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 14 teeth. For many are called, but few are

15

chosen.

Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his discourse. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples, with the Herodians,* saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for 17 thou regardest not the person of men: Tell

us therefore, what seemeth fit to thee? Is it 18 lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? But

Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, Why 19 tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the

tribute-money. And they brought unto him a 20 penny.† And he saith unto them, Whose image 21 and inscription is this? Then they say unto him, Cæsar's. Then said he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar, the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God, the things which are 22 God's. When they had heard this reply, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

23

The same day the Sadducees, who say there 24 is no resurrection, came to him, and asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses said, if a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, 25 and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first,

* The Herodians were particular friends of Herod, the king. They were mere politicians, unprincipled, irreli

gious men.

† A Roman coin, of the value of about seven-pence.

when he had married a wife, died; and having no issue, left his wife unto his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, and 27 so to the seventh. And last of all the woman 28 also died. Now in the resurrection, whose

wife shall she be of the seven? for they all 29 had her. Jesus answered and said unto them,

Ye err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the 30 power of God. For in the resurrection, they

neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but 31 are like the angels of God in heaven. But as to the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, 32 saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob: God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

34

But when the Pharisees heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they collected 35 about him. And one of them a lawyer,* asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in 37 the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love

the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with 38 all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is 39 the first and great commandment. And

the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy 40 neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments all the law and the prophets depend.

41

While the Pharisees were gathered togeth42 er, Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye

* A doctor of the Jewish law..

of Christ? whose son is he? They say 43 unto him, The son of David. He saith unto

them, How then doth David in spirit* call 44 him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my

Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make 45 thine enemies thy footstool? If David then 46 call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

1

CHAP. XXIII.

THEN Jesus spake to the multitude, and to 2 his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Phar3 isees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore what

soever they bid you observe, that observe and do: but do not ye after their works: for they 4 say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.‡ 5 But all their works they do to be seen of men : they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge

* That is, when inspired by the Holy Spirit. See also Acts ii. 25.

† See Acts ii. 36, which explains the sense in which David speaks of Christ, whom God has made both Lord and Christ.

We are then under obligations to observe the laws of society and of religion, though our instructors may be bad

men.

§ Phylacteries were a sort of label filled with words and phrases proclaiming their pretensions to superior goodness.

6 the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief 7 seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, 8 Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your master even Christ; and all ye are 9 brethren. And call no man your father upon

the earth; for one is your Father, who is in 10 heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for 11 one is your Master, even Christ. But he that

is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 For whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself, shall be exalted.‡

13

But wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are 14 entering to go in. Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye devour widow's houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: therefore ye shall receive the greater damna15 tion. Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell 16 than yourselves. Wo unto you, ye blind

* That is, Master, Master.

+ Christians ought not then to call man, however learned or celebrated. gospel are their only rule of faith.

master.

themselves after any The doctrines of the Christ is their only

Humility is a distinguishing virtue of the gospel; and it is a most estimable and lovely quality.

17 or.

guides, who say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtYe fools, and blind for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth 18 the gold? And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth 19 by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools, and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, 21 sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by 22 it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23 Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for ye pay tithe of mint, and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave 24 the other undone. Ye blind guides, who 25 strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.* Wo

unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for ye make clean the outside of the cup, and of the platter, but within they are full of extor26 tion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

*This was truly characteristic of them. They condemned Christ for eating with unwashen hands, and for plucking ears of corn on the sabbath, yet disregarded the moral precepts of their law, devoured the widow, and allowed of profane oaths.