24 but the things of men." Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any man choose to come after me, let him deny himself 25 and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever desireth to save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose 26 his life for my sake shall gain it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his own life? or what would a man give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels1; and then he will render to every man 28 according to his deeds. Verily I say unto you, There are some standing here who shall not taste of death, till they have seen the Son of man coming in his kingdom." CH. XVII. Now after six days, Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up an 2 high mountain apart; and was transfigured before them * : and his face shone as the sun, and his garments became white 3 as the light. And lo, there appeared unto them Mosest 4 and Elijah talking with him. Then Peter spake, and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here : if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one 5 for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he yet spake, lo, a cloud of light overshadowed them: and, lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am 6 well pleased: hear ye him." And when the disciples heard 7 it, they fell on their face, and feared greatly. And Jesus came near and touched them, and said, "Arise, and fear 8 not." And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, except Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them saying, "Tell the vision to no one, until 10 the Son of man be risen again from the dead." And his disciples asked him, saying, "Why then say the scribes, that 11 Elijah must come first?" And [Jesus] answered and said unto Or, messengers, Sn. 2 a bright cloud, R. T. and N. * See Simpson's Ess. iv. p. 415. + Hence it appears probable that the account of the death of Moses in the last chapter of Deuteronomy is erroneous; and that he, like Elijah, was trans. lated. See Dr. Priestley's Harmony. These were probably the persons who ap peared to the women at our Lord's sepulchre, Luke xxiv, 4; and to the apostles upon the Mount of Olives, Acts i, 12. them, "Elijah indeed doth come first and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, that Elijah is come already; and men knew him not, but did to him whatsoever they chose: in like manner the Son of man also will thus suffer from them." 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake to them of John the Baptist. 14 And when they were come to the multitude, a certain man 15 approached him, kneeling down to him, and saying, "Sir, have pity on my son; for he is lunatic*, and grievously afflicted: for often he falleth into the fire, and often into the 16 water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they were 17 not able to cure him." Then Jesus answered and said, “О unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I endure you? Bring him hither 18 to me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the child; who was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came near to Jesus apart, and said, 20 "Why were not we able to cast him out?" And Jesus said unto them, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say to this mountain, ' Remove hence to yonder place,' and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 However, this kind goeth not forth but by prayer and fasting t." 22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, "The Son of man is about to be delivered up into the hands 23 of men; and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised again." And they were much grieved. * More properly epileptic. See Mark ix. + This kind of demons goeth not out, N. Rather, This kind of faith doth not exert itself, is not to be acquired and exercised without prayer and fasting, or extraordinary acts of devotion. See Priestley's Harmony; Bishop Pearce and Townson on the text, and Newcome's note. 24 And when they were come to Capernaum, those who received the half-shekel1 came near to Peter, and said "Doth 25 not your Master pay the half-shekel?" He saith, "Yes." And when Peter entered into the house, Jesus spake before him, saying, "What thinkest thou, Simon? from whom do the kings of the earth take tribute or custom? from their own 26 sons, or from strangers?" [Peter] saith unto him, "From strangers." Jesus said unto him, "Then are the sons free. 27 Notwithstanding, lest we estrange them from us3, go to the sea, and cast an hook, and take the fish which first cometh up; and when thou hast opened its mouth, thou wilt find a shekel3: that take and give them for me and thee." CH. XVIII. At that time the disciples came near to Jesus, say2 ing, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst 3 of them, and said, " Verily I say unto you, Unless ye be changed, and become as little children, ye cannot enter into 4 the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom 5 of heaven. And whosoever shall receive one such little child 6 in my name receiveth me. But whosoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me to offend, it were better for him that an upper-millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 "Alas for the world from causes of offending! for it must needs be that causes of offending come; but alas for that 8 man by whom the cause of offending cometh! But if thine hand or thy foot cause thee to offend, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life lame or maimed, than, having two hands or two feet, to be cast 9 into everlasting fire. And if thine eye cause thee to offend, 1 Gr. didrachma. 2 Or, lest they revolt at us, N. m. i. e. that we may not furnish them with any just exception to my character, W. n. 3 Gr. stater, equal to four drachmas. 4 Gr. hour, and many copies read day. 5 See N. m.; unless ye turn, N. t. 6 cut it off, Mss. 10 pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, that their angels in heaven always be11 hold the face of my Father that is in heaven *. [For the Son 12 of man is come to save that which was lost.] What think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine on the 13 mountains, and go and seek that which is gone astray? And if it happen that he find it, verily I say unto you that he rejoiceth more for that sheep, than for the ninety and nine 14 which went not astray. In like manner it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost. 15 "Moreover, if thy brother shall sin against thee, go', reprove him between thee and him alone: if he shall hear 16 thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he shall not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the congregation: but if he shall neglect to hear the congregation also, let him be unto thee as an heathen 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 19 earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again verily3 I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth concerning any thing which they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my 20 Father that is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them +." 1 go and reprove, R. T. 2 N. m. church, N. t. 3 R. T. and N. omit verily. * An emblematical representation of the care of divine providence over little children. + This promise, and those in the two preceding verses, are to be understood as limited to the apostolic age, and, perhaps, to the apostles themselves. Το Concerning this matter, N. m. • Many copies omit the word all. 3 fell down at his feet, R.T. 21 Then Peter came near to him, and said, "Master, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? 22 till seven times?" Jesus saith unto him, " I say not unto thee, 'Till seven times:' but 'Till seventy times seven.' 23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king, who 24 chose to reckon with his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him, that owed him ten thou25 sand talents. But as he had not wherewith to pay, his mas ter commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, 26 and all that he had; and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and did him obeisance, saying, 'Sir, 27 have patience with me, and I will pay thee all2.' Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, and sent 28 him away, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out, and met with one of his fellow-servants, that owed him an hundred denarii: and he seized on him, and took him by 29 the throat, saying, 'Pay [me] what thou owest.' His fellowservant therefore fell down3, and besought him, saying, 30 'Have patience with me, and I will pay thee [all.'] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should 31 pay the debt. So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told their master 32 all which was done. Then his master called him, and saith unto him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that 33 debt, because thou desiredst me. Oughtest not thou also to have had pity on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on 34 thee?' And his master was angry, and delivered him over be gathered together in the name of Christ, is to assemble as his disciples, and as acting under his authority. And he was in the midst of them, either by his personal presence, agreeably to his promise, Matt. xxviii. 20, or by a spiritual presence, similar to the gift occasionally conferred upon the apostles, of knowing things which passed in places where they were not actually present, 1 Cor. v. 3, 4; or, lastly, by that authority which he had delegated, and by the powers which he had communicated to them to perform miracles in his name. See Pearce and Newcome. |