CHAPTER XIV. EVENTS BETWEEN THE TRANSFIGURATION AND THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. Matt. xvii. 14-21. Lk. ix. 37-43. AND it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, and came to the disciples, they saw a great mul- Mar. ix. 14-29. titude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him, saluted him. And he asked them,2 What question ye with them? And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee look upon my son, which hath a dumb spirit; for he is mine only child. And, lo! he is lunatick, and sore vexed; for ofttimes a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out, and he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and gnasheth the3 teeth, and pineth away; and bruising him, hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation! how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him And they brought him unto him; and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell unto me. 1 And when he came to his disciples, he saw 3 gnasheth with his teeth 2 he asked the scribes 1 on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him; but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, 2 I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him; and he was as one dead: insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose; and the child was cured from that very hour. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, when he was come into the house, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And he saith little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer.5 4 unto them, Because of your THE TRIBUTE MONEY. 113 Matt. xvii. 22, 23. ilee: and he would not that any man should know it. But while they wondered every one at all things which he1 did, he said unto his Mar. ix. 30–32. disciples, Let these sayings sink down Lk. ix. 43-45. into your ears; for the Son of man shall be betrayed [and] delivered into the hands of men: and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry; but they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not; and they feared to ask him of that saying. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute came to Peter, and said, Matt. xvii. 24-27. Doth not your master pay tribute? He Mar. ix. 33. saith, Yes. And when he was entering 2 into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children or of strangers? And when he saith,3 Of strangers, Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. Matt. xviii. 1-5. And being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be Lk. ix. 46-48. the greatest. And Jesus knowing the thought of their 1 which Jesus did 2 was come into 3 Peter saith unto him, of strangers. 4 disputed among yourselves 5 perceiving the thought heart, sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same is1 great. Matt. x. 42. Mar. ix. 38-41. us. And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with But Jesus said, Forbid him not for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. Matt. xviii. 6-9. 2 Then said he unto his disciples, whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Lk. xvii. 1, 2. 1 shall be great 2 unto the disciples PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP. 115 2 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to the1 man by whom the offence cometh ! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut it off, and cast it2 from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell.1 Where their worm dieth not, and Salt is good but if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it? have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. Matt. xviii. 10-35. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face Lk. xvii. 3, 4. of my Father which is in heaven. How think ye?" if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone 1 to that man 2 cut them off, and cast them from thee 3 Mar. ix. ver. 44 and 46. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 4 into the fire that never shall be quenched. Mar. ix. 47, hell fire 5 salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 6 Matt. xviii. 11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. a Isa. Ixvi. 24. For their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched. b Comp. Lk. xv. 3-7. |