66 b The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, "Go ye, and tell that fox,* Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and to-morrow, and the third day I shall "be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to"day and to-morrow and the day following: "for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of "Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which "killest the prophets, and stonest them that "are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen "doth gather her brood under her wings, and (i ye would not! behold, your house is left "unto you desolate and verily I say unto 66 you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come "when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." d 90. The transactions when our Lord eat bread with a chief Pharisee on the Sabbath day. AND it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. And, behold, there was a certain man That crafty and cruel prince. Put for an indeterminate short space of time. In spite of dangers he would prosecute his appointed work even to death. The original word means simply " a bird," and perhaps alludes to the eagle. Deut. xxxii. 11. d When your destruction cometh, then ye will acknowledge my divine authority. before him which had the dropsy. And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the sab"bath day?" And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; and answered them, saying, "Which of you "shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, " and will not straightway pull him out on the "sabbath day?" And they could not answer him again to these things. a And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, "When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden "of him; and he that bade thee and him 66 66 come and say to thee, Give this man place; "and thou begin with shame to take the "lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go "and sit down in the lowest room: that when “he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto "thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou "have worship in the presence of them that "sit at meat with thee. For whosoever ex"alteth himself shall be abased; and he that "humbleth himself shall be exalted." b Then said he also to him that bade him, "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call "not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy "kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be "made thee. But when thou makest a feast, Respect. • Chief seats.de 66 66 66 "call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the "blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they "cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." Then said he unto him, "A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servants at supper time "to say to them that were bidden, Come; for "all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first "said unto him, I have bought a piece of "ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another "said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me ex"cused. And another said, I have married a "wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that "servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly "into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, " and the halt, and the blind. And the ser "vant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast com“manded, and yet there is room. And the "lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to 66 66 อ Prefer charity to the poor, before hospitality to the rich. This parable is to be understood in a comparative sense. Who shall partake of the blessings of the gospel. "It was the custom of travellers in the East to refresh themselves under hedges by the road side when their stay was short. come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men "which were bidden shall taste of my supper." 91. Jesus states to the multitude the difficulties attending a profession of his religion. 66 AND there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, " If any man come to me, and hate' not his father, " and mother, and wife, and children, and bre"thren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, "he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever "doth not bear his cross, and come after me, "cannot be my disciple. For which of you, 'intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? lest haply, after he "hath laid the foundation, and is not able to "finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth "not down first, and consulteth, whether he "be able with ten thousand to meet him that "cometh against him with twenty thousand.? 46 or else, while the other is yet a great way "off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth "conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever "he be of you that forsaketh not all that he "hath, he cannot be my disciple. "Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his "savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? it ❝is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill: but men cast it out. He that hath, "ears to hear, let him hear." 66 92. Jesus defends himself against the Pharisees and Scribes, for instructing Publicans and Sinners. THEN drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying,* "What man of you, having an hundred "sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave "the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and 66 go after that which is lost, until he find it? "and when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he "cometh home, he calleth together his friends "and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice "with me; for I have found my sheep which "was lost. I say unto you, That likewise joy "shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just "persons, which need no repentance. 66 "Either what woman having ten pieces of "silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek di • This parable is intended to give comfort and encourage, ment to the penitent. |