Did not your prophets say,
15. The stone the builders cast away became the capstone of the arch?
16. You men who pose as men of God, as husbandmen, lo, you have stoned and killed the messengers of God, his prophets and his seers, and now you seek to slay his son.
17. I tell you men, the kingdom shall be snatched away from you, and shall be given unto people who are not a people now, and to a nation that is not a nation now.
18. And men whose speech you cannot understand, will stand between the living and the dead, and show the way to life.
19. The chief priests and the Pharisees were deeply moved with anger when they heard this parable and would have seized the Lord and done him harm, but they were sore afraid; they feared the multitude.
20. And Jesus spoke another parable; he said, The kingdom is a-like a ceratin king who made a feast in honour of the marriage of his son.
21. He sent his servants forth to call the people who had been invited to the feast.
22. The servants called; but then the people would not come.
23. And then the king sent other messengers abroad to say, Behold, my tables now are spread; my oxne and my fatlings are prepared.
24. The choicest viands and the richest wines are on my boards; come to the marriage feast.
25. The people laughed and treated with disdain hsi call, and went their way, one to his farm, another to his merchandise;
26. And others seized the servants of the king; abused them shamefully; and some of them they killed.
27. And then the king sent forth his soldiery who slew the murderers and burned their towns.
28. And then the king sent other servants forth; to them he said, Go to the corners of the streets, the partings of the ways, and to the marts of trade and say,
29. Whoever will may come up to the marriage feast.
Jesus and the three disciples return to Capernaum. Jesus receives the report of the seventy. With his disciples he goes through all Galilee encouraging the believers. He heals a woman. Relates the parable of the little seed and the great tree.
1. The time had come for the return of the three score and ten whom Jesus sent abroad to preach.
2. And Jesus, Peter, James and John began their journey back to Galilee.
3. They went up through Samaria; they passed through many villages and towns, and everywhere the people thronged theways to see the man the seventy had told about; and Jesus taught and healed the sick.
4. And when they reached Capernaum the seventy were there; and they were filled with joy; they said,
5. The Spirit of the Lord of hosts was with us all the way, and we were filled.
6. The power of the sacred Word was manifest in us; we healed the sick; we caused the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the blind to see.
7. The very devils trembled when we spoke the Word, and they were subject unto us.
8. And Jesus said, As you were going on your way, the heavens were bright with light, the earth was bright, they seemed to meet and be at one; and I beheld, and Satan fell as lightning from the heavens.
9. Behold, for you have power to tread on serpents and on scorpions, and these are symbols of the enemies of men. You are protected in the way of right, and naught can harm.
10. And as you went I heard a master say, Well done.
11. But you may not rejoice because you have the power to heal the sick and make the devils tremble by the Word; for such rejoicing is from carnal self.
12. You may rejoice because the nations of the earth have ears to hear the Word, and eyes to see the glory of the Lord, and hearts to feel the inner breathing of the Holy Breath.
13. And you may well be glad because your names are written in the Book of Life.
14. Then Jesus looked to heaven and said, I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast revealed thyself to babes, and taught them how to light the path and lead the wise to thee.
15. What thou hast given to me, lo, I have given to them, and through the sacred Word I have bestowed on them the understanding heart,
16. That they might know and honour thee through Christ, who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
17. And then he said aside, unto the seventy and twelve, Most blessed are your eyes because you see the things you see;
18. And blessed they are your ears because they hear the things they hear;
19. And blessed are your hearts because you understand.
20. In ages that are gone the wise of earth, the prophets, seers and kings, desired to hear and see and know what you have heard and seen and known; but they had not attained and could not hear, and see and know.
21. And Jesus said again, Lo, I have gone before you many moons, and I have given to you the bread of heaven and the cup of life;
22. Have been your buckler and your stay; but now that you have learned the way, and have the strength to stand alone, behold, I lay my body down and go to him who is the All.
23. In forty days then we will turn our faces towards Jerusalem where I will find the altar of the Lord and give my life in willing sacrifice for men.
24. Let us arise and go through all the coasts of Galilee, and give a salutation of good cheer to all the sons of God by faith.
25. And they arose and went; they entered every town and village on the coast, and everywhere they said, The benedictions of the Christ abide with you for evermore.
26. Now, in a certain town they went up to the synagogue upon the Sabbath day, and Jesus taught.
27. And as he spoke, two men brought on a cot a woman bent near double with disease; she had not risen from her bed for eighteen years without a helping hand.
28. And Jesus laid his hand upon the woman, and he said, Arise, be free from your infirmity.
29. And as he spoke the Word the woman found that she was straight and strong, and she arose and walked and said, Praise God.
30. The ruler of the synagogue was filled with wrath because the healer healed upon the Sabbath day.
31. He did not censure Jesus face to face, but turning to the multitudes he said,
32. You men of Galilee, why do you break the laws of God? There are six days in every week when you may bring the afflicted to be healed.
33. This is the day that God has blessed, the Sabbath day in which men may not work.
34. And Jesus said, You inconsistent scribes and Pharisees! Upon the Sabbath day you take your beasts of burden from their stalls, and lead them forth to eat and drink; is this not work?
35. This daught of your father Abraham, who has been bound for eighteen years, has come in faith to be made free.
36. Now, tell me, men, is it a crime to break her bonds and set her free upon the Sabbath day?
37. The ruler said no more; the people all rejoiced and said, Behold the Christ!
38. And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, The kingdom of the Christ is like a little seed that one put in the ground;
39. It grew and after many years became a mighty tree, and many people rested in its shade, and birds built nests and reared their young among its leafy boughs.
Chapter 141
Jesus speaks words of encouragement. Rebukes an officious Pharisee. Attends a wedding feast. Heals a dropsical man. Rebukes guests who seek chief seats. Relates a parable of a wedding feast.
1. And Jesus went into another town upon the coast and spoke good words of cheer to those who followed him.
2. And one stood forth and said, Lord, are there few that enter into life?
3. And Jesus said, The way is rough that leads to life; the gate is narrow and is guarded well; but every one who seeks in faith shall find the way, and they who know the Word may enter in.
4. But many seek the way for selfish gain; they pound upon the gate of life; but it is fast.
5. The watchman from the turret says, I know you not; your speech is that of Ashdod, and your robes are those of sin; depart and go your way.
6. And they will go their way with weeping and with gnashing of the teeth.
7. And they will be enraged when they will be enraged when they see their father Abraham with Isaac, Jacob and the porphets, resting in the kingdom of the Christ, and they themselves debarred.
8. And, lo, I say that men will come from lands afar, from east, from west, from north, from south and sit with me in consciousness of life.
9. Behold, I say, the last shall be the first, the first shall be the last.
10. All men are called unto the kingdom of the Christ; but few are chosen, for the pure in heart alone can see the king.
11. And as he spoke a Pharisee came up and said, You man of Galilee, if you would save your life remain not here; flee instantly, for Herod swears that he will take your life, and even now his officers are seeking you.
