THE 
 GOSPEL 
 
 ACCORDING TO 
 
 SAINT 
 MATTHEW 
 
 " Modern-Printed ' 
 edition 
 
LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 Mr. Hoel LaArrence McQueen 
 
 Section • O 
 
 \qzo 
 
 • GrZ 
 
THE GOSPEL 
 
 ACCORDING TO 
 
 Saint zy^ffatthew 
 
THE ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS 
 From a Book of Hours, printed in 1498, by Pigouchet & Bostre, in Paris 
 
THE GOSPEL h^^ 
 
 ACCORDING TO 
 
 <X^'^}^ PRII 
 
 Saint ^Matthew 
 
 THE 
 
 '^MODERN PRINTED'^ 
 
 EDITION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 King James Version 
 
 AUTHORIZED VERSION 
 
 DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY 
 
 GARDEN CITY NEW YORK LONDON 
 
 1920 
 
THE GOSPEL 
 
 ACCORDING TO 
 
 Saint <J}fCatthew 
 
Saint zyitatthew 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 The genealogy of Christ Jro7n Abrahm?! to Joseph. 
 He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the 
 Virgin Mary when she was espoused to Joseph. 
 The angel satisfieth the misdeeming thoughts of Joseph, 
 and interpreteth the names of Christ. 
 
 THE book of the generation of Jesus 
 Christ, the son of David, the son of 
 Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac ; and 
 Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas 
 and his brethren; 
 
 Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; 
 
 Phares begat Esrom; 
 
 Esrom begat Aram; 
 
 Aram begat Aminadab; 
 
 Aminadab begat Naasson; 
 
 Naasson begat Salmon; 
 
 Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; 
 
 Booz begat Obed of Ruth; 
 
 Obed begat Jesse; 
 
 Jesse begat David the king; 
 
4 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 David the king begat Solomon of her that 
 had been the wife of Urias; 
 
 Solomon begat Roboam; 
 
 Roboam begat Abia; 
 
 Abia begat Asa; 
 
 Asa begat Josaphat; 
 
 Josaphat begat Joram; 
 
 Joram begat Ozias; 
 
 Ozias begat Joatham; 
 
 Joatham begat Achaz; 
 
 Achaz begat Ezekias; 
 
 Ezekias begat Manasses; 
 
 Manasses begat Amon; 
 
 Amon begat Josias; 
 
 Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, 
 about the time they were carried away to 
 Babylon: 
 
 After they were brought to Babylon, Je- 
 chonias begat Salathiel; 
 
 Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 
 
 Zorobabel begat Abiud; 
 
 Abiud begat Eliakim; 
 
 Eliakim begat Azor; 
 
 Azor begat Sadoc; 
 
 Sadoc begat Achim; 
 
 Achim begat Eliud; ' 
 
CHAPTER I 5 
 
 Eliud begat Eleazar; 
 
 Eleazar begat Matthan; 
 
 Matthan begat Jacob; 
 
 Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, 
 of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 
 
 So all the generations from Abraham to 
 David are fourteen generations; and from 
 David until the carrying away into Babylon 
 are fourteen generations; and from the carry- 
 ing away into Babylon unto Christ are four- 
 teen generations. 
 
 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on 
 this wise: When as his mother Mary was 
 espoused to Joseph, before they came to- 
 gether, she was found with child of the 
 Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, 
 being a just man, and not willing to make 
 her a public example, was minded to put 
 her away privily. But while he thought 
 on these things, behold, the angel of the 
 Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, 
 Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take 
 unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is 
 conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And 
 she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt 
 call his name JESUS: for he shall save his 
 
6 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 people from their sins. Now all this was 
 done, that it might be fulfilled which was 
 spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 
 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall 
 bring forth a son, and they shall call his 
 name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, 
 God with us. Then Joseph being raised from 
 sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden 
 him, and took unto him his wife: and knew 
 her not till she had brought forth her first- 
 born son: and he called his name JESUS. 
 
CHAPTER n 
 
 The wise men out oj the east are directed to Christ by a 
 star. They worship him^ and offer their -presents. 
 Joseph fleeth into Egypt^ with Jesus and his mother. 
 Herod slayeth the children: himself dieth. Christ is 
 brought back again into Galilee to 'Nazareth, 
 
 NOW when Jesus was born in Bethle- 
 hem of Judea in the days of Herod 
 the king, behold, there came wise 
 men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, 
 Where is he that is born King of the Jews? 
 for we have seen his star in the east, and are 
 come to worship him. When Herod the 
 king had heard these things, he was trou- 
 bled, and all Jerusalem with him. And 
 when he had gathered all the chief priests 
 and scribes of the people together, he de- 
 manded of them where Christ should be 
 born. And they said unto him. In Bethle- 
 hem of Judea: for thus it is written by the 
 prophet. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of 
 Juda, art not the least among the princes 
 
8 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Gover- 
 nor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then 
 Herod, when he had privily called the wise 
 men, inquired of them diligently what time 
 the star appeared. And he sent them to 
 Bethlehem, and said. Go and search dili- 
 gently for the young child; and when ye 
 have found him, bring me word again, that 
 I may come and worship him also. When 
 they had heard the king, they departed; 
 and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, 
 went before them, till it came and stood 
 over where the young child was. When 
 they saw the star, they rejoiced with ex- 
 ceeding great joy. 
 
 And when they were come into the house, 
 they saw the young child with Mary his 
 mother, and fell down, and worshipped 
 him: and when they had opened their treas- 
 ures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, 
 and frankincense, and myrrh. And being 
 warned of God in a dream that they should 
 not return to Herod, they departed into 
 their own country another way. And when 
 they were departed, behold, the angel of the 
 Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, say- 
 
CHAPTER II 9 
 
 ing, Arise, and take the young child and his 
 mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou 
 there until I bring thee word: for Herod 
 will seek the young child to destroy him. 
 When he arose, he took the young child and 
 his mother by night, and departed into 
 Egypt: and was there until the death of 
 Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was 
 spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying. 
 Out of Egypt have I called my son. 
 
 Then Herod, when he saw that he was 
 mocked of the wise men, was exceeding 
 wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the 
 children that were in Bethlehem, and in all 
 the coasts thereof, from two years old and 
 under, according to the time which he had 
 diligently inquired of the wise men. Then 
 was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jer- 
 emy the prophet, saying. In Rama was there 
 a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, 
 and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her 
 children, and would not be comforted, be- 
 cause they are not. 
 
 But when Herod was dead, behold, an 
 angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to 
 Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the 
 
lo ST. MATTHEW 
 
 young child and his mother, and go into the 
 land of Israel: for they are dead which 
 sought the young child's life. And he 
 arose, and took the young child and his 
 mother, and came into the land of Israel. 
 But when he heard that Archelaus did 
 reign in Judea in the room of his father 
 Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwith- 
 standing, being warned of God in a dream, 
 he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 
 and he came and dwelt in a city called 
 Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which 
 was spoken by the prophets, He shall be 
 called a Nazarene, 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 John preacheth: his office: lifcy and baptism. He re- 
 prehendeth the Pharisees, and baptizeth Christ in Jor- 
 dan. 
 
 IN THOSE days came John the Baptist, 
 preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 
 and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom 
 of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was 
 spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying. 
 The voice of one crying in the wilderness. 
 Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his 
 paths straight. And the same John had 
 his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern 
 girdle about his loins; and his meat was 
 locusts and wild honey. Then went out 
 to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all 
 the region round about Jordan, and were 
 baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their 
 sins. 
 
 But when he saw many of the Pharisees 
 and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said 
 
12 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath 
 warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 
 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repent- 
 ance: and think not to say within ypurselves, 
 We have Abraham to our father: for I say 
 unto you, that God is able of these stones 
 to raise up children unto Abraham. And 
 now also the axe is laid unto the root of the 
 trees: therefore every tree which bringeth 
 not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast 
 into the fire. I indeed baptize you with 
 water unto repentance: but he that cometh 
 after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I 
 am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you 
 with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: whose 
 fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly 
 purge his floor, and gather his wheat into 
 the garner; but he will burn up the chaff^ 
 with unquenchable fire. 
 
 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jor- 
 dan unto John, to be baptized of him. But 
 John forbade him, saying, I have need to be 
 baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 
 And Jesus answering said unto him, SuflFer 
 it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to 
 fulfil all righteousness. Then he sufi^ered 
 
CHAPTER III 13 
 
 him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, 
 went up straightway out of the water: and, 
 lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and 
 he saw the Spirit of God descending Hke a 
 dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice 
 from heaven, saying. This is my beloved 
 Son, in whom I am well pleased. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 Christ fasteth, and Is temped. The angels minister 
 unto him. He dwelleth in Capernaum ^ beginneth to 
 preach, calleth Peter, and Andrew, James, and John, 
 and healeth all the diseased. 
 
 THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit 
 into the wilderness to be tempted of 
 the devil. And when he had fasted 
 forty days and forty nights, he was after- 
 ward a hungered. And when the tempter 
 came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of 
 God, command that these stones be made 
 bread. But he answered and said. It is 
 written, Man shall not live by bread alone, 
 but by every word that proceedeth out of 
 the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh 
 him up into the holy city, and setteth him 
 on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto 
 him. If thou be the Son of God, cast thy- 
 self down: for it is written. He shall give his 
 angels charge concerning thee: and in their 
 
 14 
 
CHAPTER IV 15 
 
 hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any 
 time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 
 Jesus said unto him, It is written again. 
 Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 
 Again, the devil taketh him up into an ex- 
 ceeding high mountain, and sheweth him 
 all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory 
 of them; and saith unto him, All these things 
 will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and 
 worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, 
 Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written. 
 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and 
 him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil 
 leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and 
 ministered unto him. 
 
 Now when Jesus had heard that John 
 was cast into prison, he departed into 
 Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, he came and 
 dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea 
 coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Neph- 
 thalim: that it might be fulfilled which was 
 spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying. The 
 land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephtha- 
 lim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, 
 Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat 
 in darkness saw great light; and to them 
 
i6 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 which sat in the region and shadow of death 
 hght is sprung up. 
 
 From that time Jesus began to preach, 
 and to say. Repent: for the kingdom of 
 heaven is at hand. 
 
