CHAPTER LVII.
JESUS ANSWERS SADDUCEES AND PHARISEES—WIDOWS OFFERING.
BUT when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. And one of the scribes which was a lawyer, came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Which is the First commandment of all?
And Jesus answered him,
The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two
[280]commandments hang all the law and the prophets. There is none other commandment greater than these.
And the scribe said unto him, Well Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him,
Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.
And no man after that durst ask him any question.
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying,
What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?
They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them,
How then doth David in spirit call him Lord?
And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple,
[281]How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? For David himself saith by the Holy Ghost, in the book of Psalms, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son?
And no man was able to answer him a word: and the common people heard him gladly: neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, in his doctrine,
Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the market places, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
And Jesus sat over against the treasury. And he looked up, and saw the people casting their gifts
into the treasury. And many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them,
Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: for all they did cast in of their abundance, unto the offerings of God: but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: that the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Jesus cried and said,
[283]He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.