12. And Jesus said, Why is it that the Pharisees are so concerned about my life? And then he said unto the man who spoke,
13. Go forth and say to that sly fox, Behold, I heal the sick and cast the unclean spirits out to-day, tomorrow, and the days to come, and then I will attain.
14. Go say to him, I need not fear in Galilee, for I must meet the cruel wrath of men within Jerusalem. 15 And while they tarried in the place a man, a Pharisee, invited Jesus and a few of those who followed him, to dine with him upon the Sabbath day, to celebrate the marriage of his son.
16. Among the guests was one afflicted with a dropsical disease.
17. And Jesus said to those who had been sent to get from his own lips some words by which they might accuse him of a crime,
18. You lawyers and you Pharisees, what do you say about the lawlessness of healing on the Sabbath day? Here is a man, one of your own, and he is sore distressed.
19. Shall I, in God's own strength, say out the healing Word and heal this man?
20. The lawyers and the Pharisees were dumb; they answered not.
21. Then Jesus spoke the healing Word and healed the man and he, rejoicing, went his way.
22. Then Jesus said again unto the lawyers and the Pharisees, Which one of you who has a horse or cow, if it would fall into a pit upon the Sabbath day would fall would not call in his friends to help to draw it out?
23. And not a man could answer, Here am I.
24. As Jesus looked upon the guests who had been bidden to the feast and saw them crowding in to get the highest seats, he said to them,
25. You selfish men, why do you strive to take the highest seats when you are but invited guests? You do not show our host the courtesies of life.
26. When men are bidden to a marriage feast they should sit in the lower seats until the host shall place them where he wills.
27. You may, unbidden, take the highest seat; but then a man more honourable may come and when the host shall bid you rise and take a lower seat that he may honour his more worthy guest, you cannot help but blush for very shame in your humility.
28. But if you take the lowest seat and then are honoured by your host and asked to take a higher seat, you are esteemed an honoured guest.
29. In this event we note a principle in life, That he who would exalt himself shall be abased, and he who humbles low himself shall be exalted in the sight of men.
30. Then Jesus spoke to all the guests; he said, When any one of you would make a feast it should not be for friends, or kindred, or the rich;
31. For they consider such a courtesy loaned out, and they feel called upon to make a greater feast for you, just in the payment of a debt.
32. But when you make a feast invite the poor, the lame, the blind; in this a blessing waits for you, for well you know that you will get naught in return; but in the consciousness of helping those who need, you will be recompensed.
33. And then he spoke a parable; he said, A wealthy man prepared a feast; he sent his servants forth to bit his chosen ones to come; but they desired not to go, and they formed such excuses as they thought would satisfy the would-be host.
34. One said, I have just bought a piece of land, and I must go and prove my title to the land; I pray to be excused.
35. Another said I must go down and prove my ownership in sheep that I have bought; I pray to be excused.
36. Another said, I have been married but a little time and so I cannot go; I beg to be excused.
37. Now, when the servants came and told the man who had prepared the feast that those he had invited would not come,
38. The man ws grieved in heart; and then he sent his servants forth into the streets and alleys of the town to bring up to the feast the poor, the lame, the blind.
39. The servants went abroad and found the poor, the lame, the blind, and brought them in; but there was room for more.
40. The host then sent his men of arms to bring by force the people to his feast; and then the house was full.
41. And God has made a feast for men. Long years ago he sent his servants forth unto the favoured sons of men. They would not hear his call; they came not to the feast.
42. He then sent forth his servants to the strangers and the multitudes; they came, but there is room for more.
43. Behold, for he will send his angels forth with mighty trumpet blast, and men will be compelled to come up to the feast.
SECTION XVII
PE
The Third Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus
(first half | second half)
Chapter 142
The path of discipleship, its difficulties. The cross and its meaning. The danger of wealth. The young man who loved wealth more than he loved Christ. Parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
1. Now, Jesus and the twelve went to another town, and as they entered it they said, Peace be to all; good will to all.
2. A multitude of people followed and the master said to them, Behold, for you are followers for selfish gain.
3. If you would follow me in love, and be disciples of the Holy Breath, and gain at last the crown of life, you must leave all there is of carnal life behind.
4. Be not deceived; stay, men, and count the cost.
5. If one would build a tower, or a home, he first sits down and counts the cost to be assured that he has gold enough to finish it.
6. For well he knows that if he makes a failure of his enterprise he may lose all his wealth, and be the butt of ridicule.
7. And if a king desires to take the kingdom of another king, he calls his trusted men and they consider well their strength; he will not measure arms with one of matchless power.
8. Count well the cost before you start to follow me; it means the giving up of life, and all you have.
9. If you love father, mother, wife, or child, more than love the Christ, you cannot follow me.
10. If you follow wealth or honour more than you love the Christ, you cannot follow me.
11. The paths of carnal life do not run up the mountain side towards the top; they run around the mount of life, and if you go straight to the upper gate of consciousness you cross the paths of carnal life; tread in them not.
12. And this is how men bear the cross; no man can bear another's cross.
13. Take up your cross and follow me through Christ into the path of true discipleship; this is the path that leads to life.
14. This way of life is called the pearl of greatest price, and he who finds it must put all he has beneath his feet.
15. Behold, a man found in a certain field the croppings of a wondrous mine of gold, and he went forth and sold his home and aal he had and bought the field; then he rejoiced in wealth.
16. Now, there were present, scribes and Pharisees of wealth who loved their money, and their bonds and lands, and they laughed loud to scorn what Jesus said.
17. Then Jesus spoke to them and said, You are the men who justify yourselves in sight of men; God knows your wickedness of heart;
18. And you must know, O men, that whatsoever is revered and is exalted by the carnal mind, is an abomination in the sight of God.
19. And Jesus went his way, and as he went a young man ran and knelt down at his feet and said, Good master, tell me what to do that I may have eternal life.
20. And Jesus said, Why do you call me good? No one is truly good but God himself.
21. And God has said, If you would enter into life, keep the Commandments of the law.
22. The young man asked, To which commands did he refer?
23. And Jesus said, You shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not do adulterous things; you shall not falsely testify;
24. and you shall love your God with all your heart, and you shall love your neighbour as yourself.
25. The man replied, These things I have observed from youth; what lack I yet?
26. And Jesus said, One thing you lack; your heart is fixed on things of earth; you are not free.
27. Go forth and sell all that you have, and give your money to the poor, and come follow me, and you shall have eternal life.
28. The man was grieved at what the master said; for he was rich; he hid his face and went in sorrow on his way.
29. And Jesus looked upon the sorrowing man and said, It is so hard for men with hoardedwealth to enter through the door into the kingdom of the soul.
