Sled LS ag ARNON RES RAS Nia ARS . XS AN SY ‘ ROE \ RN SANT ON SY \ RN Se ee AS SS) SERN NN \ SSSA SAAN RA AN AAS AYA Zz isa - LIE ae Zee Le, ioe : A Zs oe eo NA! NN EN LOX SAN Ni HA NS tes iS aS ANY ASRS Say fey ANC ERS AN NNR ee TLL Tee Ys WA \ % aS RAIN \\ i AS Si a RN LEE ee oe, SILA. Zz LEE Lee Lives a = SN) RN Nh ARAN ASSO Ay N SS RASH a SS ANS LL oe A Le On, ee z ae SE LORY ANN MN Kees ze pees nt eee oo, sees Tere LILLE Sify \ < st?” Fa) Pa 2 ? herd f ¢ i H eer ig, 8 Digitized by the Internet Archive In 2022 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library https://archive.org/details/centenarytransla00unse CENTENARY TRANSLATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT os. f” \ JAIN PUBLISHED TO SIGNALIZE THE COMPEETION OF THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF WORK OF THE AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY TRANSLATED BY HELEN BARRETT MONTGOMERY A. M., D. H. L., LL. D. PHILADELPHIA THE AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY BOSTON CHICAGO LOS ANGELES KANSAS CITY SEATTLE TORONTO Copyright, 1924, by THE AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY Published February, 1924 PrInTED IN U.S.A. DEDICATED TO THE AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY AND,.TO THE SUPR BME TAS KS.0OF CIRCULATING THE SCRIPTURES TO!WHICH IT’HAS SETITS HAND Send forth thy light and thy truth; Let them lead me. INTRODUCTION THE aims of the author in adding one more to the number of translations of the New Testament are: 1. To offer a translation in the language of every- day life, that does not depart too much from the trans- lations already familiar and beloved. 2. To retain the customary division into chapters, even though this is not justified on grounds of strict scholarship; and still further to name the chapters, as an aid to remembering the contents of each book. 3. To provide paragraph headings as an aid to find- ing a desired passage, and as a further help in memo- rizing the events as they are recorded. 4. To use every aid of typography to indicate dia- logue, quotation, and other elements of the narrative. 5. To make a translation chiefly designed for the ordinary reader, intended to remove the veil that a literary or formal translation inevitably puts between the reader of only average education and the meaning of the text. 6. Through the publication of the translation at a low price, and in a form easy to be carried in the pocket or in a hand-bag, to stimulate the daily reading of the Gospels. 7. To signalize the completion of a century of work in Bible Distribution, Translation, and Publication by The American Baptist Publication Society, by publish- ing this translation of the Gospels. ‘The author offers the results of many years of happy work, in deep humility and with a keen sense of the many shortcomings of her work; but in the ardent hope that it may bring to some a fresh sense of the actuality and power of the wonderful records of the One Perfect Life which has ever been lived. In devotion to him who is Saviour and Master, she offers this work of love. HELEN B. MONTGOMERY. MY DECLARATION OF DISCIPLESHIP -I DESIRE to enroll myself as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I trust in His promise that He will reject none who come to Him. I confess my sins, and rely on His prom- ise of forgiveness to all who repent and confess. I renounce self and will seek to follow Jesus. I. claim the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit into all truth. I promise to make love the law of my life, and to accept my Master’s oft-reiterated invitation to prayer and communion. MATTHEW’S GOSPEL Probable Date: Writer: Gospel: Key Verses: Symbol: Method: Soon after Destruction of Jerusalem. A Galilean Jew, writing to Hebrews. Shows Jesus as the promised Messiah. Quotes Old Testament sixty-five times. 1. The Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. (Phrase in varying form used fifty times.) 2. The Gospel of the Messiah. The Gospel of the Rejected Messiah. Matthew 21: 42-44, “ The Stone that the builders rejected has been made the corner-stone,” ete. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Philosophical rather than chronolog- ical; exposition rather than history. 1 Ot -MATTHEW’S GOSPEL I THE BIRTH STORY OF JESUS The Genealogical Tables of Jesus Christ The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac; Isaac was the father of Jacob; Jacob, of Judah and his brethren; Judah (by Tamar), of Perez and Zerah; Perez, of Hezron; Hezron, of Ram; Ram, of Amminadab; Amminadab, of Nahshon; Nahshon, of Salmon; Salmon (by Rahab), of Boaz; Boaz (by Ruth), of Obed; Obed, of Jesse; And Jesse, of David the king. David (by Uriah’s widow), was the father of Solo- mon; Solomon, of Rehoboam; Rehoboam, of Abijah; Abijah, of Asa; Asa, of Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat, of Joram; Joram, of Uzziah; Uzziah, of Jotham; Jotham, of Ahaz; Ahaz, of Hezekiah; 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 iy 18 iy, 20 21 22 MATTHEW 1 Hezekiah, of Manasseh; Manasseh, of Amon; Amon, of Josiah; Josiah, of.Jechoniah and his brethren, at the time of the carrying away to Babylon. And after the carrying away into Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel; Shealtiel, of Zerubbabel; Zerubbabel, of Abiud; Abiud, of Eliakim; Eliakim, of Azor; Azor, of Sadoc; Sadoc, of Achim; Achim, of Eliud; Eliud, of Eleazar; Eleazar, of Matthan; Matthan, of Jacob; And Jacob, of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So the whole number of generations from Abra- ham to David is fourteen; from David to the exile to Babylon is fourteen; and from the exile to Babylon to Christ is fourteen. The Virgin Birth The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way: After his mother, Mary, had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. But Joseph her husband, because he was a just man and un- willing to disgrace her, was minded to put her away secretly. And while he was having this in mind, behold! an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: “ Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife home, for what is begotten in her is by the Holy Spirit; and she will bear a son, and you are to call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this happened that the word of the Lord spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: A = 24 25 4 8 MATTHEW 2 Behold! the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son; and they shall call his name Immanuel,' a word which means “ God with us.” Now when Joseph awoke from his sleep he did as the angel of the Lord had directed him, and took his wife home, but did not live with her until after the birth of her son, whom he called Jesus. 