666 666 SELF-EXALTATION. 93 14. 1-11. "house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand Luke 13. 25-35 "without, and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open unto "us;' and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are then shall ye begin to say, ' We have eaten and drunk in thy "presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.' But he shall say, 'I tell 'you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers "of iniquity.' There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye "shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come "from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the "south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there 66 are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last." The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, "Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee." 66 And he said unto them, "Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures "to day 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 ye would not! Behold, your "house is left unto you desolate and verily I say unto you, ye shall not 66 see me, until the time come when shall ye 'Blessed is he that "'cometh in the name of the Lord."" 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 before him which had the dropsy. Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?". say, And And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; and answered them, saying, 66 "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. 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 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 exalteth himself shall be abased; and "he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." 3 666 94 Luke 14. 12-24. Luke 14.25_31. THE GREAT SUPPER. 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, 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." 66 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, 66 6 "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 "servant 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 excused.' 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 servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast "commanded, and yet there is room.' And the lord said unto the 66 servant, 'Go out into the highways, and hedges, and compel them to 66 6 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.' แ CHAPTER XL. Parables-the Builder of the Tower-the King with Ten Thousand— the Lost Sheep-the Lost Piece of Money-the Prodigal Son-the Unjust Steward-the Rich Man and Lazarus. 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 brethen, 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 66 66 "what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down3 THE LOST SHEEP. - 15. 1-21. 95 first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him Luke 14. 31-35. "that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the "other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth con"ditions 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.” 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 3 a 5 a hundred sheep, if he lose one of "them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and 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 re66 pentance. 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 diligently till she "find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.' Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." แ 666 And he said, "A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his "father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.' And "he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger "son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and "there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had "spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be "in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; " and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have "filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat and no man gave "unto him. And when he came to himself, he said,' How many hired "servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish "with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.' "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on "his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, 'Father, I have “‘sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be3 666 666 *an. 3 96 Luke 15. 21-32. 16. 1-13. « An. 3 66 : THE PRODIGAL SON. "called thy son.' But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the "best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on "his feet and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, "and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was "lost, and is found.' And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he "heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and "asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, 'Thy brother "is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath "received him safe and sound.' And he was angry, and would not go "in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering "said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither "transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.' And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was "meet that we should make merry, and be glad for this thy brother "was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.'" 666 666 66 6 66 66 666 66 466 666 And he said also unto his disciples, 6. "There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called "him, and said unto him, ' How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.' "Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord 66 6 taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am "ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the "stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.' So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first,' How "much owest thou unto my lord?' And he said,3 A 5a hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, 'Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.' Then said he to another,' And how much "owest thou?' And he said,3 A5" hundred measures of wheat.' And "he said unto him, ' Take thy bill, and write fourscore.' And the lord "commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the "children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon "of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into ever"lasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful "also in much and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. "If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who "will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been "faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is 66 your own ? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate "the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise "the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.' 11 3 66 THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS. 97 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and Luke 16. 14-31. they derided him. And he said unto them, "Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth "your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomina"tion in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John: "since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth "into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of "the law to fail. Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, "committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from "her husband committeth adultery.. 66 66 66 เ "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar "named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to "be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover "the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom : the "rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his "bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, "and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and "cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and "thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you "cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.' "Then he said, 'I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send "him to my father's house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' "Abraham saith unto him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let "them hear them.' And he said, 'Nay, father Abraham: but if one "went unto them from the dead, they will repent.' And he said unto him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.' 666 666 66 6 66 666 Then said he unto the disciples, "It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him "through whom they come! It were better for him that a milstone were "hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should "offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother "trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And "if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day "turn again to thee, saying, I repent;' thou shalt forgive him." And the apostles said unto the Lord, "Increase our faith." And the Lord said,3 17.1-6. |