30. And his disciples were amazed at what he said.
31. He answered them and said, I tell you, men, that they who trust in riches cannot trust in God and cannot come into the kingdom of the soul:
32. Yea, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a man with hoarded wealth to find the way of life. And his disciples said, Who then can find the way? Who can be saved?
33. And Jesus said, The rich may give his gold away; the high may kiss the dust, and God will save.
34. Then Jesus spoke this parable to them:
35. A rich man lived in splendid state; he wore the finest garments men could make; his boards were loaded with the costliest viands of the land.
36. A beggar, blind and lame, whose name was Lazarus, was wont to sit beside the waste gate of this home that he might share with dogs the refuse from the rich man's board.
37. It came to pass that Lazarus died, and angels carried him away unto the bosom of our father Abraham.
38. The rich man also died, and he was buried in a costly tomb; but in the purifying fires he opened up his eyes dissatisfied.
39. He looked and saw the beggar resting peacefully in the bosom of his father Abraham, and in the bitterness of his soul he cried,
40. My father Abraham, look down in mercy on your son; I am tormented in these flames.
41. Send Lazarus, I beseech, that he may give me just a sup of water to cool my parched tongue.
42. But Abraham replied, My son, in mortal life, you had the best things of the earth and Lazarus had the worst, and you would not give him a cup of water there, but drove him from your door.
43. The law must be fulfilled, and Lazarus now is conforted, and you are paying what you owe.
44. Besides, there is a great gulf fixed between your zone and us, and if I would I could not send Lazarus to you, and you cannot come up to us till you have paid your debts.
45. Again the man in anguish said, O father Abraham, I pray, send Lazarus back to earth, and to my father's house, that he may tell my brothers who are yet in life, for I have five of them, about the horrors of this place, lest they come dowm to me and not to you.
46. And Abraham replied, They have the words of Moses and the seers, let them hear them.
47. The man replied, They will not hearken to the written word; bit if a amn would go up from the grave they might believe.
48. But Abraham replied, If they hear not the words of Moses and the seers they would not be persuaded even though one from the dead stood in their midst.
49. And Peter said, Lord, we have left our all to follow you; and what is our reward?
50. And Jesus said, Most verily I say to you, that you who have left all to follow me shall come into a newness of a life hid deep with Christ in God.
51. And you shall sit with me upon the throne of power, and judge with me the tribes of Israel.
52. And he who conquers carnal self, and follows me through Christ shall have a hundred fold of that which is the wealth of life on earth, and in the world to come, eternal life.
Chapter 143
Righteousness in rewards. Jesus relates the parable of the husbandman and the labourers. Makes known the divine law of divorce. The mystery of marriage.
1. The Lord was standing by the sea; the multitudes were there and one stood forth and said,
2. Does God bestow rewards as men bestow rewards, for what is done?
3. And Jesus said, Men never know what other men have done, this life is such a seeming life.
4. One man may seem to do a mighty work, and be adjudged by men as worthy of a great reward.
5. Another man may seem to be a failure in the harvest fields of life, and be dishonoured in the face of men.
6. Men do not know the hearts of men; God only knows the hearts of men, and whne the day is done he may reward with life the man who fell beneath the burdens of the day, and turn away the man who was the idol of the hearts of men.
7. And then he spoke a parable; he said, The kingdom of the soul is like a man who had a vast estate,
8. And in the morning time he went down to the market place to search for men to gather in his grain.
9. He found three men, and he agreed to give to each a penny for his service for the day, and sent them to his field.
10. Again he went down to the market place the third hour of the day and found five men in waiting, and he said, Go down into my field and serve, and I will pay you what is right; and they went down and served.
11. He went again; it was the sixth hour of the day, and seven men were waiting at the stand; he sent them to the field to serve.
12. And at the eleventh hour he went again; twelve men stood there in seeming idleness; he said to them, Why stand you here in idleness all day?
13. They said, Because we have no work to do; no man has hired us.
14. And then he sent them to his field to serve.
15. Now, when the evening came the man said to his steward, Call the labourers from the field, and pay them for his services. And all were paid, and each received a penny for his hire.
16. Now, when the twelve, who served but from the eleventh hour, received each one a penny for his hire, the three were sore aggrieved; they said,
17. These twelve have served but one short hour, and now they have an equal share with us who have toiled through the scorching hours of day; should we not have at least two pennies for our hire?
18. The man replied, My friends, I do no wrong to you. Did we mot have a fast agreement when you went to work? Have I not paid in full?
19. What is it unto you if I should pay these men a smaller or a larger sum? Take that which is your own and go your way, for I will give unto the twelve what I will give unto the three, the five, the seven.
20. They did their best and you could do no more than do your best.
21. The hire of man is based upon the intent of the heart.
22. As Jesus taught, a Pharisee came up and said, Lord, is it lawful for a amn to put away his wife?
23. And Jesus said, You ought to know; what says the law?
24. The Pharisee replied, The law provides that man may be divorced, may put away his wife.
25. And Jesus said, The hardness of the hearts of men induced the giver of the law to make provisions such as these; but from the first it was not so.
26. God made a woman for a man, and they were one; and afterwards he said, A man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife; they are no more divided; they are one, one flesh.
27. What God has joined no man can part.
28. Now, when they went up to the house, a man made free to ask again about this matter of divorce.
29. And Jesus said again what to the Pharisee he said; and then he gave the higher law of marriage life: 30 Whoever puts away his wife, except she be a courtesan, and then shall take another wife commits adultery.
31. The woman who shall leave a man, unless he be a libertine and an adulterer, and then becomes the wife of any other man, commits adultery.
32. And Thomas asked, What is adultery?
33. And Jesus said, The man who harbours lustful thoughts, who covets any woman not his wife, is an adulterer.
34. The wife who harbours lustful thoughts, and covets any man who is not wed to her, is not her husband, is a courtesan.
35. Men cannot make a law to bind two hearts.
36. When two are bound in love they have no thought of lust. The woman cannot leave the man; the man has no desire to send his wife away.
37. When men and women harbour lustful thoughts, and covet any other flesh, they are not one, not joined by God.
38. And Philip said, Lord, are there few that God has joined in holy marriage bonds?
39. And Jesus said, God knows the pure in heart; the lustful men and women are but creatures of the lustful self; they cannot be at one; nor can they be at one with God.
40. Nathaniel said, Is it not well that all men should refrain from taking on themselves the marriage vow?
41. And Jesus said, Men are not pure because they are unmarried men. The man who lusts is an adulterer if he has wife or not.
42. And then he said to all, Some things men know by being told, while other things they know not till the gate of consciousness shall open up for them.
43. I speak a mystery that now you cannot understand; but you shall some day understand.
44. A eunuch is a man who does not lust; some men are eunuchs born, some are eunuchs by the power of men, and some are eunuchs by the Holy Breath, who makes them free in God through Christ.