1 Taal etd II THE VISIT OF THE WISEMEN Visit of the Wisemen (the Magi) | After the birth of Jesus, which took place at Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod, lo! certain Magi arrived in Jerusalem, say- ing: “Where is the new-born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. So when he had: gath- ered together all the chief priests and rabbis of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. And they told him: “ At Bethlehem in Judea, as it is written in the Prophet: “And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah, Thou art not least among the princes of Judah, For out of thee shall come a Ruler Who shall shepherd my people, Israel.” * Herod Despatches the Magi Thereupon Herod sent secretly for the Magi, and found out from them the time when the star ap- peared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and make careful inquiry about the child, and as soon as you have found him bring me word, that I, too, may go and worship him.” 1 Micah 5; 2. H 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 MATTHEW 2 A Star Guides Them The Magi listened to the king, and went on their way, and lo! the star which they had seen in the east led them on until it came and stood over the place where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with great gladness. When they had entered the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and prostrated them- selves and worshiped him, and opening their trea- sure-chests they gave him gifts, gold and frankin- cense and myrrh. But because they were forbidden by God in a dream to go back to Herod, they re- turned to their own country by another route. The Flight Into Egypt When they were gone an angel of the Lord ap- peared to Joseph in a dream, saying: “Rise! Take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and there remain until I bring you word; for Herod intends to make a search for the child, in order to put him to death.” So Joseph arose, took the child and his mother, by night, and departed to Egypt. There he re- mained until the death of Herod, in order that the word of the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, which says, Out of Egypt I called my Son? Slaughter of the Innocents As soon as Herod saw that he had been mocked by the Magi, he was furious. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and all the neighborhood who were two years old or under, in accordance with the date which he had ascertained from the Magi. Then were fulfilled the words spoken through Jere- miah, the prophet, saying, A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and lamentation— Rachel weeping for her children, Inconsolable, because they were no morel* 2 Hosea 11: 1. Ser ot ers. 6 MATTHEW 3 Return from Egypt 19 But after Herod’s death an angel of the Lord 20 appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, ** Rise! Take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the life of the child are dead.” 21 + So he rose and took the child and his mother, and 22 came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there; and being warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into Gali- 23 lee and settled in a town called Nazareth, in fulfil- ment of the word spoken through the Prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.* fIsan ud 1a: O, III BEGINNINGS OF THE GOSPEL Preaching of John the Baptist 1 In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea; 2 ‘“ Repent,” said he, “ for the kingdom of heaven is 3 at hand.” This John it was of whom it was said through Isaiah, the prophet, The voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, “Prepare a way for the Lord, Make the paths straight for him.’ * 4 This John wore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was 5 locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neigh- 6 borhood of the Jordan, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Warning to Formalists 7 But when John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said: “ O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee 1Tsa. 40: 3. 10 11 12 16 17 1 2 MATTHEW 4 from the wrath to come? Then bring forth fruit worthy of: repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father ’— I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham.. And already the axe is lying at the roots of the trees., Any tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. I indeed am baptizing you in water, unto repentance; but One is. coming after me, mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the, Holy Spirit and in fire.. His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse the threshing-floor. He will store his wheat in the granary, but will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire.” The Baptism of Jesus At that very time Jesus was on his way from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him. But he tried to prevent him. “It is I,” he said, “who need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?” But Jesus answered, “ Permit it now, for so it is fitting for us to fulfil every religious duty.” Then he consented, And after Jesus was bap- tized, as soon as he rose out of the water, lo! the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God de- scending like a dove and alighting upon him, while a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, In whom I delight.” * IV TEMPTATIONS IN THE WILDERNESS First Temptation: In the Sphere of Bodily Appetites Then Jesus was led up into the desert by the Spirit, to be tempted by the devil. And after he had 8 4 11 12 18 MATTHEW 4 fasted forty days and forty nights, he became hungry. So the Tempter came and said to him, “Tf you are the Son of