 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, 
 saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and 
 Andrew his brother, casting a net into the 
 sea : for they were fishers. And he saith unto 
 them, Follow me, and I will make you fish- 
 ers of men. And they straightway left 
 their nets, and followed him. And going 
 on from thence, he saw other two brethren, 
 James the son of Zebedee, and John his 
 brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, 
 mending their nets; and he called them. 
 And they immediately left the ship and their 
 father, and followed him. 
 
 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teach- 
 ing in their synagogues, and preaching the 
 gospel of the kingdom, and healing all 
 manner of sickness and all manner of dis- 
 ease among the people. And his fame went 
 throughout all Syria: and they brought 
 unto him all sick people that were taken 
 with divers diseases and torments, and those 
 
CHAPTER IV 17 
 
 which were possessed with devils^ and those 
 which were lunatic, and those that had the 
 palsy; and he healed them. And there 
 followed him great multitudes of people 
 from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from 
 Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from be- 
 yond Jordan. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 Christ beginneth his sermon in the mount: declaring 
 who are blessed, who are the salt oj the earth, the light of 
 the world, the city on a hill, the candle: that he came to 
 fulfil the law. What it is to kill, to commit adultery, 
 to swear: exhorteth to sufer wrong, to love even our ene- 
 mies, and to labour after perfectness. 
 
 ^ND seeing the multitudes, he went up 
 /-\ into a mountain: and when he was 
 set, his disciples came unto him: 
 and he opened his mouth, and taught them, 
 saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for 
 theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed 
 are they that mourn : for they shall be com- 
 forted. Blessed are the meek: for they 
 shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they 
 which do hunger and thirst after righteous- 
 ness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are 
 the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 
 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall 
 see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for 
 they shall be called the children of God. 
 
 i8 
 
CHAPTER V 19 
 
 Blessed are they which are persecuted for 
 righteousness' sake: for theirs is the king- 
 dom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men 
 shall revile you, and persecute you, and 
 shall say all manner of evil against you 
 falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be ex- 
 ceeding glad: for great is your reward in 
 heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets 
 which were before you. 
 
 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the 
 salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall 
 it be salted? it is thenceforth good for noth- 
 ing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden 
 under foot of men. Ye are the light of the 
 world. A city that is set on a hill cannot 
 be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and 
 put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; 
 and it giveth light unto all that are in the 
 house. Let your light so shine before men, 
 that they may see your good works, and 
 glorify your Father which is in heaven. 
 
 Think not that I am come to destroy the 
 law, or the prophets: I am not come to 
 destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto 
 you. Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or 
 one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, 
 
20 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore 
 shall break one of these least command- 
 ments, and shall teach men so, he shall be 
 called the least in the kingdom of heaven: 
 but whosoever shall do and teach them, 
 the same shall be called great in the king- 
 dom of heaven. For I say unto you. That 
 except your righteousness shall exceed the 
 righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, 
 ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom 
 of heaven. 
 
 Ye have heard that it was said by them 
 of old time. Thou shalt not kill; and whoso- 
 ever shall kill shall be in danger of the judg- 
 ment: but I say unto you, That whosoever 
 is angry with his brother without a cause 
 shall be in danger of the judgment: and 
 whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, 
 shall be in danger of the council: but who- 
 soever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in dan- 
 ger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy 
 gift to the altar, and there rememberest 
 that thy brother hath aught against thee; 
 leave there thy gift before the altar, and go 
 thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, 
 and then come and offer thy gift. Agree 
 
CHAPTER V 21 
 
 with thine adversary quickly, while thou 
 art in the way with him; lest at any time 
 the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and 
 the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou 
 be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, 
 Thou shalt by no means come out thence, 
 till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 
 
 Ye have heard that it was said by them 
 of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery; 
 but I say unto you. That whosoever looketh 
 on a woman to lust after her hath committed 
 adultery with her already in his heart. And 
 if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, 
 and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for 
 thee that one of thy members should perish, 
 and not that thy whole body should be cast 
 into hell. And if thy right hand oflFend 
 thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it 
 is profitable for thee that one of thy mem- 
 bers should perish, and not that thy whole 
 body should be cast into hell. It hath been 
 said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, 
 let him give her a writing of divorcement: 
 but I say unto you. That whosoever shall 
 put away his wife, saving for the cause of 
 fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: 
 
22 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 and whosoever shall marry her that is di- 
 vorced committeth adultery. 
 
 Again, ye have heard that it hath been 
 said by them of old time. Thou shalt not 
 forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the 
 Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, Swear 
 not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's 
 throne: nor by the earth; for it is his foot- 
 stool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city 
 of the great King. Neither shalt thou 
 swear by thy head, because thou canst not 
 make one hair white or black. But let 
 your communication be. Yea, yea; Nay, 
 nay: for whatsoever is more than these 
 Cometh of evil. 
 
 Ye have heard that it hath been said. An 
 eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but 
 I say unto you. That ye resist not evil: 
 but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right 
 cheek, turn to him the other also. And if 
 any man will sue thee at the law, and take 
 away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 
 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a 
 mile, go with him twain. Give to him that 
 asketh thee, and from him that would bor- 
 row of thee turn not thou away. 
 
CHAPTER V 23 
 
 Ye have heard that it hath been said, 
 Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate 
 thine enemy. But I say unto you. Love your 
 enemies, bless them that curse you, do good 
 to them that hate you, and pray for them 
 which despitefully use you, and persecute 
 you; that ye may be the children of your 
 Father which is in heaven: for he maketh 
 his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, 
 and sendeth rain on the just and on the 
 unjust. For if ye love them which love 
 you, what reward have ye? do not even the 
 publicans the same? And if ye salute your 
 brethren only, what do ye more than others? 
 do not even the publicans so? Be ye there- 
 fore perfect, even as your Father which is in 
 heaven is perfect. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 Christ continueth his sermon in the mount, speaking of 
 alms, prayer, forgiving our brethren, fasting, where our 
 treasure is to be laid up, of serving God, and mammon: 
 exhorteth not to be careful for worldly things: but to 
 seek God's kingdom. 
 
 TAKE heed that ye do not your alms 
 before men, to be seen of them : other- 
 wise ye have no reward of your Father 
 which is in heaven. Therefore when thou 
 doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet 
 before thee, as the hypocrites do in the syna- 
 gogues and in the streets, that they may have 
 glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They 
 have their reward. But when thou doest 
 alms, let not thy left hand know what thy 
 right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in 
 secret: and thy Father which seeth in se- 
 cret himself shall reward thee openly. 
 
 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not 
 be as the hypocrites are: for they love to 
 pray standing in the synagogues and in the 
 
 24 
 
CHAPTER VI 25 
 
 corners of the streets, that they may be 
 seen of men. Verily I say unto you. They 
 have their reward. But thou, when thou 
 prayest, enter into thy closet, and when 
 thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father 
 which is in secret; and thy Father which 
 seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 
 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, 
 as the heathen do: for they think that they 
 shall be heard for their much speaking. Be 
 not ye therefore like unto them: for your 
 Father knoweth what things ye have need 
 of, before ye ask him. After this manner 
 therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in 
 heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy 
 kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, 
 as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as 
 we forgive our debtors. And lead us not 
 into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 
 for thine is the kingdom, and the power, 
 and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye 
 forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly 
 Father will also forgive you: but if ye for- 
 give not men their trespasses, neither will 
 your Father forgive your trespasses. 
 
26 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the 
 hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they 
 disfigure their faces, that they may appear 
 unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you. 
 They have their reward. But thou, when 
 thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash 
 thy face; that thou appear not unto men 
 to fast, but unto thy Father which is in 
 secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret 
 shall reward thee openly. 
 
 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon 
 earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, 
 and where thieves break through and steal: 
 but lay up for yourselves treasures in 
 heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth 
 corrupt, and where thieves do not break 
 through nor steal: for where your treasure is, 
 there will your heart be also. The light of 
 the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye 
 be single, thy whole body shall be full of 
 light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole 
 body shall be full of darkness. If therefore 
 the light that is in thee be darkness, how 
 great is that darkness! 
 
 No man can serve two masters: for either 
 he will hate the one, and love the other; or 
 
CHAPTER VI 27 
 
 else he will hold to the one, and despise the 
 other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 
 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought 
 for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye 
 shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye 
 shall put on. Is not the life more than 
 meat, and the body than raiment? Be- 
 hold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, 
 neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; 
 yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. 
 Are ye not much better than they? Which 
 of you by taking thought can add one cubit 
 unto his stature? And why take ye thought 
 for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, 
 how they grow; they toil not, neither do they 
 spin: and yet I say unto you. That even 
 Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed 
 like one of these. Wherefore, if God so 
 clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, 
 and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall 
 he not much more clothe you, O ye of little 
 faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, 
 What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? 
 or. Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For 
 after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) 
 for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye 
 
28 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 have need of all these things. But seek ye 
 first the kingdom of God, and his righteous- 
 ness; and all these things shall be added unto 
 you. Take therefore no thought for the 
 morrow: for the morrow shall take thought 
 for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the 
 day is the evil thereof. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 Christ ending his sermon in the mounts reproveth rash 
 judgment^ forbiddeth to cast holy things to dogs, ex- 
 hort eth to prayer, to enter in at the strait gate, to beware 
 of false prophets, not to be hearers, hut doers of the 
 word: like houses builded on a rock, and not on the sand. 
 
 JUDGE not, that ye be not judged. 
 For with what judgment ye judge, 
 ye shall be judged: and with what 
 measure ye mete, it shall be measured to 
 you again. And why beholdest thou the 
 mote that is in thy brother's eye, but con- 
 siderest not the beam that is in thine own 
 eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother. 
 Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; 
 and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 
 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out 
 of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see 
 clearly to cast out the mote out of thy 
 brother's eye. 
 
 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, 
 neither cast ye your pearls before swine, 
 
 29 
 
30 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 lest they trample them under their feet, 
 and turn again and rend you. 
 
 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and 
 ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened 
 unto you: for every one that asketh re- 
 ceiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to 
 him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or 
 what man is there of you, whom if his son 
 ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or 
 if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 
 If ye then, being evil, know how to give 
 good gifts unto your children, how much 
 more shall your Father which is in heaven 
 give good things to them that ask him? 
 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would 
 that men should do to you, do ye even so to 
 them: for this is the law and the prophets. 
 
 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is 
 the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth 
 to destruction, and many there be which go 
 in thereat: because strait is the gate, and 
 narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, 
 and few there be that find it. 
 