45. He who is able to receive the truth I speak, let him receive.
Chapter 144
The Christines at Tiberius. Jesus speaks on the inner life. Relates the parable of the prodigal son. The resentment of the elder brother.
1. When they had journeyed through the towns and cities of the land of Galilee, the Lord with his disciples came to Tiberius, and here they met a few who loved the name of Christ.
2. And Jesus told them many things about the inner life; but when the multitudes came up, he spoke a parable; he said,
3. A ceratin man with great possessions had two sons. The youngest son grew tired of life at home and said,
4. My father, pray divide your wealth and give the portion that is mine to me, and I will seek my fortune in another land.
5. The father did as he desired, and with his wealth the young man went into a foreign land.
6. He was a profligate and soon had squandered all his wealth in ways of sin.
7. When nothing else remained for him to do he found employment in the fields to care for swine.
8. And he was hungry, and no one gave him aught to eat, and so he ate the carob pods that he was feeding to the swine.
9. And after many days he found himself and said unto himself, My father is a man of wealth; he has a score of servants who are bountifully fed while I, his son, am starving in the fields among the swine.
10. I do not hope to be received again as son, but I will rise and go straight to my father's house, and I will make confession of my waywardness;
11. And I will say, My father, I am come again; I am profligate, and I have lost my wealth in ways of sin; I am not worthy to be called your son.
12. I do not ask to be received again as son, but let me have a place among your servants, where I may have a shelter from the storms and have enough to eat.
13. And he arose and sought his father's house, and as he came his mother saw him while yet a great way off.
14. (A mother's heart can feel the first faint yearning of a wandering child.)
15. The father came, and hand in hand they walked a-down the way to meet the boy, and there was joy, great joy.
16. The boy tried hard to plead for mercy and a servant's place; but love was all too great to listen to the plea.
17. The door was opened wide; he found a welcome in the mother's heart, and in the father's heart.
18. The father called the servants in, and bade them bring the finest robe for him; the choicest sandals for his feet; a ring of purest gold for him to wear.
19. And then the father said, My servants, go and kill the fatted calf; prepare a feast, for we are glad;
20. Our son we thought was dead is here alive; a treasure that we thought was lost is found.
21. The feast was soon prepared and all were merry, when the eldest son who had been serving in a distant field and knew not that his brother had returned, came home.
22. And when he learned the cause of all the merriment he was offended, and would not go into the house.
23. His father and his mother both besought him tearfully to disregard the waywardness and folly of their son; but he would not; he said,
24. Lo, all these years I have remained at home, have served you every day, have never yet transgressed your most severe commands;
25. And yet you never killed for me a kid, nor made for me a simple feast that I might make merry with my friends;
26. But when your son, this profligate, who has gone forth and squandered half your wealth in ways of sin, comes home, because he could do nothing else, you kill for him the fatted calf and make a wondrous feast.
27. His father said, My son, all that I have is yours and you are ever with us in our joys;
28. And it is well to show our gladness when your brother, who is near and dear to us, and who we thought was dead, returns to us alive.
29. He may have been a profligate; may have consorted with gay courtesans and thieves, yet he is still your brother and our son.
30. Then JEsus said so all might hear; He who has ears to hear, and hearts to understand will comprehend the meaning of this parable.
31. Then Jesus and the twelve came to Capernaum.
Chapter 145
Jesus speaks on the establishment of the Christine kingdom and the future coming of the Lord in power. Exhorts to faithfulness. Parable of the unjust judge. Parable of the Pharisee and the publican.
1. A company of Pharisees came up to speak with Jesus and they said, Rabboni, we have heard you say, The kingdom is at hand.
2. We read in Daniel that the God of heaven will form a kingdom, and we ask, Is this the kingdom of the God you speak about? If so, when will it come?
3. And Jesus said, The prophets all have told about this kingdom of the God, and it is just at hand; but men can never see it come.
4. It never can be seen with carnal eyes; it is within.
5. Lo, I have said, and now I say again, None but the pure in heart can see the king, and all the pure in heart are subjects of the king.
6. Reform, and turn away form sin; prepare you, O prepare! the kingdom is at hand.
7. And then he spoke to his disciples and he said, The seasons of the son of man are past.
8. The time will come when you will wish above all else to see again one of these days; but you can see it not.
9. And many men will say, Lo, here is Christ; lo, there is Christ. Be not deceived; go not into their ways.
10. For when the son of man will come again no man need point the way; for as the lightning lights the heavens, so will the son of man light up the heavens and earth.
11. But, lo, I say, that many generations will have come and gone before the son of man shall come in power; but when he comes no one will say, Lo, here is Christ; lo, there.
12. But as it was before the flood in Noah's day, so shall it be. The people ate, they drank,were filled with merriment and sang for joy,
13. And did not know their doom until the ark was done and Noah entered in; but then the flood came on and swept them all away.
14. So, also, in the days of Lot; the people ate and drank; they bought, they sold, they planted and they reaped, they went their ways in sin, and they cared not;
15. But when the righteous Lot went from their city's gates the earth beneath the city shook, and brimstone fires fell from heaven;
16. The gapping jaws of earth flew wide, and swallowed up their homes, their wealth, and they went down to rise no more.
17. So shall it be when comes the son of man in power.
18. I charge you men, as I will charge men then, Seek not to save your wealth, or you will lose your lives. Go forth, and look not back upon the crumbling walls of sin. Do not forget Lot's wife.
19. Whoever tries to save his life will lose his life; whoever freely gives his life in serving life will save his life.
20. Then comes the sifting time. Two men will be in bed; one will be called, the other left; two women will be working side by side; one will be snatched away, the other left.
21. And his disciples said, Explain to us this parable; or is it not a parable?
22. And Jesus said, The wise will understand, for where the bread of heaven is, there you will find the pure in heart; and where the carcass lies will gather all the birds of prey.
23. But lo, I say, before these days will come, the son of man will be betrayed by one of you into the hands of wicked men, and he will give his life for you and all the world.
24. Yea, more; the Holy Breath will come in power and fill you with the wisdom of the just.
25. And you will tell the wondrous story in Judea and in Samaria and in the farther lands of earth.
26. And then to teach that men should pray and never faint, he told this parable:
27. There was a judge who feared not God, nor yet regarded man.
28. There was a widow who oft implored the judge to right her wrongs and to avenge her foes.
29. At first the judge would hear her not, but after many days he said,
30. I fear not God, and I regard not man, yet, lest this widow wear me out by pleading every day I will avenge her on her foes.
31. When the disciples asked the meaning of this parable, the Lord replied, The wise can understand; the foolish have no need to know.