God, bid these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “Tt is written, Not by bread alone shall man live, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” * Second Temptation: In the Sphere of Intellectual Curi- Osity Then the devil took him up into the Holy City and stood him on the parapet of the Temple, and said to him: “Tf you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, “ He will give his angels charge over thee; Upon their hands they will bear thee up, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” * “It is written again,” answered Jesus, “ Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” * Third Temptation: In the Sphere of Personal Ambition Then the devil took Jesus to a very high moun- tain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them, and said to him, “ All these will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” “Begone, Satan!” answered Jesus, “for it is written, . “ Thou must worship the Lord thy God, and Him only must thow serve.” * Then the devil left him, and behold! angels came and kegan ministering to him. Jesus in Galilee Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. He left Naza- reth, and settled in Capernaum-by-the-Lake, near Wet. Smo 8’ Deut. 6: 16. 2Pg, 91: 11, 12. * Deut sci 13s 14 15 16 aE, 24 25 MATTHEW 4 the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, in order that these words spoken through Isaiah the prophet, might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali; The road by the Lake; the country beyond Jordan; Galilee of the Gentiles! The people who were dwelling in darkness Have seen a great light; And on those who were dwelling in the land of the shadow of death Light has dawned.° Jesus Calls Four Humble Disciples From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “‘ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” And as he was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother—casting their net into the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” said Jesus, “ and I will make you fishers of men.” And they dropped their nets at once, and followed him. As he went farther on he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him. First Preaching Tour in Galilee Then Jesus went about through all Galilee, teach- ing in the synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and infirmity among the people. And his fame spread throughout all Syria. They brought all the sick to him, those who were suffering from various dis- eases and troubles—demoniacs, epileptics, paralyt- ics—and he healed them. Great crowds followed him from Galilee, from the Ten Towns, from Jeru- salem, and Judea, and from beyond Jordan. Psa. Ouse. bo 2) 10 MATTHEW 5 Vv THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM Who Are the Really Blessed? 1 When he saw the crowds, he went up the moun- tain, and when he had seated himself, his disciples 2 came to him, and opening his lips he began to teach them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be completely satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against 12 you falsely, for my name’s sake. Rejoice and exult in it, because your reward is great in the heavens; for so did they persecute the prophets before you. Citizens of the Kingdom Are Salt and Light 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt lose its savor, in what way shall it be salted? It is henceforth good for nothing but to be thrown 14 out and trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot 15 be hid; nor do men light a lamp, and put it under 44 16 17 18 19 20 21 a2 24 25 MATTHEW 5 the bushel, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. So let your light shine before men that they may see the good you do, and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Not to Destroy but to Fulfil “Do not suppose that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I am come not to destroy, but to fulfil. In solemn truth I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a comma, will pass from the Law until all has taken place. So whoever breaks one of these least com- mandments, and teaches others to break them, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But he who keeps them and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I assure you that unless your righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will not find entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Anger and Murder “You have heard that it was said to the ancients, “ Thou shalt not commit murder, and “He who commits murder shall be liable to econ- demnation by the court; but I say to you that he who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to condemnation by the court; and he who says to his brother ‘ Raca,’ shall be liable to condemnation by the Sanhedrin, while he who curses his brother shall be liable to the Gehenna of Fire. Reconciliation, then Sacrifice “If therefore when you are offering your gift upon the altar, and there remember that your brother has a grievance against you, leave there your gift before the altar, and go and make friends with your brother, first of all; then come and offer your gift. Come to terms with your opponent quickly, while you are yet with him on the way [to the 1 Bxod,. 20-:.13. ahd MATTHEW 5 court]; to prevent your opponent from handing you over to the judge, and the judge to the jailer, and 26 so you be thrown into prison. I tell you truly that you would certainly not get out from there until you had paid back the last cent. Lust in a Look 27 ~+“You have heard that it was said, “Thou shalt not commit adultery? 28 But I say to you that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery with her 29 in his heart. And if your eye, your right eye, entices you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to lose one of your bodily organs than for your whole body to be cast into the pit. 80 And if your right hand entices you into sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of your bodily organs, than to have your whole body go down into the pit. Divorce pie ety Was is0 sid, “Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of separation.