THE MARRIAGE FEAST.

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But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet and they left him, and went their way.

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how

they might entangle him in his talk. And they watched him, and sent forth unto him certain of their disciples with the Herodians, spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. And when they were come, they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, knowing their hypocrisy, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites ? Shew me the tribute money, bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought unto him a penny. Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar's. Then saith he unto them,

And he saith unto them,

Render therefore unto Cæsar

the things which are Cæsar's;

and unto God the things that are God's. And they could not take hold of his words before the people : and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace; and left him, and went their way.

Then came to him, the same day, certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us therefore, seven brethren; and the first, when he had married a wife,

HE REFUTES THE SADDUCEES.

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deceased, and having no issue left his wife unto his brother: And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third likewise took her, and in like manner the seven also had her, and they left no children, and died. Last of all, the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God? The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage. In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage. But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, when they shall rise from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels of God, which are in heaven. Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, and that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed: for have ye not read in the book of Moses, how, in the bush, God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God of the dead, but of the living; him ye therefore do greatly err. the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said. And after that, they durst not ask him any question at all. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

God is not the

for all live unto Then certain of

PRAYER.

Almighty and everlasting God, who for the more confirmation of the true faith, didst suffer some to doubt and be reproved, grant that we may so believe in the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come, that we may attain that everlasting life which Thou hast prepared for all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. To whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, now, henceforward, and for ever. Amen.

Questions on Section XX.

What was the application which the Greeks who came to the feast of the passover made to Philip?

When Andrew and Philip made it known to Jesus, what was his reply?

What was the voice that came from heaven?

Why did none of the chief rulers confess that Jesus was the Christ, though many of them believed it?

What is the purpose for which Christ declares that He came into the world?

Relate the withering of the barren fig-tree.

How did Christ the second time treat those who trafficked in the temple?

What is the first requisite on our part which Christ prescribes,

in order that we may obtain what we ask of God in prayer? Why is forgiveness of injuries also indispensable on our part? What was the baffling reply of Christ when the priests and scribes and elders demanded his authority?

Relate the parable of the two sons, and that of the householder who let his vineyard out to husbandmen.

How do these parables apply to the Jews?

What is meant by" the stone which the builders rejected?" Where does this prophecy occur in the Old Testament? Relate the parable of the marriage-feast.

What was the reply of Christ when the Pharisees and Herodians asked him whether it was lawful to pay tribute to Cæsar or not?

What was the peculiar tenet of the Sadducees?

What question did they ask of Christ in order to puzzle Him? How did He reply?

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SECTION XXI.

From Christ's Declaration of the first of all the Commandments, to his Description of the impending Desolation of Jerusalem.

PRAYER.

O God, who hast prepared for them that love thee, such good things as pass man's understanding; pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they also were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer (one of the scribes), came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the first commandment of all? which is the great commandment in the law? And Jesus answered and said unto him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:

this is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

P