32. And then to teach a lesson unto certain of his followers who trusted in themselves and thought that they were holier than other men, he told this parable:
33. Two men went to the synagogue to pray; one was a Pharisee, the other was a publican.
34. The Pharisee stood forth and prayed thus with himself, O God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, who are extortioners, unjust, adulterers;
35. Not even like this publican. I fast two times a week, and I give tithes of all I get.
36. The publican came not a-near; he would not lift his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast and said,
37. O lord, be merciful to me; I am a sinner in thy sight; I am undone.
38. And now, you men, I say to you, The publican knew how to pray, and he was justified.
39. The Pharisee knew how to talk, but still he went away condemned.
40. Lo, every one who lauds himself himself shall be abased, and he who does not praise himself shall be exalted in the sight of God.
Chapter 146
Last meeting of Jesus with his disciples in Galilee. Miriam sings a song of praise. The song. The Christines begin their journey to Jerusalem. They rest at Enon Springs. The selfish request of the mother of James and John. The Christines reach Jerusalem.
1. The work of Jesus in the land of Galilee was done, and he sent forth a message, and the many came from many towns of Galilee; came to receive a benediction from his hand.
2. Among the multitudes who came was Luke, a Syrian from Antioch, a learned physician and a just and upright man.
3. Theophilus, a Grecian senator, a minister of Caesar's court, was also there; and many other men of honour and renown.
4. And Miriam sang: All hail the Day Star form on high!
5. All hail the Christ who ever was, and is and evermore shall be!
6. All hail the darkness of the shadowland! All hail the dawn of peace on earth; good will to men!
7. All hail triumphant king, who grapples with the tyrant Death, who conquers in the fight, and brings to light immortal life for men!
8. All hail the broken cross, the mutilated spear!
9. All hail the triumph of the soul! All hail the empty tomb!
10. All hail to him despised by men, rejected by the multitudes; for he is seated on the throne of power!
11. All hail! for he has called the pure in heart of every clime to sit with him upon the throne of power!
12. All hail, the rending veil! The way into the highest courts of God is open for the sons of men!
13. Rejoice, O men of earth, rejoice, and be exceeding glad!
14. Bring forth the harp and touch its highest strings; bring forth the lute, and sound its sweetest notes!
15. For men who were made low, are high exalted now, and they who walked in darkness and in the vale of death, are risen up and God and man are one for evermore,
16. Allelujah! praise the Lord for evermore. Amen.
17. And Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said,
18. My Father-God, let now the benediction of thy love, thy mercy and thy truth rest on these men.
19. The lamp is taken from their midst, and if the inner light be not aflame, lo, they must tread the ways of darkness and of death.
20. And then he said to all, Farewell
21. Then Jesus and his mother, and the twelve, and Miriam and Mary, mother of the two disciples, James and John,
22. And many other loyal souls who loved the Christ, went to Jerusalem, that they might celebrate the Jewish feast.
23. And as they journeyed on their way they came to Enon Springs, near unto Salim where the harbinger once taught.
24. And as they rested by the fountain, Mary, wife of Zebedee, and mother of the two disciples, James and John, came to the master and she said,
25. My Lord, I know the kingdom is about to come, and I would ask this boon: Command that these my sons shall sit with you upon the throne, the one upon the right, the other on the left.
26. And Jesus said to her, You know not what you ask.
27. And then he turned to James and John and said, Are you prepared and are you strong enough to drink the cup that I will drink?
28. They said, Yes, master, we are strong enough to follow where you go.
29. Then Jesus said, You shall indeed drink of my cup; but I am not the judge of who will sit upon my right or my left.
30. The men who live the life and keep the faith will sit upon the throne of power.
31. Now, when the apostles heard the pleadings of the mother for her sons, and knew that James and John were seeking special favours from the Lord, they were indignant and they said,
32. We surely thought that James and John had risen above the selfish self. Who can we trust among the sons of men?
33. And Jesus called the ten apart and said to them, How hard for men to comprehend the nature of the kingdom of the soul!
34. These two disciples do not seem to know that rulership in heaven is not akin to rulership on earth.
35. In all the kingdoms of the world, the men of power, they who exalt themselves, show their authority, and rule with iron rule;
36. But you must know that they who rule the sons of light are they who seek no earthly power, but give their lives in willing sacrifice for men.
37. Whoever would be great must be the minister of all. The highest seat in heaven is at the feet of him who is the lowest man of earth.
38. I had a glory with our Father-God before the worlds were made, and still I come to serve the race of men; to be the minister of men; to give my life for men.
39. And then the Christines journeyed on and came unto Jerusalem.
Chapter 147
Jesus speaks to the people in the temple regarding the messiahship. Rebukes the Jews for treachery. The Jews attempt to stone him, but are prevented by Joseph. The Christines go to Jericho, and later to Bethabara.
1. Now, many Jews from Galilee, Judea and Samaria were in Jerusalem and at the feast.
2. The porch of Solomon was filled with scribes and Pharisees and doctors of the law, and Jesus walked with them.
3. A scribe approaching Jesus said, Rabboni, why do you keep the people waiting in suspense? If you are the Messiah that the prophets said would come, will you not tell us now?
4. And Jesus said, Lo, I have told you many times, but you believed me not.
5. No man can do the work that I have done and bring to men the truth as I have brought the truth who did not come from God.
6. What I have done and said are witnesses for me.
7. God calls, and they whose ears have attuned to hear the heavenly voice have heard the call and have believed in me; because God testifies for me.
8. You cannot hear the voice of God, because your ears are closed. You cannot comprehend the works of God, because your hearts are full of self.
9. And you are busybodies, mischief-makers, hypocrites. You take these men whom God has given me into your haunts and try to poison them with sophistries and lies, and think that you will snatch them from the fold of God.
10. I tell you, men, these men are tried and you can snatch not one of them away.
11. My Father who has given them to me is greater than you all, and he and I are one.
12. And then the Jews took stones to throw at him and cried, Now we have heard enough; away with him; let him be stoned.
13. But Joseph, member of the great Sanhedrim of the Jews, was in the porch and he came forth and said,
14. You men of Israel, do nothing rash; throw down those stones; your reason is a better guide than passion in such times as these.
15. You do not know your accusations to be true, and if this man should prove himself to be the Christ, and you should take his life, the wrath of God would rest upon you evermore.
16. And Jesus said to them, Lo, I have healed your sick, have caused your blind to see, your deaf to hear, your lame to walk, and cast out unclean spirits from your friends;
17. For which of these great works would you desire to take my life?
18. The Jews replied, We would not stone you for your works of grace, but for your vile, blasphemous words. You are but man and still you say that you are God.
19. And Jesus said, A prophet of your own said to the sons of men, Lo, you are gods!
20. Now, hark, you men, if he could say that to the men who simply heard the word of God, why should you think that I blaspheme the name of God because I say, I am a son of God?
21. If you believe not what I say you must have faith in what I do, and you should see the Father in these works, and know that I dwell in the Father-God, and that the Father dwells in me.
22. and then again the Jews took stones and would have stoned him in the temple court; but he withdrew himself from sight and left the porch and court and went his way:
23. And with the twelve he went to Jericho, and after certain days they crossed the Jordan and in Bethabara abode for many days.
