oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft into 16 the water. And I brought him to thy disci17 ples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hith18 er to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil,* and he departed out of him and the child 19 was cured from that very hour. Then the

disciples came to Jesus apart, and said, Why 20 could not we 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 unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible 21 unto you. Howbeit, this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

22

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed 23 into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again and they were exceedingly sorry. 24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute-money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your Master pay tri25 bute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus

The demon, the evil spirit.

saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

1

CHAP. XVIII.

AT the same time, the disciples came unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the 2 kingdom of heaven ?* And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst 3 of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom 4 of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is great5 est in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso

shall receive one such little child in my 6 name, receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7

Wo unto the world because of offences :

* They did not mean in leavea, but in the Messiah's king lom, which they supposed he would establish.

† See John iii. 3. 5.

He is among the most excellent in the Christian church who is docile, humble, teachable, and candid. § Or cause to offend.

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 I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always 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

* It is certain, indeed, that offences will come-there is a sort of necessity that there should be offences, seeing what is the nature and condition of men. 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 rejoiceth 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 heav en, 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. 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.

21

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

募

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? 34 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.