® 82 But I tell you that any one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress, and whoever marries her when so di- vorced, commits adultery. Profanity 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, “You must not forswear yourselves, but must per- form your vows to the Lord.* 84 But I say to you, swear not at all; neither by the 35 sky, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is 36 the city of the Great King. Nor must you swear by your head, since you cannot make one hair 2 Exod. 20 : 14. $Deut. 24 °* 3. ‘*Pxod. 20: Ts Num. 80 ¢ ‘2; Deut. 23 ° 27. 37 38 39 40 41 42 es) 44 45 46 47 48 2 MATTHEW 6 white or black. But let your word be simply ‘ Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the Evil One. Not Retaliation, but Generosity “You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.® But I tell you not to retaliate the injury; but who- ever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also; and if any one wants to go to law with you and takes away your coat, let him take your cloak also. Whoever impresses you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to him who asks, and from him who wants to borrow from you, do not turn away. Love for Hate “You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.° But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. So you will become sons of your heavenly Father; for he makes his sun to rise upon sinners as well as saints, and sends rain upon the unjust and the just. For if you love only those who love you, what reward have you? Even the tax-gatherers do that, do they not? And if you show courtesy to your brother only, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do that, do they not? You then must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” 5 Exod. 21 : 24. 6Lev. 19 : 18. Vi REALITY IN RELIGION Hidden Good Deeds “Be careful not to do your good deeds in the sight of men, in order to be observed by them. If you do, you have no reward with your heavenly Father. And whenever you give alms, do not.sound 14 5 10 11 12 13 MATTHEW 6 a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets, in order that men may praise them. In solemn truth I tell you they al- ready have their reward in full. But when you give alms, do not let your right hand know what your left is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will re- ward you openly. Secret Prayer ““ And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypo- crites. For they love to stand and pray in the syna- gogues and on the corners of the avenues, in order that men may see them. In solemn truth I tell you that they already have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your own room and shut your door; pray to your Father who is in secret, . and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Reality in Prayer “ While praying do not say the same words over and over again, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that by their much speaking they will gain atten- tion. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So pray in this way: The “ Lord’s Prayer ” “ Our Father who art in heaven, May thy name be hallowed, thy kingdom come, and thy will be done, On earth, as in heaven. Give us today our bread for the day before us; And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, but. deliver us from the Evil One; [For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Amen.] * 1 The words in brackets are not found in the earliest manu- scripts. 1b 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22, 23 24 25 MATTHEW 6 Forgiving and Forgiven “For if you forgive men their offenses against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you also; but if you do not forgive men their offenses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your offenses. Fasting before God “When you fast, do not look downcast like the hypocrites; for they disfigure their faces so that it may be apparent to men that they are fasting. In solemn truth I tell you, they already have received their reward. But when one of you fasts, let him anoint his head and wash his face, so that he may not appear to men to be fasting, but to his Father who is in secret; and his Father who sees in secret will reward him. The Heart is with the Treasure ‘‘ Store up for yourselves no treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but store up for your- selves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The Inner Light “The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore if your eye is sound, your whole body will be well lighted; but if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be darkened. If then the very light with- in you is darkness, how dense is that darkness! No Divided Allegiance “No slave can serve two masters, “pe either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will pay heed to the one and despise the other. You cannot be the slaves both of God and of gold. He Cares, so Do Not Worry “For this reason I say to you, do not pe anxious about your life, inquiring what you shall eat or 16 33 34 Nr 3 4 5 MATTHEW 7 what you shall drink, nor yet for your body, in- quiring what you shall wear. Is not your life more than its food, and your body than its cloth- ing? Behold! the birds in the sky! They neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them; and are not you worth more than they? Which one of you by being anx- ious is able to add even one cubit to his stature? Why be anxious then about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin. But I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was robed like one of these. If God then so clothes the grass of the field, which blooms today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith? Then do not be anxious, say- ing, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For all these are things that the Gentiles are eagerly seeking; for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of them all. But continue to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not then be anxious about tomor- row, for tomorrow will bring its own anxieties. Enough for each day are its own troubles.” vil SOME FUNDAMENTAL CONTRASTS The Mote in the Eye “Judge not, that you may not be