Chapter 148
Lazarus dies and Jesus and the twelve return to Bethany. The resurrection of Lazarus, which greatly excites the rulers in Jerusalem. The Christines go to the hills of Ephraim, and there abide.
1. One day as Jesus and the twelve were in the silence in a home in Araba a messenger came and said.
2. Lord, Jesus, hear! your friend in Bethany is sick, nigh unto death: his sisters urge that you arise and come in haste.
3. Then turning to the twelve the master said, Lo, Lazarus has gone to sleep, and I must go and waken him.
4. And his disciples said, What need to go of he has gone to sleep; he will awaken by and by?
5. Then Jesus said, It is the sleep of death; for Lazarus is dead.
6. But Jesus did not haste to go; he stayed two days in Araba; and then he said, The hour has come and we must go to Bethany.
7. But his disciples urged him not to go; they said, The Jews are waiting your return that they may take your life.
8. And Jesus said, Men cannot take my life till I have handed unto them my life.
9. And when the time shall come I will myself lay down my life; that time is near, and God knows best; I must arise and go.
10. And Thomas said, Then we will also go; yes, we will offer up our lives and die with him. And they arose and went.
11. Now, Mary, Martha, Ruth and many friends were weeping in their home when one approached and said, The Lord has come; but Mary did not hear the words.
12. But Ruth and Martha heard, and they arose and went to meet the Lord; he waited at the village gate.
13. And when they met the master Martha said, You are too late, for Lazarus is dead; if you had only been with us I know that he would not have died.
14. But even now I know that you have power over death; that by the sacred Word you may cause life to rise from death.
15. And Jesus said, Behold, for Lazarus shall again.
16. And Martha said, I know that he will rise and live again when all the dead shall rise.
17. And Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life; he who has faith in me, though he be dead, yet shall he live;
18. And he who is alive, and has a living faith in me, shall never die. Do you believe what I have said?
19. And Martha said, Lord, I believe that you are come to manifest the Christ of God.
20. The Jesus said, Go back and call aside your sister, and my mother and the prophetess and say that I have come; and I will stay here by the gate till they have come to me.
21. And Ruth and Martha did as Jesus bade them do, and in a little while the Marys and the prophetess had met the Lord.
22. And Mary said, Why did you tarry thus? If you had been with us our brother, dear, would not have died.
23. Then Jesus went up to the house and when he saw the heavy grief of all, he was himself stirred up with grief, and said, Where is the tomb in which he lies?
24. They said, Lord, come and see. And Jesus wept.
25. The people said, Behold how Jesus loved this man!
26. And others said, Could not this Lord, who opened up the eyes of one born blind, have saved this man from death?
27. But soon the mourners stood beside the tomb, a sepulchre hewn out of solid rock; a massive stone closed up the door.
28. And Jesus said, Take you away the stone.
29. But Martha said, Lord, is it well? Behold our brother has been dead four days; the body must be in decay, and is it well that we should see it now?
30. The Lord replied, Have you forgotten, Martha, what I said while we were at the village gate? Did I not say that you should see the glory of the Lord?
31. And then they rolled the stone away; the flesh had not decayed; and Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said,
32. My Father-God, thou who hast ever heard my prayers, I thank thee now, and that these multitudes may know that thou hast sent me forth, that I am thine and thou art mine, make strong the Word of power.
33. And then he spoke the Word, and in a voice that souls can comprehend, he said, O Lazarus, awake!
34. And Lazarus arose and came out of the tomb. The grave clothes were about him fast, and Jesus said,
35. Loose him and let him go.
36. The people were amazed and multitudes confessed their faith in him.
37. And some went to Jerusalem and told the Pharisees about this resurrection of the dead.
38. The chief priests were confounded, and they said, What shall we do? This man is doing many mighty deeds, and if we do not stay him in his work, all men will look on him as king, and through the Romans he may take the throne, and we will lose our place and power.
39. And then the chief priests and the Pharisees in council met and sought a plan by which they might put him to death.
40. Caiaphas was the high priest then, and he came forth and said, You men of Israel, do you not know the law?
41. Do you not know that in such times as these we may give up one life to save our nation and our laws?
42. Caiaphas did not know that he was prophet, speaking out the words of truth.
43. He did not know the time had come for Jesus to be offered up a sacrifice for every man, for Jew and Greek, and all the world.
44. From that day forth the Jews conferred together every day, maturing plans to put the Lord to death.
45. Now, Jesus and the twelve did not remain in Bethany; but in the hills of Ephraim, upon the borders of Samaria, they found a home, and there abode for many days.
Chapter 149
The Jews gather in Jerusalem to attend the feast. The Christines go to Jericho. Jesus dines with Zaccheus. He relates the parable of the ten talents.
1. The great passover of the Jews, the feast of spring, was calling every loyal Jew up to Jerusalem.
2. Ten days before the feast the Lord and his disciples left the Ephraim hills and by the Jordan way, went down to Jericho.
3. And as they entered Jericho a wealthy publican came out to see the Lord; but he was small in stature and the throng was great and he could see him not.
4. A tree, a sycamore, stood by the way and he climbed up the tree and found a seat among its boughs.
5. When Jesus came, he saw the man and said, O Zacheus, make haste, come down; I would abide with you to-day.
6. And Zaccheus came down and joyfully received the Lord; but many of the stricter sect called out and said,
7. For shame! he goes to lodge with Zaccheu, the sinner and the publican.
8. But Jesus did not care for what they said; he went his way with Zaccheus, who was a man of faith, and as they talked together Zaccheus said,
9. Lord, I have ever tried to do the right; I give unto the poor half of my goods, and if by any means I wrong a man, I right the wrong by paying him four fold.
10. And Jesus said to him, Your life and faith are known to God, and lo, the benedictions of the Lord of hosts abide with you and all your house.
11. Then Jesus spoke a parable to all; he said, A vassal of an emperor was made a king, and he went to the foreign land to claim his rights and take the kingdom to himself.
12. Before he went he called ten trusted servants and to each he gave a pound and said,
13. Go forth and use these pounds as you have opportunity, that you may gain for me more wealth, And then he went his way.
14. And after many days he came again, and called the ten, demanding a report.
15. The first one came and said, Lord, I have gained nine pounds; you gave me one and here are ten.
16. The king replied, Well done, you faithful man; because you have been faithful in a little thing I judge that you will be a faithful servant in a greater thing;
17. Behold, I make you ruler over nine important cities of my realm.
18. The second came and said,Lord, I have gained for you four pounds; you gave me one, and here are five.
19. The king replied, And you have proven up your faithfulness. Behold, I make you ruler over four important cities of my realm.
20. another came and said, Lord, I have doubled what you gave to me. You gave one pound to me and here are two.