 Beware of false prophets, which come to 
 you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they 
 are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them 
 
CHAPTER VII 31 
 
 by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of 
 thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every 
 good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a 
 corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A 
 good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, 
 neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good 
 fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth 
 good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the 
 fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall 
 know them. 
 
 Not every one that saith unto me. Lord, 
 Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of 
 heaven; but he that doeth the will of my 
 Father which is in heaven. Many will say 
 to me in that day. Lord, Lord, have we not 
 prophesied in thy name? and in thy name 
 have cast out devils? and in thy name done 
 many wonderful works? And then will I 
 profess unto them, I never knew you: depart 
 from me, ye that work iniquity. 
 
 Therefore whosoever heareth these say- 
 ings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken 
 him unto a wise man, which built his house 
 upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the 
 floods came, and the winds blew, and beat 
 upon that house; and it fell not: for it was 
 
32 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 founded upon a rock. And every one that 
 heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth 
 them not, shall be likened unto a foolish 
 man, which built his house upon the sand: 
 and the rain descended, and the floods came, 
 and the winds blew, and beat upon that 
 house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 
 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended 
 these sayings, the people were astonished 
 at his doctrine: for he taught them as one 
 having authority, and not as the scribes. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 Christ cleanseth the leper ^ healeth the centurion* s servant^ 
 Peter s mother in law^ and many other diseased: sheweth 
 how he is to be followed: stilleth the tempest on the sea^ 
 driveth the devils out of two ?nen possessed^ and sufereth 
 them to go into the swine. 
 
 WHEN he was come down from the 
 mountain, great multitudes fol- 
 lowed him. And, behold, there 
 came a leper and worshipped him, saying. 
 Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 
 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched 
 him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And im- 
 mediately his leprosy was cleansed. And 
 Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; 
 but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, 
 and offer the gift that Moses commanded, 
 for a testimony unto them. 
 
 And when Jesus was entered into Caper- 
 naum, there came unto him a centurion, be- 
 seeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant 
 lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously 
 
 33 
 
34 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I 
 will come and heal him. The centurion 
 answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy 
 that thou shouldest come under my roof: 
 but speak the word only, and my servant 
 shall be healed. For I am a man under 
 authority, having soldiers under me: and I 
 say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to 
 another, Come, and he cometh; and to my 
 servant. Do this, and he doeth it. When 
 Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to 
 them that followed. Verily I say unto you, 
 I have not found so great faith, no, not in 
 Israel. And I say unto you. That many 
 shall come from the east and west, and shall 
 sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and 
 Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: but the 
 children of the kingdom shall be cast out into 
 outer darkness: there shall be weeping and 
 gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the 
 centurion. Go thy way; and as thou hast be- 
 lieved, so be it done unto thee. And his 
 servant was healed in the selfsame hour. 
 
 And when Jesus was come into Peter's 
 house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and 
 sick of a fever. And he touched her hand. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 35 
 
 and the fever left her: and she arose, and 
 ministered unto them. 
 
 When the even was come, they brought 
 unto him many that were possessed with 
 devils: and he cast out the spirits with his 
 word, and healed all that were sick: that it 
 might be fulfilled which was spoken by 
 Esaias the prophet, saying. Himself took 
 our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. 
 
 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes 
 about him, he gave commandment to depart 
 unto the other side. And a certain scribe 
 came, and said unto him, Master, I will 
 follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And 
 Jesus saith unto him. The foxes have holes, 
 and the birds of the air have nests; but the 
 Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 
 And another of his disciples said unto him. 
 Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my 
 father. But Jesus said unto him. Follow 
 me; and let the dead bury their dead. 
 
 And when he was entered into a ship, his 
 disciples followed him. And, behold, there 
 arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch 
 that the ship was covered with the waves: 
 but he was asleep. And his disciples came 
 
36 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 to him, and awoke him, saying. Lord, save 
 us: we perish. And he saith unto them, 
 Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? 
 Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and 
 the sea; and there was a great calm. But 
 the men marvelled, saying, What manner 
 of man is this, that even the winds and the 
 sea obey him! 
 
 And when he was come to the other side 
 into the country of the Gergesenes, there 
 met him two possessed with devils, coming 
 out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that 
 no man might pass by that way. And, be- 
 hold, they cried out, saying, What have we 
 to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? 
 art thou come hither to torment us before 
 the time? And there was a good way off 
 from them a herd of many swine feeding. 
 So the devils besought him, saying. If thou 
 cast us out, suffer us to go away into the 
 herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. 
 And when they were come out, they went 
 into the herd of swine: and, behold, the 
 whole herd of swine ran violently down a 
 steep place into the sea, and perished in the 
 waters. And they that kept them fled, and 
 
CHAPTER VIII 37 
 
 went their ways into the city, and told every 
 thing, and what was befallen to the pos- 
 sessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole 
 city came out to meet Jesus: and when they 
 saw him, they besought him that he would 
 depart out of their coasts. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 Christ curing one sick of the palsy, calleth Matthew 
 from the receipt of custom, eateth with publicans and 
 sinners, defendeth his disciples for not fasting, cureth 
 the bloody issue, raiseth from death Jairus* daughter, 
 giveth sight to two blind men, healeth a dumb man 
 possessed of a devil, and hath compassion of the multi- 
 tude, 
 
 4 ND he entered into a ship, and passed 
 /\ over, and came into his own city. 
 jL 1l And, behold, they brought to him a 
 man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and 
 Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick 
 of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins 
 be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of 
 the scribes said within themselves. This man 
 blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their 
 thoughts said. Wherefore think ye evil in 
 your hearts? For whether is easier, to say. 
 Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, 
 and walk? But that ye may know that the 
 Son of man hath power on earth to forgive 
 
 38 
 
CHAPTER IX 39 
 
 sinSj (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) 
 Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine 
 house. And he arose, and departed to his 
 house. But when the multitudes saw it, 
 they marvelled, and glorified God, which 
 had given such power unto men. 
 
 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, 
 he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at 
 the receipt of custom: and he saith unto 
 him. Follow me. And he arose, and fol- 
 lowed him. 
 
 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat 
 in the house, behold, many publicans and 
 sinners came and sat down with him and his 
 disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, 
 they said unto his disciples, Why eateth 
 your master with publicans and sinners? 
 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto 
 them. They that be whole need not a 
 physician, but they that are sick. But go 
 ye and learn what that meaneth, I will 
 have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not 
 come to call the righteous, but sinners to 
 repentance. 
 
 Then came to him the disciples of John, 
 saying. Why do we and the Pharisees fast 
 
40 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 oft, but thy disciples fast not? And 
 Jesus said unto them, Can the children of 
 the bridechamber mourn, as long as the 
 bridegroom is with them? but the days will 
 come, when the bridegroom shall be taken 
 from them, and then shall they fast. No 
 man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an 
 old garment; for that which is put in to fill 
 it up taketh from the garment, and the rent 
 is made worse. Neither do men put new 
 wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, 
 and the wine runneth out, and the bottles 
 perish: but they put new wine into new 
 bottles, and both are preserved. 
 
 While he spake these things unto them, 
 behold, there came a certain ruler, and wor- 
 shipped him, saying. My daughter is even 
 now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon 
 her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, 
 and followed him, and so did his disciples. 
 
 And, behold, a woman, which was dis- 
 eased with an issue of blood twelve years, 
 came behind him, and touched the hem of 
 his garment: for she said within herself. If I 
 may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 
 But Jesus turned him about, and when he 
 
CHAPTER IX 41 
 
 saw her, he said. Daughter, be of good com- 
 fort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And 
 the woman was made whole from that hour. 
 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, 
 and saw the minstrels and the people mak- 
 ing a noise, he said unto them. Give place: 
 for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And 
 they laughed him to scorn. But when the 
 people were put forth, he went in, and took 
 her by the hand, and the maid arose. And 
 the fame hereof went abroad into all that 
 land. 
 
 And when Jesus departed thence, two 
 blind men followed him, crying, and saying. 
 Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And 
 when he was come into the house, the blind 
 men came to him: and Jesus saith unto 
 them. Believe ye that I am able to do this? 
 They said unto him. Yea, Lord. Then 
 touched he their eyes, saying. According 
 to your faith be it unto you. And their 
 eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged 
 them, saying. See that no man know it. But 
 they, when they were departed, spread 
 abroad his fame in all that country. 
 
 As they went out, behold, they brought 
 
42 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 
 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb 
 spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, 
 It was never so seen in Israel. But the 
 Pharisees said. He casteth out devils through 
 the prince of the devils. And Jesus went 
 about all the cities and villages, teaching 
 in their synagogues, and preaching the gos- 
 pel of the kingdom, and healing every sick- 
 ness and every disease among the people. 
 
 But when he saw the multitudes, he was 
 moved with compassion on them, because 
 they fainted, and were scattered abroad, 
 as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith 
 he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is 
 plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray 
 ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that 
 he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 Christ sendeth out his twelve apostles^ enabling them 
 with -power to do miracles^ giveth them their charge^ 
 teacheth them, comforteth them against persecutions: 
 and promiseth a blessing to those that receive them. 
 
 j4 ND when he had called unto him his 
 /% twelve disciples, he gave them power 
 Ji A. against unclean spirits, to cast them 
 out, and to heal all manner of sickness and 
 all manner of disease. Now the names of 
 the twelve apostles are these; The first, Si- 
 mon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his 
 brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John 
 his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; 
 Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James 
 the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose 
 surname was Thaddeus; Simon the Ca- 
 naanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also be- 
 trayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, 
 andcommandedthem,saying,Go not into the 
 way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the 
 Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to 
 
 43 
 
44 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And 
 as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of 
 heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse 
 the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: 
 freely ye have received, freely give. Pro- 
 vide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in 
 your purses; nor scrip for your journey, 
 neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet 
 staves: for the workman is worthy of his 
 meat. And into whatsoever city or town 
 ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; 
 and there abide till ye go thence. And 
 when ye come into a house, salute it. And 
 if the house be worthy, let your peace come 
 upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your 
 peace return to you. And whosoever shall 
 not receive you, nor hear your words, when 
 ye depart out of that house or city, shake 
 off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto 
 you. It shall be more tolerable for the land 
 of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of 
 judgment, than for that city. 
 
