When 43

for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here. the unclean spirit is gone out of seeking rest, and findeth none. house from whence I came out and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself 45 seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

a man, he walketh through dry places, Then he saith, I will return into my 44

The true friends of

Jesus delineated.

Mark iii. 31. Luke

WHILE he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother 46 and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. viii. 19. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy 47 brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered 48 and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, 49 Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of 50 my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Parable of the

Sower.

viii. 9.

34

5

678

9

THE same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat 13 Mark iv. 1. by the sea-side. And great multitudes were gathered to- 2 Luke viii. 4. gether unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying; Behold, a sower went forth to sow. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way-side; and the fowls came and devoured them up. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth; and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundred-fold, some sixtyfold, some thirty-fold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear! Reasons for teach- AND the disciples came, and said unto him; Why 10 ing by parables. Mark iv. 10. Luke speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and 11 said unto them; Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but to them it is not given. For 12 whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance : but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing, see not; 13 and hearing, they hear not; neither do they understand. And in them is 14 fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith," By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: for 15 this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." But blessed are your 16 eyes, for they see and your ears, for they hear. For, verily, I say unto 17 you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

parable of the

Explanation of the 'Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any 18 sower. Mark iv. 13. one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth Luke viii. 11. it not, then cometh the wicked One, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that 20 heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in 21 himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution

He also that re- 22

ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. ceived seed among the thorns, is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground, is he 23 that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.

Parable of the tares

ANOTHER parable put he forth unto them, saying, The 24 and wheat: Mark kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed iv. 26. good seed in his field but while men slept, his enemy 25 came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when 26 the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, 27 didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?' He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants 28 said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he 29 said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest and in the time 30 of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

of the grain of mus

iv. 30.

ANOTHER parable put he forth unto them, saying, The 31 tard-seed: Mark kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed 32 is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

ANOTHER parable spake he unto them: The kingdom 33 of the leaven. of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

ALL these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and 34 without a parable spake he not unto them; that it might be fulfilled which 35 was spoken by the prophet, saying, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."

Explanation of the THEN Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the 36 parable of the tares. house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto 37 them; He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 'the field is the 38 world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked One; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; 39 the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As 40 therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and 41 they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be 42 wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as 43 the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Parable of the hid

AGAIN: The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure 44 treasure: hid in a field: the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

of the pearls:

AGAIN: The kingdom of heaven is like unto a mer- 45 chantman seeking goodly pearls; who when he hath found 46 one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

AGAIN: The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that 47 of the net. was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, 48 when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the

:

good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the 49 world the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be 50 wailing and gnashing of teeth.

JESUS saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say 51 unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe 52 which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Christ slighted by

AND it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished 53 his countrymen. these parables, he departed thence. And when he was 54

Mark vi. 1. Luke

iv. 14. come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogues, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's 55 son? Is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?' And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence 56 then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. 57 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works 58* there, because of their unbelief.

John. Mark vi. 14.

An account of AT that time Herod the Tetrarch heard of the fame of14 Herod's beheading Jesus, and said unto his servants, This is John the Bap- 2 Luke ix. 7. tist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him. For Herod had laid hold 3 on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee 4 to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the 5 multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's 6 birth-day was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod whereupon he promised with an oath to give her what- 7 soever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, 8 said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was 9 sorry; nevertheless, for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded 10 John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given 11 to the damsel and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples 12 came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

Jesus retires to the

:

WHEN Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship 13 desert of Bethsaida into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard ix. 10, 11. John thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

Mark vi. 30. Luke

And 14

vi. 12. Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. Five thousand fed AND when it was evening, his disciples came to him, 15 miraculously. Mark vi. 35. Luke ix. 12. saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; John vi. 3. send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not 16 depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but 17 five loaves, and two fishes. 'He said, Bring them hither to me. And he 18. commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled, and they took up of the 20 fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten 21 were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Christ walks on the

Mark vi. 45. John vi. 14.

AND straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get 22 sea to his disciples. into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the 23 multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the 24 midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in 25 the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, 26 saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus 27 spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And 28 Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out 29 of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the 30 wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and 31 caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 32 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a 33 truth thou art the Son of God.

Other miracles of

AND when they were gone over, they came into the land 34 Christ. Mark vi. 53. of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place had 35 knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased: and besought him, that they 36 might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

traditions. Mark

1

5

6

8

Christ reproves the THEN came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which 15 Pharisees, for their were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress 2 vii. 1. the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye 3 also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God 4 commanded, saying, "Honor thy father and mother:" and, "He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death." But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, 7 saying, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain 9 they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear and understand: 10 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which 11 cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, 12 and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which 13 my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: 14 they be blind leaders of the blind; and if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter, and said unto him, De- 15 clare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without un- 16 derstanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at 17 the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But 18 those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, 19 murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies : These are the things which defile a man; but to eat with unwashen hands 20 defileth not a man.

Jesus cures the

THEN Jesus went thence and departed into the coasts 21 daughter of a Syro- of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan 22

phoenician woman. Mark vii. 24. came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his 23 disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep 24 of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, 25 Lord, help me. But he answered, and said, It is not meet to take the 26 children's bread and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet 27 the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table. Then 28 Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman! great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

He goes through De- AND Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto 29 capolis, healing and the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat teaching. Mark

vii. 31.

down there. And great multitudes came unto him, having 30 with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: 'insomuch that 31 the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

Four thousand men

THEN Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said; I 32 fed miraculously. have compassion on the multitude, because they continue Mark viii. 1. with me now three days, and have nothing to eat and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. And his dis- 33 ciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, 34 How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. ' And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 'And he 35 took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they 37 did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, 38 And he sent away the multitude, and 39

besides women and children.

took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. Christ answers those THE Pharisees also and the Sadducees came, and, 16 who require other signs Mark viii. tempting, desired him that he would show them a sign

11. from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When 2 it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in 3 the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites! ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation 4 seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

He warns his dis

AND when his disciples were come to the other side, 5 ciples against the they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto 6 doctrines of the Pharisees. Mark them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees viii. 14. and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among them- 7 selves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus 8 perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand? 9 neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how 10 many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I 11 spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven