The Bible Story Part 244

Jesus said, "A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. When they had nothing with which to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?"

Simon answered and said, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most."

And he said unto him, "Thou hast rightly judged." And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, "Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath 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."

And he said unto her, "Thy sins are forgiven."

And they that were at the feast with him began to say within themselves, "Who is this who even forgiveth sins?"

And he said unto the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

_Conflict About the Wonderful Deeds of Jesus_.

There was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that {171} the dumb man spoke and saw. And all the mult.i.tude were amazed, and said, "Is this the son of David?"

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man doth not cast out demons but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons."

And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I by the Spirit of G.o.d cast out demons, then is the kingdom of G.o.d come upon you."

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III

A LONG JOURNEY

_How the Lord Jesus Traveled to the North to be Alone with His Disciples, and How the People Still Thronged Him_.

And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon.

And he entered into a house, and would have no one know it: but he could not be hid. Soon a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought him that he would cast forth the demon out of her daughter.

And he said unto her, "Let the children first be filled: for it is not fitting to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs."

But she answered and saith unto him, "Yea, Lord: even the little dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs."

And he said unto her, "For this saying go thy way; the demon is gone out of thy daughter."

And she went away unto her house, and found the child laid upon the bed, and the demon gone out.

And again he went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis.

And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to lay his hand upon him.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

RUINS OF THE CASTLE AT CAESAREA-PHILIPPI.

A magnificent fortress at the head of the Jordan.

From a photograph of the Palestine Exploration Fund, and used by special permission.

[End ill.u.s.tration]

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And he took him aside from the mult.i.tude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it. And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, "He hath done all things well: he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."

In those days, when there was again a great mult.i.tude, and they had nothing to eat, he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, "I have compa.s.sion on the mult.i.tude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way; and some of them are come from far."

And his disciples answered him, "Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?"

And he asked them, "How many loaves have ye?"

And they said, "Seven."

And he commandeth the mult.i.tude to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke the bread, and gave to his disciples, to set before them; and they set them before the mult.i.tude.

And they had a few small fishes: and having blessed {176} them, he commanded to set these also before them. And they ate, and were filled: and they took up, of broken pieces that remained over, seven baskets. And they were about four thousand: and he sent them away. And straightway he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, trying him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, "Why doth this generation seek a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation." And he left them, and again entering into the boat departed to the other side.

And they forgot to take bread; and they had not in the boat with them more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."

And they reasoned one with another, saying, "It is because we have no bread." And Jesus perceiving it saith unto them, "Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? do ye not yet perceive, neither understand?

have ye your heart hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces took ye up?"

They say unto him, "Twelve."

"And when the seven among the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces took ye up?"

And they say unto him, "Seven."

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And he said unto them, "Do ye not yet understand?" Then understood they that he bade them not to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him. And he took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, "Seest thou aught?"

And he looked up, and said, "I see men; but I behold them as trees, walking."

Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked steadfastly, and was restored, and saw all things clearly. And he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even enter into the village."

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IV