21. The ruler said, And you have proved your faithfulness; Behold, I make you ruler over one important city of my realm.
22. Another came and said, Lord, here is what you gave to me. I knew you were an austere man, oft reaping where you did not sow and I was sore afraid, and so I took the pound you gave to me and hid it in a secret place; and here it is.
23. The king exclaimed, You slothful man! you knew what I required, that I expected every man to do his best.
24. If you were timid and afraid to trust your judgment in the marts of trade, why did you not go forth and put my money out for gain, that I could have my own with interest?
25. Then turning to the steward of his wealth the ruler said, Take you this pound and give it unto him who has by diligence earned nine.
26. For lo, I say, that every one who uses what he has and gains, shall have abundantly; but he who hides away his talent in the earth shall forfeit what he has.
Chapter 150
Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus. With the twelve he goes to Bethany. The multitudes come to welcome him and to speak with Lazarus.
1. The Christines started on their way to Bethany, and as they went, while yet in Jericho, they passed a beggar sitting by the way; and he was blind Bartimaeus.
2. And when the beggar heard the multitude pass by he said, What is it that I hear?
3. The people said to him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.
4. And instantly the man cried out, Lord Jesus, son of David, stay! have mercy on poor blind Bartimaeus!
5. The people said to him, Be quiet; hold your peace.
6. But blind Bartimaeus called again, Thou son of David, hear! have mercy on poor blind Bartiaeus!
7. And Jesus stopped and said, Bring him to me.
8. And then the people brought the blind man to the Lord, and as they brought him up they said, Be cheerful, now, Bartimaeus, the Lord is calling you.
9. And then he threw his cloak aside, and ran to Jesus as he waited by the way.
10. And Jesus said, What will you have, Bartimaeus?
11. The blind man said, Rabboni, open up mine eyes that I may see.
12. And Jesus said, Bartimaeus, look up; receive your sight; your faith has made you whole.
13. And he at once received his sight, and from the fulness of his heart he said, Praise God.
14. And all the people said, Praise God.
15. Then Jesus and the twelve went on to Bethany. It was six days before the feast.
16. And when the people knew that Jesus was in Bethany they came from near and far to see him and to hear him speak.
17. And they were anxious all to talk with Lazarus, whom Jesus had awakened form the dead.
18. Now in Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were all alert; they said, This Jesus will be at the feast, and we must not permit that he shall slip away again.
19. And they commanded every man to be alert and help to apprehend the Lord that they might take his life.
Chapter 151
Jesus teaches in the synagogue. Makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The multitudes, with the children, sing his praises, and say, Hosanna to the king! The Christines return to Bethany.
1. It was the day before the Sabbath day, the eighth day of the Jewish Nasan month, that Jesus came to Bethany.
2. And on the Sabbath day he went up to the synagogue and taught.
3. And on the morning of the first day of the week, the Sunday of the week, he called his twelve apostles unto him and said,
4. This day we go up to Jerusalem; be not afraid; my time has not yet come.
5. Now, two of you may go unto the village of Bethphage, and you will find an ass tied to a tree, and you will see a little colt near by.
6. Untie the ass and bring her here to me. If any one inquires why you take the ass, just say, The master has a need of her; and then the owner will come on with you.
7. And the disciples went as Jesus bade them go; they found the ass and colt a-near an open door; and when they would untie the ass the owner said Why would you take the ass away?
8. And the disciples said, The master has a need of her, and then the owner said, 'Tis well.
9. And then they brought the animal, and on her put their coats, and Jesus sat upon the ass and rode into Jerusalem.
10. And multitudes of people came and filled the way, and his disciples praised the Lord and said,
11. Thrice blessed is the king who in the name of God is come! All glory be to God, and peace on earth; good will to men!
12. And many spread their garments in the way, and some tore branches from the trees and cast them in the way.
13. And many children came with garlands of sweet flowers and placed them on the Lord, or strewed them in the way, and said, All hail the king! Long live the king!
14. The throne of David shall be built again. Hosanna to the Lord of hosts!
15. Among the throng were Pharisees, who said to Jesus as he passed, Rebuke this noisy throng; it is a shame for them to cry thus in the street.
16. The Lord replied, I tell you, men, if these should hold their peace the very stones would cry aloud.
17. And then the Pharisees conferred among themselves; they said, Our threats are idle words. Behold, for all the world is following him.
18. As Jesus drew a-near Jerusalem he paused and wept, and said, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the holy city of the Jews! yours was the glory of the Lord; but you have cast the Lord away.
19. Your eyes are closed, you cannot see the King; the kingdom of the Lord of heaven and earth has come; you comprehend it not.
20. Behold, the day will come when armies from afar will cast a bank about your way; will compass you about, and hem you in on every side;
21. Will dash you to the ground and slay you and your children in the streets.
22. And of your holy temple, and of your palaces and walls, they will not leave a stone upon a stone, because to-day you spurn the offers of the God of heaven.
23. When Jesus and the multitude had come into Jerusalem, excitement reigned, and people asked, Who is this man?
24. The multitudes replied, This is the king, the prophet, priest of God; this is the man from Galilee.
25. But Jesus tarried not; he went directly to the temple porch, and it was filled with people pressing hard to see the king.
26. The sick, the halt, the lame, the blind were there, and Jesus paused, and laid his hands on them and healed them by the sacred Word.
27. The temple and the temple courts were filled with children praising God. They said, Hosanna to the king! The son of David is the king! All hail the king! Praise God!
28. The Pharisees were filled with anger when they heard the children sing. They said to Jesus, Hear you what the children say?
29. And Jesus said, I hear, but have you never read the words of our own bard who said,
30. Out of the mouths of babes and suckings thou hast perfected praise!
31. And when the evening came the Lord and his disciples went again to Bethany.
Chapter 152
Jesus rebukes a barren fig tree. Drives the merchants out of the temple. Teaches the people. Returns to Bethany.
1. Next day, the Monday of the week, the master with the twelve, went to Jerusalem.
2. And as they passed along the way they saw a fig tree full of leaves without a sign of fruit.
3. And Jesus spoke unto the tree; he said, You useless cumberer of the ground; you fig tree fair to look upon, but a delusive thing.
4. You take from the earth and air the food that fruitful trees should have.
5. Go back to earth and be yourself the food for other trees to eat.
6. When Jesus had thus spoken to the tree he went his way.
7. And when he reached the temple, lo, the rooms were filled with petty merchants selling doves and animals, and other things, for sacrifice; the temple was a mart of trade.
8. And Jesus was indignant at the sight, and said, You men of Israel, for shame! This is supposed to be the house of prayer; but it is now a den of thieves. Remove this plunder from this holy place.
9. The merchants only laughed and said, We are protected in our trade by those who bear the rule; we will not go.
10. Then Jesus made a scourge of cords, as he did once before, and rushed among the merchantmen, threw all their money on the floor;
11. Threw wide the cages of the doves, and cut the cords that held the bleating lambs and set them free.
12. And then he drove the merchants from the place, and with a clean, new broom he swept the floors.
13. Chief priests and scribes were filled with wrath, but feared to touch or even to rebuke the Lord, for all the people stood in his defence.