judged, your- selves; for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and in what measure you measure, others will measure to you. And why do you look at the mote in your brother’s eye, and fail to notice the beam which is in your own eye? Or how will you say to your brother, ‘ Permit me to remove the mote from your eye,’ when, behold, the beam is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First cast out the beam from 17 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 MATTHEW 7 your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to cast the mote out of your brother’s eye. Pearls before Swine “Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine; lest in turn they trample them under their feet, and then turn and attack you. Prayer’s Magna Charta “ Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door is opened. What man of you is there who, when his son asks a loaf, will give him a stone? or if his son asks for a fish, will offer him a snake? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him? Therefore, everything that you would have men do to you, do you also the same to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets. Life’s Steep Road “Enter by tne narrow gate; for broad is the gate and wide the road that leads to destruction, and many are they who go in by it; but the gate is narrow and the road is steep, which leads to life, and they are few who find it. Truth’s Pragmatism “Beware of false prophets who come to you in Sheep’s clothing, but within they are ravening wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Are grapes gathered of thorns, or figs of thistles? No, every good tree bears good fruit, but a worthless tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit; neither can a worthless tree bear good fruit. Every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Hence it is by their fruit you will know them. 18 al 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 2 MATTHEW 8 Obedience, the Eye of the Soul “Not every one who says to me, ‘ Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many in that Day will say to me, “¢QLord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name done many mighty works?’ “Then I will tell them plainly, ““T never knew you; depart from me, you work- ers of iniquity.’ A Rock Foundation “Every one who hears my words and does them I will liken to a wise man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, but it fell not, for it was founded upon the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and does them not, I will liken to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain de- scended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Now when Jesus had finished his discourse, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes taught them. Vill A DAY OF MIRACLES BY THE SEA A Leper Cleansed As he went down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold! a leper came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. “1 do choose,” he said, ‘become clean,” and im- mediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 19 4 oo =] eo) 10 11 13 14 15 16 MATTHEW 8 Jesus said to him, “ See that you tell no one, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, as an evidence to them.” ? Cure of a Roman Officer’s Slave When he entered Capernaum, an army captain came, and entreated him, saying, “Lord, my slave at home is lying ill with paralysis, in terrible agony.” “I will come and heal him,” said Jesus, “Lord,” said the captain in reply, “I am not worthy to have you under my roof, but speak the word only, and my slave will be cured. For I my- self also am a man under authority, and I have sol- diers under me. To one man I say ‘Go,’ and he goes; to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Faith Found in an Outsider As Jesus listened to this reply he was astonished, and said to those who followed him: “In solemn truth I tell you that I have not found faith like this in any Israelite. I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west, and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; there will be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the captain: “Go! As you have believed, so be it unto you.” And his slave was healed in that very hour. Peter’s Wife’s Mother Healed When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he found his wife’s mother prostrated with fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose and waited upon him. Miracles at Eventide At evening-time they brought to him many de- moniacs. He cast out the demons with a word, and 1Lev. 14: 4. 2e 17 18 19 20 21 22 - 23 24 25 26 2T 28 MATTHEW 8 healed all who were ill, that the word spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, He took upon himself our weaknesses, and bore the burden of our diseases.” The Homeless Saviour When Jesus saw the great crowds about him, he had given directions to cross to the other side, when a Scribe came up and said to him, “ Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go! ” “ Foxes have their holes,” answered Jesus, “ and wild birds their roosting-places; but the Son of man has not where to lay his head.” The Dead to Bury the Dead Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, “and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” The Winds and the Waves Obey Him Then he went on board a fishing-boat, his dis- ciples accompanying him; and behold, a sudden storm arose on the sea, so that the boat began to be buried by the waves. But he was asleep. And they came and woke him, saying: “Lord, save us! We are drowning! ” “Why are you afraid?” he said, ‘you men of little faith! ” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the. sea, and there came a great calm. But the men were amazed, saying, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him? ” Two Demoniacs Cured When he arrived on the other side, in the country of the Gadarenes, he was met by two demoniacs who were coming out of the tombs. They were so violently fierce that no one dared pass along that road. 2Isa. 53 : 4. 29 50 ol 32 33 54 oF SO asm . 