 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the 
 midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as 
 serpents, and harmless as doves. But be- 
 ware of men: for they will deliver you up 
 
CHAPTER X 45 
 
 to the councils, and they will scourge you in 
 their synagogues; and ye shall be brought 
 before governors and kings for my sake, for 
 a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 
 But when they deliver you up, take no 
 thought how or what ye shall speak: for it 
 shall be given you in that same hour what 
 ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, 
 but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh 
 in you. And the brother shall deliver up 
 the brother to death, and the father the 
 child: and the children shall rise up against 
 their parents, and cause them to be put to 
 death. And ye shall be hated of all men for 
 my name's sake: but he that endureth to 
 the end shall be saved. But when they 
 persecute you in this city, flee ye into an- 
 other: for verily I say unto you. Ye shall 
 not have gone over the cities of Israel, till 
 the Son of man be come. The disciple is 
 not above his master, nor the servant above 
 his lord. It is enough for the disciple that 
 he be as his master, and the servant as his 
 lord. If they have called the master of the 
 house Beelzebub, how much more shall they 
 call them of his household ? Fear them not 
 
46 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 therefore: for there is nothing covered, that 
 shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall 
 not be known. What I tell you in darkness,' 
 that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in 
 the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 
 And fear not them which kill the body, but 
 are not able to kill the soul: but rather 
 fear him which is able to destroy both soul 
 and body in hell. Are not two sparrows 
 sold for a farthing? and one of them shall 
 not fall on the ground without your Father. 
 But the very hairs of your head are all num- 
 bered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of 
 more value than many sparrows. Whoso- 
 ever therefore shall confess me before men, 
 him will I confess also before my Father 
 which is in heaven. But whosoever shall 
 deny me before men, him will I also deny 
 before my Father which is in heaven. Think 
 not that I am come to send peace on earth: 
 I came not to send peace, but a sword. For 
 I am come to set a man at variance against 
 his father, and the daughter against her 
 mother, and the daughter in law against her 
 mother in law. And a man's foes shall be 
 they of his own household. He that loveth 
 
CHAPTER X 47 
 
 father or mother more than me is not worthy 
 of me: and he that loveth son or daughter 
 more than me is not worthy of me. And 
 he that taketh not his cross, and followeth 
 after me, is not worthy of me. He that 
 findeth his hfe shall lose it: and he that 
 loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 
 
 He that receiveth you receiveth me; and 
 he that receiveth me receiveth him that 
 sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in 
 the name of a prophet shall receive a pro- 
 phet's reward; and he that receiveth a 
 righteous man in the name of a righteous 
 man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 
 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one 
 of these little ones a cup of cold water only 
 in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto 
 you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 John sendeth his disciples to Christ. Christ's testi- 
 mony concerning John. The opinion of the people^ 
 both concerning John and Christ. Christ uphraideth 
 the unthankfulness and unrepentance of Chorazin^ 
 Bethsaida^ and Capernaum: and praising his Father's 
 wisdom in revealing the gospel to the simple^ he calleth 
 to him all such as feel the burden of their sins. 
 
 4 ND It came to pass, when Jesus had 
 /\ made an end of commanding his 
 JL jL twelve disciples, he departed thence 
 to teach and to preach in their cities. Now 
 when John had heard in the prison the works 
 of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and 
 said unto him, Art thou he that should come, 
 or do we look for another? Jesus answered 
 and said unto them. Go and shew John 
 again those things which ye do hear and see: 
 the blind receive their sight, and the lame 
 walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf 
 hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor 
 have the gospel preached to them. And 
 
 48 
 
CHAPTER XI 49 
 
 blessed- is he, whosoever shall not be of- 
 fended in me. 
 
 And as they departed, Jesus began to say 
 unto the multitudes concerning John, What 
 went ye out into the wilderness to see? A 
 reed shaken with the wind? But what 
 went ye out for to see? A man clothed in 
 soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft 
 clothing are in kings' houses. But what 
 went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, 
 I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 
 For this is he, of whom it is written. Behold, 
 I send my messenger before thy face, which 
 shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily 
 I say unto you, Among them that are born 
 of women there hath not risen a greater than 
 John the Baptist: notwithstanding, he that 
 is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater 
 than he. And from the days of John the 
 Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven 
 sufFereth violence, and the violent take it by 
 force. For all the prophets and the law 
 prophesied until John. And if ye will re- 
 ceive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 
 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 
 
 But whereunto shall I liken this genera- 
 
so ST. MATTHEW 
 
 tion? It is like unto children sitting in the 
 markets, and calling unto their fellows, and 
 saying, We have piped unto you, and ye 
 have not danced; we have mourned unto 
 you, and ye have not lamented. For John 
 came neither eating nor drinking, and they 
 say. He hath a devil. The Son of man 
 came eating and drinking, and they say. 
 Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, 
 a friend of publicans and sinners. But 
 wisdom is justified of her children. 
 
 Then began he to upbraid the cities 
 wherein most of his mighty works were done, 
 because they repented not: Woe unto thee, 
 Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if 
 the mighty works, which were done in you, 
 had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they 
 would have repented long ago in sackcloth 
 and ashes. But I say unto you. It shall be 
 more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the 
 day of judgment, than for you. And thou, 
 Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, 
 shalt be brought down to hell: for if the 
 mighty works, which have been done in 
 thee, had been done in Sodom, it would 
 have remained until this day. But I say 
 
CHAPTER XI 51 
 
 unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for 
 the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, 
 than for thee. 
 
 At that time Jesus answered and said, I 
 thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and 
 earth, because thou hast hid these things 
 from the wise and prudent, and hast re- 
 vealed them unto babes. Even so. Father; 
 for so it seemed good in thy sight. All 
 things are delivered unto me of my Father: 
 and no man knoweth the Son, but the 
 Father; neither knoweth any man the 
 Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever 
 the Son will reveal him. 
 
 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are 
 heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take 
 my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I 
 am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall 
 find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is 
 easy, and my burden is light. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 Christ reproveth the blindness of the Pharisees concern- 
 ing the breach of the sabbath^ by Scriptures^ by reason^ 
 and by a miracle. He healeth the man possessed that 
 was blind and dumb. Blasphemy agaiyist the Holy 
 Ghost shall never be forgiven. Account shall be made 
 of idle words. He rebuketh the unfaithful, who seek 
 after a sign: and sheweth who is his brother, sister, and 
 mother. 
 
 A T THAT time Jesus went on the sab- 
 /% bath day through the corn; and his 
 JL Sl disciples were a hungered, and began 
 to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But 
 when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto 
 him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is 
 not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. But 
 he said unto them. Have ye not read what 
 David did, when he was a hungered, and 
 they that were with him; how he entered 
 into the house of God, and did eat the shew- 
 bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, 
 neither for them which were with him, but 
 
 52 
 
CHAPTER XII 53 
 
 only for the priests? Or have ye not read 
 in the law, how that on the sabbath days the 
 priests in the temple profane the sabbath, 
 and are blameless? But I say unto you, 
 That in this place is one greater than the 
 temple. But if ye had known what this 
 meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacri- 
 fice, ye would not have condemned the guilt- 
 less. For the Son of man is Lord even of the 
 sabbath day. And when he was departed 
 thence, he went into their synagogue: 
 
 And, behold, there was a man which had 
 his hand withered. And they asked him, 
 saying. Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath 
 days? that they might accuse him. And he 
 said unto them. What man shall there be 
 among you, that shall have one sheep, and 
 if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will 
 he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How 
 much then is a man better than a sheep? 
 Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sab- 
 bath days. Then saith he to the man. 
 Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched 
 it forth; and it was restored whole, like as 
 the other. 
 
 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a 
 
54 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 council against him, how they might des- 
 troy him. But when Jesus knew it, he with- 
 drew himself from thence: and great multi- 
 tudes followed him, and he healed them all; 
 and charged them that they should not make 
 him known: that it might be fulfilled which 
 was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 
 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; 
 my beloved, in whom my soul is well 
 pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, and 
 he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He 
 shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any 
 man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised 
 reed shall he not break, and smoking flax 
 shall he not quench, till he send forth judg- 
 ment unto victory. And in his name shall 
 the Gentiles trust. 
 
 Then was brought unto him one possessed 
 with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed 
 him, insomuch that the blind and dumb 
 both spake and saw. And all the people 
 were amazed, and said, Is not this the Son 
 of David? But when the Pharisees heard 
 it, they said. This fellow doth not cast out 
 devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the 
 devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts. 
 
CHAPTER XII 55 
 
 and said unto them, Every kingdom divided 
 against itself is brought to desolation; and 
 every city or house divided against itself 
 shall not stand: and if Satan cast out Satan, 
 he is divided against himself; how shall then 
 his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub 
 cast out devils, by whom do your children 
 cast them out? therefore they shall be your 
 judges. But if I cast out devils by the 
 Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is 
 come unto you. Or else, how can one enter 
 into a strong man's house, and spoil his 
 goods, except he first bind the strong man? 
 and then he will spoil his house. He that 
 is not with me is against me; and he that 
 gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 
 
 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner 
 of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto 
 men: but the blasphemy against the Holy 
 Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And 
 whosoever speaketh a word against the Son 
 of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoso- 
 ever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it 
 shall not be forgiven him, neither in this 
 world, neither in the world to come. Either 
 make the tree good, and his fruit good; or 
 
SG ST. MATTHEW 
 
 else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit 
 corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 
 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being 
 evil, speak good things ? for out of the abund- 
 ance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A 
 good man out of the good treasure of the 
 heart bringeth forth good things: and an 
 evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth 
 forth evil things. But I say unto you, That 
 every idle word that men shall speak, they 
 shall give account thereof in the day of 
 judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be 
 justified, and by thy words thou shalt be 
 condemned. 
 
 Then certain of the scribes and of the 
 Pharisees answered, saying. Master, we 
 would see a sign from thee. But he an- 
 swered and said unto them. An evil and 
 adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; 
 and there shall no sign be given to it, but 
 the sign of the prophet Jonas: for as Jonas 
 was three days and three nights in the 
 whalers belly; so shall the Son of man be 
 three days and three nights in the heart of 
 the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise 
 in judgment with this generation, and shall 
 
CHAPTER XII 57 
 
 condemn it: because they repented at the 
 preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater 
 than Jonas is here. The queen of the south 
 shall rise up in the judgment with this gen- 
 eration, and shall condemn it: for she came 
 from the uttermost parts of the earth to 
 hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, 
 a greater than Solomon is here. When the 
 unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he 
 walketh through dry places, seeking rest, 
 and findeth none. Then he saith, I will 
 return into my house from whence I came 
 out; and when he is come, he findeth it 
 empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth 
 he, and taketh with himself seven other 
 spirits more wicked than himself, and they 
 enter in and dwell there: and the last state 
 of that man is worse than the first. Even 
 so shall it be also unto this wicked genera- 
 tion. 
 