14. And Jesus taught the people all day long and healed a multitude of those diseased,
15. And when the evening came he went again to Bethany.
Chapter 153
The Christines go to Jerusalem. They note the withered fig tree; its symbolic meaning. Jesus teaches in the temple. Is censured by the priests. Relates a parable of a rich man's feast.
1. On Tuesday, early in the day, the master and the twelve went to Jerusalem.
2. And as they went the twelve observed the tree to which the Lord had talked the day before, and lo, the leaves were withered, just as if they had been scorched with fire.
3. And Peter said, Lord, see the tree! Its leaves are withered and the tree seems dead.
4. And Jesus said, So shall it be with those who bear no fruit. When God shall call them up to give account, lo, he will breathe upon them, and their leaves, their empty words, will wither and decay.
5. God will not let the fruitless trees of life encumber ground, and he will pluck them up and cast them all away.
6. Now, you can demonstrate the power of God. Have faith in God, and you can bid the mountains to depart, and they will crumble at your feet;
7. And you may talk to wind and wave, and they will hear, and will obey what you command.
8. God hears the prayer of faith and when you ask in faith you shall receive.
9. You may not ask amiss; God will not hear the prayer of any man who comes to him with blood of other men upon his hands.
10. And he who harbours envious thoughts, and does not love his fellow men, may pray for ever unto God, and he will hear him not.
11. God can do nothing more for men than they would do for other men.
12. And Jesus walked again within the temple courts.
13. The priests and scribes were much emboldened by the council of Caiaphas and the other men in power, and so they came to Jesus and they said,
14. Who gave you the authority to do as you have done? Why did you drive the merchants from the temple yesterday?
15. And Jesus answered them and said, If you will answer what I ask, then I will answer you; Was John, the harbinger, a man of God, or was he a seditious man?
16. The scribes and Pharisees were loath to answer him; they reasoned thus among themselves:
17. If we shall say, John was a prophet sent from God, then he will say,
18. John testified for me, that I am son of God, why do you not believe his words?
19. If we should say, John was a bold, seditious man, the people will be angered, for they think he was a prophet of the living God.
20. And so they answered Jesus and they said, We do not know; we cannot tell.
21. Then Jesus said, If you will tell me not, then I will tell you not who gave me power to drive the robbers from the house of God.
22. And then he spoke a parable to them; he said, A man once made a feast inviting all the rich and honoured people of the land.
23. But when they came, they found the door into the banquet hall was low, and they could enter not except they bowed their heads and fell down on their knees.
24. These people would not bow their heads and fall down on their knees, and so they went away; they went not to the feast.
25. And then the man sent forth his messengers to bid the common folks, and those of low estate, to come and feast with him.
26. These people gladly came; they bowed their heads and fell down on their knees, and came into the banquet hall and it was full, and every one rejoiced.
27. And then the master said, Behold, you priests and scribes, and Pharisees the Lord of heaven and earth has spread a sumptuous feast, and you were bidden first of all;
28. But you have found the door into the banquet hall so low that you must bow your heads and fall down on your knees to enter in, and you have scorned the king who made the feast, refused to bow your heads and fall down on your knees, and you have gone your way;
29. But now God calls again; the common folks and those of low estate have come in multitudes, have entered in unto the feast and all rejoice.
30. I tell you, men, that publicans and courtesans go through the gates into the kingdom of the God of heaven, and you are left without.
31. John came to you in righteousness; he brought the truth, but you believed him not.
32. But publicans and courtesans believed, and were baptised and now have entered in unto the feast.
33. I tell you now, as I have told you many times, The many have been called, but chosen are the few.
Chapter 154
Jesus teaches in the temple court. The parable of the householder and wicked husbandmen. Parable of the marriage feast and the guest without a wedding robe.
1. The multitudes would hear what Jesus had to say, and so they built a platform in the temple court, and Jesus stood upon the place and taught. He spoke in parables; he said,
2. A man possessed a vast estate; he planted out a vineyard, placed a hedge about it, built a tower, installed the press for making wine.
3. He placed his vineyard in the hands of husbandmen and then he journeyed to a distant land.
4. Now, in the vintage time the man sent forth a servant to receive and bring to him his portion of the fruitage of the vines.
5. The husbandmen came forth and beat the man; laid forty lashes on his back and cast him out beyond the vineyard gate.
6. And then the owner sent another man to bring to him his own. The husbandmen laid hold of him and sorely wounded him and cast him from the vienyard, leaving him half dead beside the way.
7. The owner sent another man to bring to him his own. The husbandmen seized hold of him and with a javelin they pierced his heart; then buried him beyond the hedge.
8. The owner was aggrieved. He thought within himself, What shall I do? and then he said, This will I do. My only son is here, and I will send him to the husbandmen,
9. They surely will respect my son and send me what is mine.
10. He sent his son; the husbandmen took counsel with themselves; they said, This is the only heir to all this wealth, and if we take his life the vast inheritance is ours.
11. They took his life and cast him out beyond the vineyard hedge.
12. The days will come; the owner will return to reckon with the husbandmen, and he will seize them every one, and cast them into scorching fires where they shall stay until they pay the debts they owe.
13. And he will place his vineyard in the care of honest men.
14. Then turning to the priests and scibes he said, Did not your prophets say,
15. The stone the builders cast away became the capstone of the arch?
16. You men who pose as men of God, as husbandmen, lo, you have stoned and killed the messengers of God, his prophets and his seers, and now you seek to slay his son.
17. I tell you men, the kingdom shall be snatched away from you, and shall be given unto people who are not a people now, and to a nation that is not a nation now.
18. And men whose speech you cannot understand, will stand between the living and the dead, and show the way to life.
19. The chief priests and the Pharisees were deeply moved with anger when they heard this parable and would have seized the Lord and done him harm, but they were sore afraid; they feared the multitude.
20. And Jesus spoke another parable; he said, The kingdom is a-like a ceratin king who made a feast in honour of the marriage of his son.
21. He sent his servants forth to call the people who had been invited to the feast.
22. The servants called; but then the people would not come.
23. And then the king sent other messengers abroad to say, Behold, my tables now are spread; my oxne and my fatlings are prepared.
24. The choicest viands and the richest wines are on my boards; come to the marriage feast.
25. The people laughed and treated with disdain hsi call, and went their way, one to his farm, another to his merchandise;
26. And others seized the servants of the king; abused them shamefully; and some of them they killed.
27. And then the king sent forth his soldiery who slew the murderers and burned their towns.
28. And then the king sent other servants forth; to them he said, Go to the corners of the streets, the partings of the ways, and to the marts of trade and say,
29. Whoever will may come up to the marriage feast.