09 MATTHEW 9 “You Son of God,” they shouted, “what have you to do with us? Are you come to torment us be- fore the time?” Now there was, at some distance from them, a herd of many swine feeding; and the demons began entreating him. “Tf you are going to drive us out,” they said, “send us into that herd of swine.” He answered, “ Go! ” Property vs. Persons So they came out of the men, and went into the swine, and behold! the entire herd rushed headlong down from the cliff into the sea, and perished in the water. The swineherds fled. They went away into the city and told all about it, and what had befallen the demoniacs. At once all the citizens came out to meet Jesus; and when they had seen him, they begged him to move away from their country. IX THE GALILEAN CIRCUIT A Paralytic Borne of Four So he went on board, crossed the sea, and came to his own city. And here they brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, “Courage, son, your sins are forgiven.” And behold! certain scribes said to themselves, “ This man is blaspheming.” And because Jesus knew well their thought, he said: “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say ‘ Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘ Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to for- give sins ’—he then says to the paralytic, 22 MATTHEW 9 “ Rise, take up your bed, and go to your home.” 7,8 And he rose and went to his home. But all the 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 crowd were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such power to men. Calling Publicans and Sinners As Jesus was passing thence, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, “ Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And while he was at table in Matthew’s house, there came many tax- gatherers and sinners, and they dined with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw it, they kept saying to his disciples, “ Why does your Teacher eat with the tax-gath- erers and sinners? ” “It is not those who are well,” said Jesus, when he heard this, “but the sick, who need a doctor. But go and learn what this means, “It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice; * for I am come not to call just men, but sinners.” A Question about Fasting At that time the disciples of John came and asked him, “ Why are we and the Pharisees always fasting, while your disciples are not?” The Gospel, a Joyous Ferment of New Life “Can the friends fast at a wedding-feast,” said Jesus, “so long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom has been taken from them, and then they will fast. No one ever sews a piece of undressed cloth on an old cloak. If they did, the patch put on to fill it up would tear away from the cloak, and the rent ‘ be made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wine-skins; if they did, the wine-skins would split, the wine would run out, and the skins be ruined. Instead, they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved.” 1 Hosea 6: 6. 23 18 iB) 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 MATTHEW 9 A Ruler’s Faith As he was saying these words to them, a ruler came up and knelt before him, saying: “My daughter has just died; but come, put your hand upon her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. The Touch of Faith But a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him, and touched the tassel of his cloak. For she said to herself, “Tf only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” But Jesus turned and saw her and said, “Be of good courage, daughter, your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that hour. “ Little Daughter, Rise ” Now when Jesus had come into the house of the ruler, and had seen the flute-players and the wailing crowd, he said, “ Leave the room, for the little girl is not dead, she is sleeping.” And they began laughing at him. When, however, the crowd had been driven out, he went in and took her hand, and the little girl woke up.. And the report of this spread through- out that whole region. Two Blind Men See And as he went on from thence two blind men followed Jesus, crying, ‘““ Have pity on us, Son of David! ” And when he had gone indoors, they came to him. “To you believe that I can do this?” asked Jesus. “Yes, Lord,” they answered. Then he touched their eyes, saying, *“ According to your faith be it unto you,” and their eyes were opened. Jesus charged them sternly, saying, “ See to it that you let no one know.” 24 31 32 33 b4 38 MATTHEW 10 But they went and published his fame in that whole region. A Dumb Demoniac Speaks And as they were departing a dumb demoniac was brought to him, and when he had driven out the demon, the dumb spoke. The one were amazed, saying, “Never was such a thing seen in Israel! ” But the Pharisees kept saying, “Tt is in the power of the Prince of the demons that he is casting out demons.” The Second Galilean Circuit And Jesus continued to go throughout all the cities and towns, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and infirmity. And when he saw the crowds he had compassion on them because they were distressed and fainting, like sheep without a shepherd. And he said to his disciples: “ Therefore Pray” “The harvest is great, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to thrust forth laborers into his harvest field.” x CALL AND COMMISSION OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES Choosing Twelve Missionaries And when he had called his twelve disciples to him, he gave them power over evil spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and in- firmity. These are the names of the apostles (mission- aries) :* 1The words “apostle”? and ‘“ missionary” mean the same thing. The first word is derived from the Greek ; the second, from the Latin. 