 While he yet talked to the people, be- 
 hold, his mother and his brethren stood 
 without, desiring to speak with him. Then 
 one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and 
 thy brethren stand without, desiring to 
 speak with thee. But he answered and said 
 
58 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 unto him that told him, Who is my mother? 
 and who are my brethren? And he stretched 
 forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, 
 Behold my mother and my brethren! For 
 whosoever shall do the will of my Father 
 which is in heaven, the same is my brother, 
 and sister, and mother. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 The parable of the sower and the seed: the exposition of 
 it. The parable of the tares ^ of the mustard seed, of the 
 leaven, of the hidden treasure, of the pearl, of the draw- 
 net cast into the sea: and how Christ is contemned of 
 his own countrymen, 
 
 THE same day went Jesus out of the 
 house, and sat by the sea side. And 
 great multitudes were gathered to- 
 gether unto him, so that he went into a ship, 
 and sat; and the whole multitude stood on 
 the shore. And he spake many things unto 
 them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower 
 went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some 
 seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls 
 came and devoured them up: some fell upon 
 stony places, where they had not much 
 earth: and forthwith they sprung up, be- 
 cause they had no deepness of earth: and 
 when the sun was up, they were scorched; 
 and because they had no root, they withered 
 away. And some fell among thorns; and 
 
 59 
 
6o ST. MATTHEW 
 
 the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 
 but other fell into good ground, and brought 
 forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty- 
 fold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to 
 hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, 
 and said unto him, Why speakest thou 
 unto them in parables? He answered and 
 said unto them. Because it is given unto 
 you to know the mysteries of the kingdom 
 of heaven, but to them it is not given. For 
 whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and 
 he shall have more abundance: but whoso- 
 ever hath not, from him shall be taken 
 away even that he hath. Therefore speak 
 I to them in parables: because they seeing 
 see not; and hearing they hear not, neither 
 do they understand. And in them is ful- 
 filled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, 
 By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not 
 understand; and seeing ye shall see, and 
 shall not perceive: for this people's heart is 
 waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hear- 
 ing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at 
 any time they should see with their eyes, 
 and hear with their ears, and should under- 
 stand with their heart, and should be con- 
 
CHAPTER XIII 6i 
 
 verted, and I should heal them. But 
 blessed are your eyes, for they see: and 
 your ears, for they hear. For verily I say 
 unto you, That many prophets and right- 1 
 eous men have desired to see those things 
 which ye see, and have not seen them; and 
 to hear those things which ye hear, and 
 have not heard them. 
 
 Hear ye therefore the parable of the 
 sower. When any one heareth the word 
 of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, 
 then Cometh the wicked one, and catcheth 
 away that which was sown in his heart. 
 This is he which received seed by the way 
 side. But he that received the seed into 
 stony places, the same is he that heareth 
 the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 
 yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth 
 for a while: for when tribulation or perse- 
 cution ariseth because of the word, by and 
 by he is offended. He also that received 
 seed among the thorns is he that heareth the 
 word; and the care of this world, and the de- 
 ceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he 
 becometh unfruitful. But he that received 
 seed into the good ground is he that heareth 
 
62 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 the word, and understandeth it; which also 
 beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a 
 hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 
 
 Another parable put he forth unto them, 
 saying. The kingdom of heaven is likened 
 unto a man which sowed good seed in his 
 field: but while men slept, his enemy came 
 and sowed tares among the wheat, and went 
 his way. But when the blade was sprung 
 up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared 
 the tares also. So the servants of the house- 
 holder came and said unto him. Sir, didst 
 not thou sow good seed in thy field? from 
 whence then hath it tares? He said unto 
 them. An enemy hath done this. The 
 servants said unto him. Wilt thou then that 
 we go and gather them up? But he said. 
 Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye 
 root up also the wheat with them. Let 
 both grow together until the harvest: and 
 in the time of harvest I will say to the 
 reapers. Gather ye together first the tares, 
 and bind them in bundles to burn them: 
 but gather the wheat into my barn. 
 
 Another parable put he forth unto them, 
 saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a 
 
CHAPTER XIII 63 
 
 grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and 
 sowed in his field: which indeed is the least 
 of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the 
 greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, 
 so that the birds of the air come and lodge 
 in the branches thereof. 
 
 Another parable spake he unto them; 
 The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, 
 which a woman took, and hid in three mea- 
 sures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 
 All these things spake Jesus unto the mul- 
 titude in parables; and without a parable 
 spake he not unto them: that it might be 
 fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, 
 saying, I will open my mouth in parables; 
 I will utter things which have been kept 
 secret from the foundation of the world. 
 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and 
 went into the house: and his disciples came 
 unto him, saying. Declare unto us the par- 
 able of the tares of the field. He answered 
 and said unto them. He that soweth the 
 good seed is the Son of man; the field is the 
 world; the good seed are the children of the 
 kingdom; but the tares are the children of 
 the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them 
 
64 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 is the devil; the harvest is the end of the 
 world; and the reapers are the angels. As 
 therefore the tares are gathered and burned 
 in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this 
 world. The Son of man shall send forth his 
 angels, and they shall gather out of his 
 kingdom all things that offend, and them 
 which do iniquity; and shall cast them into 
 a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and 
 gnashing of teeth. Then shall the right- 
 eous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom 
 of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let 
 him hear. 
 
 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto 
 treasure hid in a field; the which when a 
 man hath found, he hideth, and for joy 
 thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, 
 and buyeth that field. 
 
 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto 
 a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls: 
 who, when he had found one pearl of great 
 price, went and sold all that he had, and 
 bought it. 
 
 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto 
 a net, that was cast into the sea, and 
 gathered of every kind: which, when it was 
 
CHAPTER XIII 65 
 
 full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and 
 gathered the good into vessels, but cast the 
 bad away. So shall it be at the end of the 
 world: the angels shall come forth, and 
 sever the wicked from among the just, and 
 shall cast them into the furnace of fire: 
 there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 
 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood 
 all these things? They say unto him. Yea, 
 Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore 
 every scribe which is instructed unto the 
 kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that 
 is a householder, which bringeth forth out 
 of his treasure things new and old. 
 
 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had 
 finished these parables, he departed thence. 
 And when he was come into his own country, 
 he taught them in their synagogue, inso- 
 much that they were astonished, and said, 
 Whence hath this man this wisdom, and 
 these mighty works? Is not this the car- 
 penter's son? is not his mother called Mary? 
 and his brethren, James, and Joses, and 
 Simon, and Judas ? And his sisters, are they 
 not all with us? Whence then hath this 
 man all these things? And they were of- 
 
66 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 fended in him. But Jesus said unto them, 
 A prophet is not without honour, save in 
 his own country, and in his own house. 
 And he did not many mighty works there 
 because of their unbelief. 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 Herod's opinion of Christ, Wherefore John Baptist 
 was beheaded. Jesus departeth into a desert place: 
 where he feedeth five thousand men with five loaves and 
 two fishes: he walketh on the sea to his disciples: and 
 landing at Gennesaret, healeth the sick by the touch of 
 the hem of his garment. 
 
 4 T THAT time Herod the tetrarch 
 /% heard of the fame of Jesus, and 
 JL ^ said unto his servants. This is John 
 the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and 
 therefore mighty works do shew forth them- 
 selves in him. 
 
 For Herod had laid hold on John, and 
 bound him, and put him in prison for Her- 
 odias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For 
 John said unto him. It is not lawful for thee 
 to have her. And when he would have put 
 him to death, he feared the multitude, be- 
 cause they counted him as a prophet. But 
 when Herod's birthday was kept, the daugh- 
 ter of Herodias danced before them, and 
 
 67 
 
68 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised 
 with an oath to give her whatsoever she 
 would ask. And she, being before instructed 
 of her mother, said, Give me here John 
 Baptist's head in a charger. And the king 
 was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, 
 and them which sat with him at meat, he 
 commanded it to be given her. And he 
 sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And 
 his head was brought in a charger, and given 
 to the damsel: and she brought it to her 
 mother. And his disciples came, and took 
 up the body, and buried it, and went and 
 told Jesus. 
 
 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence 
 by ship into a desert place apart: and 
 when the people had heard thereof, they 
 followed him on foot out of the cities. And 
 Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, 
 and was moved with compassion toward 
 them, and he healed their sick. 
 
 And when it was evening, his disciples 
 came to him, saying. This is a desert place, 
 and the time is now past; send the multi- 
 tude away, that they may go into the vil- 
 lages, and buy themselves victuals. But 
 
CHAPTER XIV 69 
 
 Jesus said unto them. They need not depart; 
 give ye them to eat. And they say unto 
 him. We have here but five loaves, and two 
 fishes. He said. Bring them hither to me. 
 And he commanded the multitude to sit 
 down on the grass, and took the five loaves, 
 and the two fishes, and looking up to 
 heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the 
 loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to 
 the multitude. And they did all eat, and 
 were filled: and they took up of the frag- 
 ments that remained twelve baskets full. 
 And they that had eaten were about five 
 thousand men, beside women and children. 
 And straightway Jesus constrained his 
 disciples to get into a ship, and to go before 
 him unto the other side, while he sent the 
 multitudes away. And when he had sent 
 the multitudes away, he went up into a 
 mountain apart to pray: and when the 
 evening was come, he was there alone. But 
 the ship was now in the midst of the sea, 
 tossed with waves: for the wind was con- 
 trary. And in the fourth watch of the night 
 Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 
 And when the disciples saw him walking 
 
70 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It 
 is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But 
 straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, 
 Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And 
 Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be 
 thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 
 And he said. Come. And when Peter was 
 come down out of the ship, he walked on the 
 water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw 
 the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and be- 
 ginning to sink, he cried, saying. Lord, save 
 me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth 
 his hand, and caught him, and said unto 
 him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst 
 thou doubt? And when they were come into 
 the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that 
 were in the ship came and worshipped him, 
 saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. 
 And when they were gone over, they came 
 into the land of Gennesaret. And when the 
 men of that place had knowledge of him, 
 they sent out into all that country round 
 about, and brought unto him all that were 
 diseased; and besought him that they might 
 only touch the hem of his garment: and as 
 many as touched were made perfectly whole. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 Christ reproveth the scribes and Pharisees for trans- 
 gressing God's commandments through their owrt tradi- 
 tions: teacheth how that which goeth into the mouth doth 
 not defile a man. He healeth the daughter of the woman 
 of Canaan^ and other great multitudes: and with seven 
 loaves and a few little fishes feedeth four thousand men, 
 beside women and children. 
 
