CHAPTER XV.

THE WAY OF SALVATION, MARY'S CHOICE, AND LESSONS ON PRAYER.

1 10:25AND behold, a certain lawyer stood up to try him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 10:26And he said to him, What is written in the law? how do you read? 10:27And he answered and 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. 10:28And he said to him, You have answered well; do this, and you shall live.

2 10:29But he, wishing to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 10:30And Jesus replied and said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who both stripped him and inflicted blows upon him, and went away leaving him half dead. 10:31And, providentially, a certain priest went down that way, and seeing him passed by on the other side. 10:32And in like manner a Levite also, being at the place, came and saw him, and passed by on the other side. 10:33But a certain Samaritan, on a journey, came where he was, and seeing him had compassion on him; 10:34and he came and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and putting him on his own beast, brought him to a khan, and took care of him. 10:35And on the next day, putting out two denarii [28 cents], he gave them to the khan-keeper, and said, Take care of him, and whatever you expend more, when I return I will pay you. 10:36Which of these three think you was a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers? 10:37And he said, He that had mercy on him. Then said Jesus to him, Do you go and do likewise.

3 10:38And as they were pursuing their journey he entered into a certain village. And a woman by the name of Martha received him into her house. 10:39And she had a sister called Mary, and she sat at the feet of the Lord and heard his word. 10:40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and came and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her, therefore, to help me. 10:41And the Lord answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and disturbed about many things, 10:42but of one thing there is need; and Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

4 11:1And as he was in a certain place praying, when he ceased one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 11:2And he said to them, When you pray, say, Father, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; 11:3give us daily our essential bread; 11:4and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive every one who is indebted to us; and bring us not into trial.

5 11:5And he said to them, Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight, and say, Friend, lend me three loaves, 11:6for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him; 11:7and he will answer from within, and say, Trouble me not, for the door is already shut, and my little children are with me in bed, I cannot arise and give you; 11:8I tell you if he will not arise and give him on account of being his friend, yet, on account of his importunity, he will arise and give him as many as he needs. 11:9And I tell you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you; 11:10for every one that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened. 11:11And what father is there of you, who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? or if he asks also for a fish, will for a fish give him a serpent? 11:12or if he asks also for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 11:13If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall the Father from heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.

CHAPTER XVI.

CHRIST DEFENDS THE DIVINE CHARACTER OF HIS MIRACLES, AND DENOUNCES THE PHARISEES.

1 11:14AND he cast out a demon, and it was dumb. And when the demon had gone out, the dumb spoke; and the multitudes wondered. 11:15But some of them said, He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons; 11:16and others, trying him, asked of him a sign from heaven. 11:17But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is desolated, and house falls upon house. 11:18And if Satan is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 11:19But if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? they, therefore, shall be your judges. 11:20But if by a finger of God I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 11:21When a strong man armed keeps his court, his goods are in peace; 11:22but when a stronger man than he comes upon him, and overcomes him, he takes away all his arms in which he trusted, and distributes his spoils. 11:23He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters.