for it must needs be that offences come; but wo to that man by whom the offence cometh.* 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, 9 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 life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to 10 be cast into hell-fire. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones: for Is y unto you, that in heaven their angels doways behold the face of my Father who is in 11 heaven. For the Son of man is come to 12 save that which was lost. 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

13 seeketh that which is gone astray ?

And if

a

* It is certain, indeed, that offences will come-there is sort of necessity that there should be offences, seeing what is the nature and condition of meu. But this is no excuse for sin. Wo to those who do evil.

The duty of self-denial is here taught, and we are required to give up any worldly or personal pleasure rather than neglect our duty.

Angels mean the spirits of children, who invariably stand in the divine presence; or, are happy after death. This is truly a consoling doctrine. The passage does not at all support the idea of guardian angels.

§ This is the character of Christ : how acceptable then should he be to sinful men !

This is a beautiful parable, and forcibly represents the compassion and parental affection of the Deity.

he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoi ceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety 14 and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 15 Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone if he shall hear thee, thou hast 16 gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every 17 word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.* 18 Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven and

whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be 19 loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord,

how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I 22 forgive him; till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times only but until seventy times seven.

23

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would take account

*The whole business of Christian discipline is here fully taught and explained.

24 of his servants.

And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, who 25 owed him ten thousand talents. But foras

much as he had not to pay, his master commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be 26 made. Then the servant fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, 27 and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of

that servant was moved with compassion, and 28 loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him an hundred pence and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that 29 thou owest. And his fellow-servant fell down

at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not; but went and cast him 31 into prison, till he should pay the debt.

So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto 32 their master all that was done. Then his mas

ter, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that 33 debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest

not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? $4 And his master was wroth, and delivered him

to the tormenters,* till he should pay all that 35 was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from

Those who kept the prisons.

1

your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

CHAP. XIX.

AND it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coast of Judea, near 2 Jordan; and great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

3

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he who made them at the be5 ginning, made them male and female? And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife and 6 they twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man 7 put asunder. They say unto him, Why did

Moses then command to give a writing of di8 vorcement, and to put her away ?* He saith unto them, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery:

* Moses did not command to put away; bnt directed, that if a man divorced his wife, he should give a writing of divorcement.

10

and whoso marrieth her who is put away, doth commit adultery.

His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to 11 marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom 12 it is given. For there are some eunuchs,

13

which were so born from their mothers' womb and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Then were brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid

them not to come unto me: for of such is 15 the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his

hands on them, and departed thence. 16 And behold, one came and said unto him,

Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that 17 I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is God :* but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, "Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou 19 shalt not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother and, thou shalt love thy

20 neighbor as thyself. The young man saith

*None perfectly good but God.