he that should come? or look we for another ?* 20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look 21 we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits, and unto many that were 22 blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering, said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to 23 the poor the gospel is preached. gospel is preached. And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me.

24

And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the 25 wind? But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they who are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, 26 are in kings' courts. But what went ye out

John, perhaps, sent his disciples to Jesus for their own satisfaction yet it is very possible he was in doubt himself, whether Jesus were the promised Messiah. He knew indeed that he was sent of God-but the Jews seemed to have had an opinion, that before Christ's appearance, uot only Elijah, but another great prophet would come, as predicted by Moses. See John i. 25.

+ Christ here probably alludes to the opinion prevalent among the Jews, that the Messiah was to be a mighty prince. If ye went out to find a worldly character, ye were disappointed. If ye expected a prophet, John, indeed was such and in some respects greater. For he was the immediate and contemporary herald of Messiah.

:

to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, 27 and much more than a prophet. This is he

of whom it is written, Behold I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare 28 thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist : but he that is least in the kingdom of God, is 29 greater than he.* And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, glorified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyerst rejected the counsel of God against themselves, not being baptized of him.

31

And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what 32 are they like? They are like children sitting in the market-place, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, 33 and ye have not wept. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread, nor drinking wine; 34 and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold, a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber, 35 a friend of publicans and of sinners. wisdom is justified of all her children.

But

36.

And one of the Pharisees desired him that

Greater in his knowledge of religion and of the doctrines of the gospel, which is called the kingdom of God. † Scribes, or teachers of the law.

Or is insane.

It appears the Jews possessed a eavilling disposition, and were determined to object to every thing.

he would eat with him.

And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster38 box of ointment. And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and 39 anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee, who had invited him, saw it, he spake within himself, saying, If this man were a prophet, he would have known who, and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him : 40 for she is a great sinner. And Jesus answering, said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say 41 on. There was a certain creditor who had two debtors the one owed five hundred 42 pence, and the other fifty. And when they

had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me now, which of them will love 43 him most? Simon answered and said, I conceive that he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast decided correctly. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her 45 head. Thou gavest me no kiss but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not 46 ceased to kiss my feet. Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath

47 anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him, began to say within themselves, Who is this that for50 giveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

CHAP. VIII.

AND it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village preaching, and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him; 2 and certain women, who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Mag3 dalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto him of their substance.

4

And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every 5 city, he spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed and as he sowed, some fell by the way-side; and it was trodden down, and the fowis of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon

as it was sprung up, it withered away, because 7 it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, 8 and choaked it. And other fell on good

ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundred-fold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath cars to hear, let 9 him hear. And his disciples asked him, say10 ing, What may this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables;* that seeing they might not see, and hearing 11 they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the way-side, are they that hear; then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should 13 believe, and be saved. They on the rock are those, who when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall 14 away. And that which fell among thorns are they, who, when they have heard, go forth and are choaked with cares, and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to 15 perfection. But that on the good ground are they, who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

16

No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, and they 17 who enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest:

* See the note on Mat. xiii. 13, &c.

†That is, though they see they may not perceive, and though they hear, they may not understand.