 THEN came to Jesus scribes and Phar- 
 isees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 
 Why do thy disciples transgress the 
 tradition of the elders? for they wash not 
 their hands when they eat bread. But he 
 answered and said unto them, Why do ye 
 also transgress the commandment of God 
 by your tradition? For God commanded, 
 saying. Honour thy father and mother: and. 
 He that curseth father or mother, let him 
 die the death. But ye say. Whosoever 
 shall say to his father or his mother. It is a 
 gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be pro- 
 fited by me; and honour not his father or his 
 
 71 
 
72 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye 
 made the commandment of God of none 
 effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, 
 well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This 
 people draweth nigh unto me with their 
 mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; 
 but their heart is far from me. But in vain 
 they do worship me, teaching for doctrines 
 the commandments of men. 
 
 And he called the multitude, and said 
 unto them. Hear, and understand: not that 
 which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; 
 but that which cometh out of the mouth, 
 this defileth a man. Then came his dis- 
 ciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou 
 that the Pharisees were offended, after they 
 heard this saying? But he answered and 
 said, Every plant, which my heavenly 
 Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 
 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the 
 blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both 
 shall fall into the ditch. Then answered 
 Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us 
 this parable. And Jesus said. Are ye also 
 yet without understanding? Do not ye yet 
 understand, that whatsoever entereth in at 
 
CHAPTER XV 73 
 
 the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast 
 out into the draught? But those things 
 which proceed out of the mouth come forth 
 from the heart; and they defile the man. 
 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, 
 murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, 
 false witness, blasphemies: these are the 
 things which defile a man: but to eat with 
 unwashen hands defileth not a man. 
 
 Then Jesus went thence, and departed 
 into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, 
 behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the 
 same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, 
 Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of 
 David; my daughter is grievously vexed 
 with a devil. But he answered her not a 
 word. And his disciples came and be- 
 sought him, saying. Send her away; for she 
 crieth after us. But he answered and said, 
 I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the 
 house of Israel. Then came she and wor- 
 shipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he 
 answered and said. It is not meet to take the 
 children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And 
 she said. Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the 
 crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 
 
74 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O 
 woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee 
 even as thou wilt. And her daughter was 
 made whole from that very hour. And Jesus 
 departed from thence, and came nigh unto 
 the sea of Galilee; and went up into a moun- 
 tain, and sat down there. And great multi- 
 tudes came unto him, having with them those 
 that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and 
 many others, and cast them down at Jesus* 
 feet; and he healed them; insomuch that the 
 multitude wondered, when they saw the 
 dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the 
 lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they 
 glorified the God of Israel. 
 
 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, 
 and said, I have compassion on the multi- 
 tude, because they continue with me now 
 three days, and have nothing to eat: and I 
 will not send them away fasting, lest they 
 faint in the way. And his disciples say unto 
 him. Whence should we have so much bread 
 in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multi- 
 tude? And Jesus saith unto them. How 
 many loaves have ye? And they said. 
 Seven, and a few little fishes. And he com- 
 
CHAPTER XV 75 
 
 manded the multitude to sit down on the 
 ground. And he took the seven loaves and 
 the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, 
 and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to 
 the multitude. And they did all eat, and 
 were filled: and they took up of the broken 
 meat that was left seven baskets full. And 
 they that did eat were four thousand men, 
 beside women and children. And he sent 
 away the multitude, and took ship, and 
 came into the coasts of Magdala. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 The Pharisees require a sign. Jesus warneth his dis- 
 ciples of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees^ 
 The people's opinion of Christy and Peter s confession 
 of him. Jesus foresheweth his death, reproving Peter 
 for dissuading him from it: and admonisheth those that 
 will follow hi77t, to bear the cross. 
 
 THE Pharisees also with the Sadducees 
 came, 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 hypo- 
 crites, ye can discern the face of the sky; 
 but can ye not discern the signs of the 
 times? A wicked and adulterous genera- 
 tion seeketh after a sign; and there shall no 
 sign be given unto it, but the sign of the 
 prophet Jonas. And he left them, and de- 
 parted. And when his disciples were come 
 
 76 
 
CHAPTER XVI 77 
 
 to the other side, they had forgotten to take 
 bread. 
 
 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and 
 beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of 
 the Sadducees. And they reasoned among 
 themselves, saying, It is because we have 
 taken no bread. Which when Jesus per- 
 ceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, 
 why reason ye among yourselves, because ye 
 have brought no bread? Do ye not yet 
 understand, neither 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? 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 Pha: isees 
 and of the Sadducees. 
 
 When Jesus came into the coasts of Ces- 
 area Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying. 
 Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, 
 am? And they said. Some say that thou art 
 
78 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, 
 Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith 
 unto them. But whom say ye that I am ? And 
 Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art 
 the Christ, the Son of the living God. And 
 Jesus answered and said unto him. Blessed 
 art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and 
 blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but 
 my Father which is in heaven. And I say 
 also unto thee. That thou art Peter, and 
 upon this rock I will build my church; and 
 the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 
 And I will give unto thee the keys of the 
 kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou 
 shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; 
 and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth 
 shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged 
 he his disciples that they should tell no man 
 that he was Jesus the Christ. 
 
 From that time forth began Jesus to shew 
 unto his disciples, how that he must go unto 
 Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the 
 elders and chief priests and scribes, and be 
 killed, and be raised again the third day. 
 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke 
 him, saying. Be it far from thee, Lord: this 
 
CHAPTER XVI 79 
 
 shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and 
 said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: 
 thou art an offence unto me: for thou 
 savourest not the things that be of God, but 
 those that be of men. 
 
 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any 
 man will come after me, let him deny him- 
 self, and take up his cross, and follow me. 
 For whosoever will save his life shall lose 
 it: and whosoever will lose his life for my 
 sake shall find it. For what is a man pro- 
 fited, if he shall gain the whole world, and 
 lose his own soul? or what shall a man give 
 in exchange for his soul? For the Son, of 
 man shall come in the glory of his Father 
 with his angels; and then he shall reward 
 every man according to his works. Verily 
 I say unto you. There be some standing 
 here, which shall not taste of death, till 
 they see the Son of man coming in his king- 
 dom. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 The transfiguration of Christ. He healeth the lunatic, 
 foretelleth his ow7i passion, and payeth tribute. 
 
 A ND after six days Jesus taketh Peter, 
 /% James, and John his brother, and 
 jL jl bringeth them up into a high moun- 
 tain apart, and was transfigured before 
 them: and his face did shine as the sun, and 
 his raiment was white as the Hght. And, 
 behold, there appeared unto them Moses 
 and Elias talking with him. Then answered 
 Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good 
 for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make 
 here three tabernacles; one for thee, and 
 one for Moses, and one for Elias. While 
 he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud over- 
 shadowed them: and behold a voice out of 
 the cloud, which said, This is my beloved 
 Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye 
 him. And when the disciples heard it, they 
 fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And 
 Jesus came and touched them, and said, 
 
 80 
 
CHAPTER XVII 8i 
 
 Arise, and be not afraid. And when they 
 had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, 
 save Jesus only. And as they came down 
 from the mountain, Jesus charged them, 
 saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the 
 Son of man be risen again from the dead. 
 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why 
 then say the scribes that Elias must first 
 come? And Jesus answered and said unto 
 them, Elias truly shall first come, and re- 
 store all things. But I say unto you. That 
 Elias is come already, and they knew him 
 not, but have done unto him whatsoever 
 they hsted. Likewise shall also the Son 
 of man suffer of them. Then the disciples 
 understood that he spake unto them of 
 John the Baptist. 
 
 And when they were come to the multi- 
 tude, there came to him a certain man, 
 kneeling down to him, and saying. Lord, 
 have mercy on my son; for he is lunatic, and 
 sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the 
 fire, and oft into the water. And I brought 
 him to thy disciples, and they could not 
 cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, 
 O faithless and perverse generation, how 
 
82 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 long shall I be with you? how long shall I 
 suffer you? bring him hither to me. And 
 Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed 
 out of him: and the child was cured from 
 that very hour. Then came the disciples 
 to Jesus apart, and said. Why could not we 
 cast him out? And Jesus said unto them. 
 Because of your unbelief: for verily I say 
 unto you. If ye have faith as a grain of 
 mustard seed, ye shall say unto this moun- 
 tain, Remove hence to yonder place; and 
 it shall remove: and nothing shall be im- 
 possible unto you. Howbeit this kind 
 goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. 
 
 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus 
 said unto them. The Son of man shall be 
 betrayed into the hands of men: and they 
 shall kill him, and the third day he shall be 
 raised again. And they were exceeding 
 sorry. 
 
 And when they were come to Capernaum, 
 they that received tribute money came to 
 Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay 
 tribute? He saith. Yes. And when he was 
 come into the house, Jesus prevented him, 
 saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of 
 
CHAPTER XVII 83 
 
 whom do the kings of the earth take custom 
 or tribute? of their own children, or of 
 strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of stran- 
 gers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the 
 children free. Notwithstanding, lest we 
 should offend them, go thou to the sea, and 
 cast a hook, and take up the fish that first 
 Cometh up; and when thou hast opened his 
 mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: 
 that take, and give unto them for me and 
 thee. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 Christ warneth his disciples to be humble mid harmless: 
 to avoid offences, and not to despise the little ones: 
 teacheth how we are to deal with our brethren, when 
 they offend us: and how oft to forgive them: which he 
 setteth forth by a parable of the king, that took account 
 of his servants, and punished him, who shewed no mercy 
 to his fellow, 
 
 A T THE same time came the disciples 
 /jk unto Jesus, saying, Who is the great- 
 JL IL est in the kingdom of heaven? And 
 Jesus called a little child unto him, and set 
 him in the midst of them, and said, Verily 
 I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and 
 become as little children, ye shall not enter 
 into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever 
 therefore shall humble himself as this little 
 child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of 
 heaven. And whoso shall receive one such 
 little child in my name receiveth me. But 
 whoso shall offend one of these little ones 
 which believe in me, it were better for him 
 
 84 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 85 
 
 that a millstone were hanged about his neck, 
 and that he were drowned in the depth of the 
 sea. 
 