25 16 17 MATTHEW 10 First, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew, the tax-gatherer; James, the son of Alpheus, and Lebbzeus, whose surname is Thaddeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. These men, the Twelve, Jesus sent forth, after giving them the following instructions: The Kingdom Is at Hand “Do not go among the Gentiles, or enter any Samaritan town, but rather be on your way to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, preach, saying, ‘ The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Take no gold or silver or coppers in your purses; not even a bag for the journey, or a change of clothes, or sandals, or even a stick; for the worker is worth his rations. Directions for the Journey “Into whatever city or town you enter, inquire for some worthy person there, and stay with him until you leave. When you enter the house, salute it; and if the house is worthy let your blessing rest upon it; but if it be unworthy, let your blessing return to you. And whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, as you go out from that house or that city, shake off the very dust from your feet. I tell you solemnly it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that town. Hardships to Be Expected “ Behold, it is I who am sending you forth lke sheep among wolves. Be then as wary as serpents and as guileless as doves. But beware of men! 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 ol MATTHEW 10 For they will give you up to the Sanhedrin, and flog you in their synagogues. And you will be taken before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when- ever they apprehend you, do not be anxious about how you shall speak or what you shall say; for it will be given you in that very hour what to say. For it will not be you who is speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. And — brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against their parents and put them to death. You will be hated by all men because of my name; and he who en- dures to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in one city, flee to the next. In solemn truth I tell you that you shall not have completed the cities of Israel, before the Son of man comes. Fear Not; Your Father Knows “A pupil is not above his teacher, nor a slave above ‘his master. It is enough for the pupil to fare like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more, the members of his household. So do not fear them; for there is nothing concealed which shall not be revealed, nor anything secret which shall not become known. What I am telling you in the darkness, do you speak in the light; and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. The God of the Infinitely Little “ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but fear rather him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a half-penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father. The very hairs on your head are all numbered. Cease to be afraid! You are of greater value than many sparrows. 27 32 33 34 35 36 oT 38 39 40 Al 42 i 2 MATTHEW 11 Cost of Serving Christ “Every one, then, who will confess me before men, I also will confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I also will disown before my Father who is in heaven. Do not suppose that I am come to bring peace on the earth; I am come not to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set “a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother- in-law; and a man’s own household will be his enemies.” He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has saved his life shall lose it; and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it. Reward of Serving Christ “Whoever receives you is receiving me, and he who receives me is receiving Him who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet beeause he is a prophet, shall receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever re- ceives a righteous man because he is a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, because he is a disciple, I tell you in solemn truth, he shall not lose his reward.” 2Micah 7 : 6. XI JESUS’ TESTIMONY TO JOHN John’s Questionings in Prison After finishing his instructions to his twelve dis- ciples, Jesus left that place, in order to teach and to preach in the neighboring cities. But when John 22 3 4 9) 10 16 ry i MATTHEW 11 heard, in the prison, what the Christ was doing, he sent by some of his disciples to ask him, “Are you the Coming One, or are we to look for some one else? ”’ The Gospel’s Irrefutable Proofs “Go and tell John,” was Jesus’ answer, ‘ what you hear and see: the blind are seeing, the lame are walking, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf are hear- ing, the dead are being raised up, and the gospel is being preached to the poor. And blessed is the man who finds no cause of stumbling in me.” As these men started to go away, Jesus began to speak to the throngs, about John. A Voice in the Desert “ What did you go out into the desert to behold? ” he asked; ‘A reed shaken by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment dwell in kings’ palaces! But why did you go? To see a prophet? I tell you, yes, and more than a prophet; for this is he of whom it is written: “ Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, And he will prepare thy road for thee. “In solemn truth I tell you that there has not arisen among those born of women a greater than John the Baptist; yet one of the least in the king- dom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by storm. For the prophets and the Law prophesied until John; and, if you are willing to receive it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Let all who have ears, listen! The Jews Like Perverse and Petulant Children “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the market-place, who call to the other children, saying: 1Mal. 3: 1. 29 18 19 20 21 22 28 24 25 26 27 MATTHEW i1 ““¢ We have piped to you and you have not danced; We have wailed, but you have not beaten your breasts.’ For John: came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He has a demon’; and the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Lo, a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gath- erers and sinners!’ Nevertheless, Wisdom is Justi- fied by her deeds.” Sinning Against Light Then he began to upbraid the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they had not repented: “Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Beth- saida! Because if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented, long ago, in sackcloth and ashes. Moreover, I tell you it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the Day of Judg- ment, than for you. “ And you too, Capernaum! Will you be exalted even to heaven? You shall go down to the Place of Death! For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which have been done in you, it would have remained until this day. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment, than for you.” Hidden from the Wise and Prudent At that time Jesus answered and said: “I praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and wary, and hast revealed them to the children. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. A Sublime Assertion of Christ’s Deity “Everything has been handed over to me by my Father; neither does any one know the Son, except the Father, nor any one know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to re- 30 MATTHEW 12 28 veal Him. Come unto me, all who labor and are 29 heavy laden, and J will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for 530 your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” XII A DAY OF TEACHING BY THE SEA The Sabbath Is for Man 1 At that time Jesus walked through the wheat- fields one Sabbath Day; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck some ears of wheat and 2 to eat them. But the Pharisees, .when they per- ceived it, said to him: “Look! Your disciples are doing what it is not lawful to do on the Sabbath! ” The Son of Man Lord of the Sabbath 3 “Have you not read,” answered Jesus, “ what David did when he was hungry, and his men, too? 4 How he went into the House of God, and there they ate the loaves of the Presence, which neither he nor his men were permitted to eat, but the priests 5 only?* Have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sab- 6 bath and are guiltless? But I tell you that One 7 is here who is greater than the temple. And if you knew what this means, ; “It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice,’ 8 you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.” The Man with a Withered Hand 9 As he passed along he went into their synagogue, 10 and there he saw a man with a withered hand. And in order to get a charge against him they asked him, 11° Sam: 21 : 1-6.’ 2 Hos. 6: 6. $1 MATTHEW 12 “Ts it permitted to heal on the Sabbath?” (So that they might have something to accuse him.) 11 “Is there a man of you,” he replied, ‘who has but a single sheep, who will not lay hold of it and lift it out, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath 12 Day? And how much more is a man worth than a sheep? Therefore it is right to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.’ 14. The man stretched it out, and it had become sound like the other. But when the Pharisees came out, they consulted together how they might destroy him. The “ Terrible Meek ” 15 So when Jesus knew it, he withdrew from that 16 place, and numbers of people followed him. He cured them all; but he strictly forbade them to 17 blaze abroad his doings, that the word spoken through Isaiah, the prophet, might be fulfilled: 18 Behold my servant whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom my soul delights; I will breathe my spirit upon him, And he shall announce justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not strive nor cry aloud, Nor shall any one hear his voice in the streets. 20 The bruised reed he will not break; The dimly burning wick he will not quench; Till he has led justice on to victory. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles hope.* He Heals a Dumb Demoniac 22. Then they brought to him a blind and tee de- moniac; and he healed him, so that the dumb both 23 spoke and saw. And all the crowds were amazed, and began to say, ) “Can this be the Son of David?” 24. When the Pharisees heard it they said, “Tt is only by the aid of Beelzebub, the Prince of the demons, that this fellow is driving out demons.” 3Isa. 41 : 8; 42: 1-4. 32 25 26 21 28 29 30 dl o2 MATTHEW 12 Because Jesus knew what was in their minds, he said to them: A Kingdom Divided Against Itself “Any kingdom divided against itself will be- come desolate; and any city or household divided against itself will not stand. So if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? And if I am casting out demons in the power of Beelzebub, in whose power do your sons cast them out? So they themselves Shall be your judges. But if it is in the power of the Spirit of God that I am casting out demons, then the kingdom of God is already upon you. Or how can any one enter the strong man’s house and carry off his goods without first binding the strong man? Then he can rob his house. The Sin Which Hath Never Forgiveness “He who is not with me is against me; and he who is not gathering with me, scatters. Therefore I tell you that every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven. And if any man say a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in that which is to come. Words Reveal Character ‘“‘ Hither make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for by its fruit the tree is known. You generation of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man out of his good treasure brings forth good; and from his evil treasure a bad man brings out evil. I tell you that for every care- less word that men speak they shall give account on the day of judgment. For by your words you will each be justified, and by your words be con- demned.” 33 MATTHEW 12 The Pharisees Seek a Sign 38 Then some of the.Scribes and Pharisees accosted him. i “ Teacher,” they said, ‘we want to see some sign from you.” 89 In reply Jesus told them: “ An evil and faithless generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given them except the sign of AQ the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the sea-monster’s belly, so the Son of man will be three days and three Ai nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up in the Judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented under the preaching of Jonah, and lo! a greater 42 than Jonah is here! The Queen of the South will rise in the judgment with this generation, and con- demn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and lo! a greater than Solomon is here! The Empty Heart 43 ‘Whenever an unclean spirit leaves a man, it wanders through waterless places, seeking rest but 44 finding none. Then it says, “