31And the Lord said, To what then shall I compare the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 32They are like to children sitting in the markets, and calling to each other, and saying, We have played the flute to you, and ye have not danced; we have raised the cry of mourning, and ye have not wept. 33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread, nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34The Son of man is come eating and drinking, and ye say, A gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35though wisdom hath been justified by her children.
36Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to table. 37And, behold, a certain woman in the city, who was a notorious offender, when she knew that Jesus was sitting at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster vessel of odoriferous balm, 38and standing at his feet behind him, began to water his feet with her tears, and to wipe them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the perfumed balm. 39And when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said within himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of a woman this is that toucheth him; for she is a notorious sinner. 40And Jesus addressing himself to him said, Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. And he said, Master, speak freely.
41A certain creditor had two debtors, the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42But having nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Tell me, which of these, then, will love him most? 43And Simon answering said, I suppose, he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast judged rightly. 44So turning to the woman, he said to Simon, Thou seest this woman? I came into thine house, even water for my feet thou gavest not; but she hath washed my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45One kiss hast thou not given me, but she from the time she hath come in, hath not ceased tenderly to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou hast not anointed; but she hath anointed my feet with odoriferous balm. 47For which cause, I tell thee, her many sins are forgiven, for she hath loved much: but to whom a little is forgiven, he loveth little. 48And he said to her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49And they who sat at table with him began to say in themselves, Who is this, who even forgives sins? 50But he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
[CHAP. VIII.]
AND it came to pass afterwards, that he went through every city and village, preaching and publishing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, and the twelve with him. 2And certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and sicknesses, Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven devils had gone out. 3And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s lieutenant-governor, and Susanna, and many others, who ministred to his support out of their possessions.
4Now when a vast multitude was collected, even those who came to him out of every city, he spake by a parable. 5A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell by the road side, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it up. 6And other seed fell on a rock, and vegetating, withered because it had no moisture. 7And other seed fell amidst thorns, and the thorns springing up with it, choked it. 8And some fell on good ground, and shooting up, produced fruit an hundred fold. So saying, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9Then his disciples asked him, saying. What might this parable mean? 10And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables: that seeing they may not perceive, and hearing may not comprehend. 11Now this is the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12They by the road side, are such as hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh the word from their heart, that they should not be saved in believing. 13And they on the rock, are such as when they have heard, with joy embrace the word; and these have not root, who for a time believe, and in a season of trial apostasize. 14And that which fell among thorns, are they having heard, and going away, are choked by the cares, and wealth, and pleasures of life, and bring forth no perfect fruit. 15But that on the good ground are they who having heard the word, retain it in a heart excellent and good, and bring forth fruit with patience.
16No man lighting a lamp hides it with a cover, or putteth it under a bed, but on a stand, that they who are coming in, may see the light. 17For there is nothing hid which shall not be made manifest, nor concealed, which shall not be known and brought to light. 18Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, even what he seemeth to have shall be taken away from.
19Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come near him because of the crowd. 20And it was told him, saying, Thy mother and thy brethren are standing without, desirous of seeing thee. 21Then he answered and said to them, My mother and my brethren are they, who hear the word of God, and practise it.
22And it came to pass on one of the days, that he went himself into a ship, and his disciples, and said unto them, Let us pass over to the farther side of the lake. And they set fail. 23And while they were on the passage, he went to sleep: and a hurricane of wind rushed down on the lake; and they were filled with water, and imminent danger. 24Then they came and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we are perishing. Then arising, he issued his command to the wind, and the billows of water, and they subsided, and there was a calm. 25And he said to them, Where is your faith? And they feared and were astonished, saying one to another, Well! what a man is this! that he commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey him.