And, look, a certain lawyer stood up, and tested Jesus, saying, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus said unto him, "What is written in the law? How read you?"

And the lawyer answering said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

And Jesus said unto him, "You have answered right: this do, and you shall live."

But the lawyer, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

And Jesus answering said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his clothing, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

"And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where the man was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set the man on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

"And on the next day when the Samaritan departed, he took out two days wages, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, ‘Take care of the man; and whatever you spend more, when I come again, I will repay you.’

"Which now of these three, think you, was neighbor unto the man that fell among the thieves?"

And the lawyer said, "He that showed mercy on him."

Then said Jesus unto him, "Go, and do you likewise."

Then were there brought unto Jesus little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray…. And Jesus’ disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, "Let the little children…come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Truly I say unto you, whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter there." And Jesus took the little children up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Then said Jesus unto the disciples, "…Offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

"Take note to yourselves: If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you, saying, ‘I repent’; you shall forgive him."

And the apostles said unto the Lord, "Increase our faith."

And the Lord said, "If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say unto this sycamore tree, be you picked up by the root, and be you planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

"But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, ‘Go and sit down to eat’? And will not rather say unto him, ‘Make ready what I may eat, and properly clothe yourself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drank; and afterward you shall eat and drink?’

"Does he thank that servant because the servant did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you shall have done all those things, which are, commanded you, say, ‘we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.’ "

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan; and great crowds followed him; and he healed them there.

And when he was gone out into the road, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"

And Jesus said unto him, "Why call you me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. You know the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Defraud not. Honor your father and mother."

And the young man answered and said unto him, "Master, all these have I observed from my youth."

Then Jesus seeing him loved him, and said unto him, "One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked round about, and said unto his disciples, "How difficult it is for they that have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at his words.

But Jesus…said unto them, "Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?"

And Jesus looking upon them said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."

Then Peter began to say unto Jesus, "Lo, we have left all, and have followed you."

And Jesus answered and said, "Truly I say unto you, there is no man that has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive a hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last, and the last first.

"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a silver coin a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

"And the householder went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; ‘Go you also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And they went their way.

"Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, ‘Why stand you here all the day idle?’

"They said unto the householder, ‘Because no man has hired us.’

"He said unto them, ‘Go you also into the vineyard; and whatever is right, that shall you receive.’

"So when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, ‘Call the laborers, and give them their wages, beginning from the last unto the first.’

"And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a silver coin. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a silver coin.

"And when they had received it, they murmured against the master of the house, saying, ‘These last have worked but one hour, and you have made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.’

"But he answered one of them, and said, ‘Friend, I do you no wrong: did not you agree with me for a silver coin? Take that yours is, and go your way: I will give unto this last, even as unto you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is your eye evil, because I am good?’ So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."

Now it came to pass, as they went, that Jesus entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

But Martha was distracted about much serving, and came to Jesus, and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me."

And Jesus answered and said unto her, "Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."

And Jesus said unto them, "When you pray, say, Our Father which are in heaven, honored be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil."

And Jesus said unto them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?’ And the friend from within shall answer and say, ‘Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give you.’

"I say unto you, though the friend from within will not rise and give, because he is the other’s friend, yet because of the other’s boldness he will rise and give him as many as he needs. And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

"If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, "How long do you make us to doubt? If you be the Christ, tell us plainly."

Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

REFERENCES

Luke 10:25-37; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 17:1-10; Matthew 19:1-2; Mark 10:17-31; Matthew 20:1-16; Luke 10:38-42; Luke 11:1-13; John 10:22-31.

CHAPTER 78