yard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

And when the chief priests and the scribes and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 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.

THE

CLIII.

The tribute money.

HEN went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they watched him, and sent out unto him 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 said unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, 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 he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. He said unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? Then said he unto them,

They

said unto him, Cæsar's. Render therefore unto Cæsar the things that 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.

THE

CLIV.

The woman that had had seven husbands.

HE same day came to him 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, having a

wife, and he die without children, his brother shall take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren; and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed; and the third likewise. And the seven had her, and left no seed; last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage; but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the angels of God in heaven; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. And as touching the dead, that they rise; 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? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living; for all live unto him ye therefore do greatly err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

CLV.

The great commandment.

BUT when the Pharisees had heard that he had put

the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered

together. Then one of the scribes, which was a lawyer, 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 in the law?

And Jesus answered 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, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth; for there is one God; and there is none other but he; and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he an

swered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.

CLVI.

The Pharisees unable to answer Christ.

HILE the Pharisees were gathered together,

WHI

Jesus asked them, as he taught in the temple, saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They said unto him, The son of David. He said unto them, How then doth David himself, by the Holy Ghost, call him Lord, saying, in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly. And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

CLVII.

The scribes and Pharisees condemned for their hypocrisy.

THEN

'HEN spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, in the audience of all the people, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that ob serve and do: but beware of the scribes ; do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not. For they