CHAPTER XXX.
PHARISEES ASK A SIGN—REASONS FOR FAITH—BLIND MEN.
AND he sent away the multitude. And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came forth, and began to question with him, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them,
When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but
[143]can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith,
Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side. And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. Then Jesus charged them, saying,
Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and of the leaven of Herod.
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them,
O ye of little faith, Why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have
[144]brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand? Perceive ye not yet, neither understand? Have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?
They say unto him, Twelve.
And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?
And they said, Seven. And he said unto them,
How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw aught. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. And he sent him away to his house, saying,
Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.