 Woe unto the world because of offences! 
 for it must needs be that offences come; but 
 woe to that man by whom the offence 
 Cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot 
 offend thee, cut them off, and cast them 
 from thee: it is better for thee to enter into 
 Hfe halt or maimed, rather than having two 
 hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting 
 fire. x\nd if thine eye offend thee, pluck 
 it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for 
 thee to enter into life with one eye, rather 
 than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 
 Take heed that ye despise not one of these 
 little ones; for I say unto you. That in 
 heaven their angels do always behold the 
 face of my Father which is in heaven. For 
 the Son of man is come to save that which 
 was lost. How think ye? if a man have a 
 hundred sheep, and one of them be gone 
 astray, doth he not leave the ninety and 
 nine, and goeth into the mountains, and 
 seeketh that which is gone astray? And 
 if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, 
 
86 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the 
 ninety and nine which went not astray. 
 Even so it is not the will of your Father 
 which is in heaven, that one of these little 
 ones should perish. 
 
 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass 
 against thee, go and tell him his fault be- 
 tween thee and him alone: if he shall hear 
 thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But 
 if he will not hear thee, then take with thee 
 one or two more, that in the mouth of two 
 or three witnesses every word may be 
 estabhshed. And if he shall neglect to hear 
 them, tell it unto the church: but if he neg- 
 lect to hear the church, let him be unto thee 
 as a heathen man and a publican. Verily 
 I say unto you. Whatsoever ye shall bind 
 on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what- 
 soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed 
 in heaven. Again I say unto you, That 
 if two of you shall agree on earth as touching 
 any thing that they shall ask, it shall be 
 done for them of my Father which is in 
 heaven. For where two or three are gath- 
 ered together in my name, there am I in the 
 midst of them. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 87 
 
 Then came Peter to him, and said. Lord, 
 how oft shall my brother sin against me, and 
 I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith 
 unto him, I say not unto thee. Until seven 
 times: but. Until seventy times seven. 
 
 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven 
 likened unto a certain king, which would 
 take account of his servants. And when 
 he had begun to reckon, one was brought 
 unto him, which owed him ten thousand 
 talents. But forasmuch as he had not to 
 pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, 
 and his wife, and children, and all that he 
 had, and payment to be made. The servant 
 therefore fell down, and worshipped him, 
 saying. Lord, have patience with me, and 
 I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that 
 servant was moved with compassion, and 
 loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But 
 the same servant went out, and found one 
 of his fellow servants, which owed him a 
 hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, 
 and took him by the throat, saying, Pay 
 me that thou owest. And his fellow servant 
 fell down at his feet, and besought him, say- 
 ing, Have patience with me, and I will 
 
88 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 pay thee all. And he would not: but went 
 and cast him into prison, till he should pay 
 the debt. So when his fellow servants saw 
 what was done, they were very sorry, and 
 came and told unto their lord all that was 
 done. Then his lord, after that he had 
 called him, said unto him, O thou wicked ser- 
 vant, I forgave thee all that debt, because 
 thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also 
 have had compassion on thy fellow servant, 
 even as I had pity on thee? And his lord 
 was wroth, and delivered him to the tor- 
 mentors, till he should pay all that was due 
 unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly 
 Father do also unto you, if ye from your 
 hearts forgive not every one his brother 
 their trespasses. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 Christ healeth the sick: answereth the Pharisees concern- 
 ing divorcement: sheweth when marriage is necessary: 
 receiveth little children: instructeth the young man how 
 to attain eternal life, and how to he perfect: telleth 
 his disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter into 
 the kingdom of God^ and promiseth reward to those that 
 forsake any thing to follow him. 
 
 A ND it came to pass^ that when Jesus 
 /% had finished these sayings, he de- 
 JL JL parted from GaHlee, and came into 
 the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan; and 
 great multitudes followed him; and he 
 healed them there. 
 
 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempt- 
 ing him, and saying unto him. Is it lawful 
 for a man to put away his wife for every 
 cause? And he answered and said unto 
 them, Have ye not read, that he which made 
 them at the beginning made them male and 
 female, and said. For this cause shall a man 
 leave father and mother, and shall cleave 
 
 89 
 
90 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 to his wife: and they twain shall be one 
 flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, 
 but one flesh. What therefore God hath 
 joined together, let not man put asunder. 
 They say unto him. Why did Moses then 
 command to give a writing of divorcement, 
 and to put her away? He saith unto them, 
 Moses because of the hardness of your hearts 
 suffered you to put away your wives: but 
 from the beginning it was not so. And I 
 say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his 
 wife, except it be for fornication, and shall 
 marry another, committeth adultery: and 
 whoso marrieth her which is put away doth 
 commit adultery. 
 
 His disciples say unto him, If the case of 
 the man be so with his wife, it is not good to 
 marry. But he said unto them. All men can- 
 not receive this saying, save they to whom it 
 is given. For there are some eunuchs, which 
 were so born from their mother's womb: and 
 there are some eunuchs, which were made 
 eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, 
 which have made themselves eunuchs for 
 the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that 
 is able to receive it, let him receive it. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 91 
 
 Then were there brought unto him Httle 
 children, that he should put his hands on 
 them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked 
 them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, 
 and forbid them not, to come unto me; 
 for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And 
 he laid his hands on them, and departed 
 thence. 
 
 And, behold, one came and said unto 
 him. Good Master, what good thing shall I 
 do, that I may have eternal life? And he 
 said unto him. Why callest thou me good? 
 there is none good but one, that is, God: 
 but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the 
 commandments. He saith unto him. Which? 
 Jesus said. Thou shalt do no murder. Thou 
 shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not 
 steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. 
 Honour thy father and thy mother: and 
 Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 
 The young man saith unto him. All these 
 things have I kept from my youth up: what 
 lack I yet? Jesus said unto him. If thou 
 wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, 
 and give to the poor, and thou shalt have 
 treasure in heaven : and come and follow me. 
 
92 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 But when the young man heard that saying, 
 he went away sorrowful: for he had great 
 possessions. 
 
 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily 
 I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly 
 enter into the kingdom of heaven. And 
 again I say unto you, 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. When his disciples heard it, they 
 were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who 
 then can be saved? But Jesus beheld 
 them, and said unto them. With men this 
 is impossible; but with God all things are 
 possible. 
 
 Then answered Peter and said unto him, 
 Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed 
 thee; what shall we have therefore? And 
 Jesus said unto them. Verily I say unto 
 yovi. That ye which have followed me, 
 in the regeneration when the Son of man 
 shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye 
 also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judg- 
 ing the twelve tribes of Israel- And every 
 one that hath forsaken houses, or breth- 
 ren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or 
 
CHAPTER XIX 93 
 
 wife, or children, or lands, for my name's 
 sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall 
 inherit everlasting life. But many that 
 are first shall be last; and the last shall 
 be first. 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 Christy by the similitude of the labourers in the vineyard, 
 sheweth that God is debtor unto no man: foretelleth his 
 passio7i: by answering the mother of Zebedee's children 
 teacheth his disciples to be lowly: and giveth two blind 
 men their sight. 
 
 FOR the kingdom of heaven is Hke unto 
 a man that is a householder, which 
 went out early in the morning to 
 hire labourers into his vineyard. And when 
 he had agreed with the labourers for a 
 penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 
 And he went out about the third hour, and 
 saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 
 and said unto them; Go ye also into the 
 vineyard, and whatsoever 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 saith unto them. Why stand ye 
 here all the day idle? They say unto him, 
 
 94 
 
CHAPTER XX 95 
 
 Because no man hath hired us. He saith 
 unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; 
 and whatsoever is right, that shall ye re- 
 ceive. So when even was come, the lord 
 of the vineyard saith unto his steward. Call 
 the labourers, and give them their hire, be- 
 ginning from the last unto the first. And 
 when they came that were hired about the 
 eleventh hour, they received every man a 
 penny. But when the first came, they 
 supposed that they should have received 
 more; and they likewise received every man 
 a penny. And when they had received it, 
 they murmured against the goodman of 
 the house, saying, These last have wrought 
 but one hour, and thou hast 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 thee no 
 wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a 
 penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: 
 I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 
 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with 
 mine own ? Is thine eye evil, because I am 
 good? So the last shall be first, and the first 
 last: for many be called, but few chosen. 
 
96 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the 
 twelve disciples apart in the way, and said 
 unto them. Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; 
 and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto 
 the chief priests and unto the scribes, and 
 they shall condemn him to death, and shall 
 deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to 
 scourge, and to crucify him: and the third 
 day he shall rise again. 
 
 Then came to him the mother of Zebe- 
 dee's children with her sons, worshipping 
 him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 
 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? 
 She saith unto him, Grant that these my two 
 sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and 
 the other on the left, in thy kingdom. Bisit 
 Jesus answered and said. Ye know not what 
 ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that 
 I shall drink of, and to be baptized with 
 the baptism that I am baptized with? 
 They say unto him. We are able. And he 
 saith unto them. Ye shall drink indeed of my 
 cup, and be baptized with the baptism that 
 I am baptized with: but to sit on my right 
 hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, 
 but it shall be given to them for whom it is 
 
CHAPTER XX 97 
 
 prepared of my Father. And when the 
 ten heard it, they were moved with indigna- 
 tion against the two brethren. But Jesus 
 called them unto him, and said. Ye know 
 that the princes of the Gentiles exercise 
 dominion over them, and they that are great 
 exercise authority upon them. But it 
 shall not be so among you: but whosoever 
 will be great among you, let him be your 
 minister; and whosoever will be chief 
 among you, let him be your servant: even 
 as the Son of man came not to be minis- 
 tered unto, but to minister, and to give his 
 life a ransom for many. And as they de- 
 parted from Jericho, a great multitude fol- 
 lowed him. 
 
 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the 
 way side, when they heard that Jesus passed 
 by, cried out, saying. Have mercy on us, O 
 Lord, thou Son of David. And the multi- 
 tude rebuked them, because they should 
 hold their peace: but they cried the more, 
 saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou 
 Son of David. And Jesus stood still, and 
 called them, and said. What will ye that 
 I shall do unto you? They say unto 
 
98 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 
 So Jesus had compassion on them, and 
 touched their eyes: and immediately their 
 eyes received sight, and they followed 
 him. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 Christ rideth into Jerusalem upon an ass, driveth the 
 buyers and sellers out of the temple^ curseth the fig tree^ 
 putteth to silence the priests and elders^ and rebuketh 
 them by the similitude of the two sons^ and the husband- 
 men, who slew such as were sent unto them, 
 
 A ND when they drew nigh unto Jeru- 
 /% salem, and were come to Bethphage, 
 JL JL. unto the mount of Olives^ then sent 
 Jesus two disciples, saying unto them. Go 
 into the village over against you, and 
 straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a 
 colt with her: loose them, and bring them 
 unto me. And if any man say aught unto 
 you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of 
 them; and straightway he will send them. 
 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled 
 which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 
 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy 
 King Cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting 
 upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 
 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus 
 
 99 
 
loo ST. IMATTHEW 
 
 commanded them, and brought the ass, and 
 the colt, and put on them their clothes, and 
 they set him thereon. And a very great 
 multitude spread their garments in the way; 
 others cut down branches from the trees, 
 and strewed them in the way. And the 
 multitudes that went before, and that fol- 
 lowed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son 
 of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the 
 name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 
 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all 
 the city was moved, saying. Who is this? 
 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the 
 prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. 
 
 And Jesus went into the temple of God, 
 and cast out all them that sold and bought in 
 the temple, and overthrew the tables of the 
 money changers, and the seats of them that 
 sold doves, and said unto them, It is written. 
 My house shall be called the house of prayer; 
 but ye have made it a den of thieves. And 
 the blind and the lame came to him in the 
 temple; and he healed them. And when the 
 chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful 
 things that he did, and the children crying 
 in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the 
 
CHAPTER XXI loi 
 
 Son of David; they were sore displeased, 
 and said unto him, Hearest thou what these 
 say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; 
 have ye never read, Out of the mouth of 
 babes and suckhngs thou hast perfected 
 praise? 
 
 And he left them, and went out of the city 
 into Bethany; and he lodged there. Now 
 in the morning, as he returned into the city, 
 he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree 
 in the way, he came to it, and found noth- 
 ing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto 
 it. Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward 
 for ever. And presently the fig tree with- 
 ered away. And when the disciples saw it, 
 they marvelled, saying. How soon is the fig 
 tree withered away! Jesus answered and 
 said unto them. Verily I say unto you. If ye 
 have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only 
 do this which is done to the fig tree, but also 
 if ye shall say unto this mountain. Be thou 
 removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it 
 shall be done. And all things, whatsoever 
 ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall 
 receive. 
 
 And when he was come into the temple, 
 
I02 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 the chief priests and the elders of the people 
 came unto him as he was teaching, and said. 
 By what authority doest thou these things? 
 and who gave thee this authority? And 
 Jesus answered and said unto them, I also 
 will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, 
 I in like wise will tell you by what authority 
 I do these things. The baptism of John, 
 whence was it? from heaven, or of men? 
 And they reasoned with themselves, say- 
 ing. If we shall say, From heaven; he 
 will say unto us. Why did ye not then be- 
 heve him? But if we shall say. Of men; 
 we fear the people; for all hold John as a 
 prophet. And they answered Jesus, and 
 said. We cannot tell. And he said unto 
 them, Neither tell I you by what authority 
 I do these things. 
 
 But what think ye? A certain man had 
 two sons; and he came to the first, and said. 
 Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He 
 answered and said, I will not; but afterward 
 he repented, and went. And he came to the 
 second, and said likewise. And he answered 
 and said, I go, sir; and went not. Whether 
 of them twain did the will of his father? 
 
CHAPTER XXI 103 
 
 They say unto him. The first. Jesus saith 
 unto them, Verily I say unto you, That 
 the publicans and the harlots go into the 
 kingdom of God before you. For John 
 came unto you in the way of righteousness, 
 and ye believed him not; but the pubHcans 
 and the harlots believed him: and ye, when 
 ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that 
 ye might believe him. 
 
 Hear another parable: There was a cer- 
 tain householder, which planted a vineyard, 
 and hedged it round about, and digged a 
 winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it 
 out to husbandmen, and went into a far 
 country: and when the time of the fruit 
 drew near, he sent his servants to the hus- 
 bandmen, that they might receive the fruits 
 of it. And the husbandmen took his ser- 
 vants, and beat one, and killed another, and 
 stoned another. Again, he sent other ser- 
 vants more than the first: and they did unto 
 them likewise. But last of all he sent unto 
 them his son, saying. They will reverence 
 my son. But when the husbandmen saw 
 the son, they said among themselves. This 
 is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us 
 
I04 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 seize on his inheritance. And they caught 
 him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and 
 slew him. When the lord therefore of the 
 vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those 
 husbandmen? They say unto him, He will 
 miserably destroy those wicked men, and 
 will let out his vineyard unto other husband- 
 men, which shall render him the fruits in 
 their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did 
 ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone 
 which the builders rejected, the same is 
 become the head of the corner: this is the 
 Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our 
 eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The king- 
 dom of God shall be taken from you, and 
 given to a nation bringing forth the fruits 
 thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this 
 stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever 
 it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 
 And when the chief priests and Pharisees 
 had heard his parables, they perceived that 
 he spake of them. But when they sought 
 to lay hands on him, they feared the multi- 
 tude, because they took him for a prophet. 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 The parable of the marriage of the kings son. The 
 vocation of the Gentiles, The punishnent of him that 
 wanted the wedding garment. Tribute ought to be paid 
 to Cesar. Christ confuteth the Sadducees for the resur- 
 rection: answereth the lawyer^ which is the first and great 
 commandment: and poseth the Pharisees about the 
 Messias. 
 
 A ND Jesus answered and spake unto 
 /% them again by parables, and said, 
 JL JL The kingdom of heaven is like unto a 
 certain king, which made a marriage for his 
 son, and sent forth his servants to call them 
 that were bidden to the wedding: and they 
 would not come. Again, he sent forth other 
 servants, saying. Tell them which are bid- 
 den. Behold, I have prepared my dinner: 
 my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all 
 things are ready: come unto the marriage. 
 But they made light of it, and went their 
 ways, one to his farm, another to his mer- 
 chandise: and the remnant took his ser- 
 
 105 
 
io6 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 vants, and entreated them spitefully, and 
 slew them. But when the king heard there- 
 of, he was wroth: and he sent forth his 
 armies, and destroyed those murderers, and 
 burned up their city. Then saith he to his 
 servants. The wedding is ready, but they 
 which were bidden were not worthy. Go 
 ye therefore into the highways, and as many 
 as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So 
 those servants went out into the highways, 
 and gathered together all as many as they 
 found, both bad and good: and the wedding 
 was furnished with guests. 
 
 And when the king came in to see the 
 guests, he saw there a man which had not 
 on a wedding garment: and he saith unto 
 him. Friend, how camest thou in hither not 
 having a wedding garment? And he was 
 speechless. Then said the king to the ser- 
 vants. Bind him hand and foot, and take him 
 away, and cast him into outer darkness; 
 there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 
 For many are called, but few are chosen. 
 
 Then went the Pharisees, and took coun- 
 sel how they might entangle him in his 
 talk. And they sent out unto him their 
 
CHAPTER XXII 107 
 
 disciples with the Herodians, saying, Mas- 
 ter, we know that thou art true, and teach- 
 est the way of God in truth, neither carest 
 thou for any man: for thou regardest not 
 the person of men. Tell us therefore, What 
 thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute 
 unto Cesar, or not? But Jesus perceived 
 their wickedness, and said, Why tempt 
 ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tri- 
 bute money. And they brought unto him 
 a penny. And he saith unto them. Whose 
 is this image and superscription? They 
 say unto him, Cesar's. Then saith he unto 
 them. Render therefore unto Cesar the 
 things which are Cesar's; and unto God the 
 things that are God's. When they had 
 heard these words, they marvelled, and left 
 him, and went their way. 
 
 The same day came to him the Sadducees, 
 which say that there is no resurrection, 
 and asked him, saying. Master, Moses said, 
 If a man die, having no children, his brother 
 shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto 
 his brother. Now there were with us seven 
 brethren: and the first,when he had married 
 a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left 
 
io8 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 his wife unto his brother: Hkewise the second 
 also, and the third, unto the seventh. And 
 last of all the woman died also. Therefore 
 in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be 
 of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus 
 answered and said unto them. Ye do err, 
 not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power 
 of God. For in the resurrection they neither 
 marry, nor are given in marriage, but are 
 as the angels of God in heaven. But as 
 touching the resurrection of the dead, have 
 ye not read that which was spoken unto you 
 by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, 
 and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 
 God is not the God of the dead, but of 
 the living. And when the multitude heard 
 this, they were astonished at his doctrine. 
 
 But when the Pharisees had heard that 
 he had put the Sadducees to silence, they 
 were gathered together. Then one of them, 
 which was a lawyer, asked him a question, 
 tempting him, and saying. Master, which 
 is the great commandment in the law? 
 Jesus said unto him. Thou shalt love the 
 Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with 
 all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This 
 
CHAPTER XXII 109 
 
 is the first and great commandment. And 
 the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love 
 thy neighbour as thyself. On these two 
 commandments hang all the law and the 
 prophets. 
 
 While the Pharisees were gathered to- 
 gether, 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, saying, The Lord said unto 
 my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till 
 I make thine enemies thy footstool? If 
 David then call him Lord, how is he his son ? 
 And no man was able to answer him a word, 
 neither durst any man from that day forth 
 ask him any more questions. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 Christ admonisheth the people to follow the good doc- 
 trine y not the evil examples ^ of the scribes and Pharisees. 
 His disciples 7iiust beware of their ambition. He 
 denounceth eight woes against their hypocrisy and 
 blindness: and prophesieth of the destruction of Jeru- 
 salein. 
 
 THEN spake Jesus to the multitude, 
 and to his disciples, saying, The 
 scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' 
 seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you 
 observe, that observe and do; but do not 
 ye after their works: for they say, and do 
 not. For they bind heavy burdens and 
 grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's 
 shoulders; but they themselves will not 
 move them with one of their fingers. But 
 all their works they do for to be seen of men : 
 they make broad their phylacteries, and 
 enlarge the borders of their garments, and 
 love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the 
 chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings 
 
 no 
 
CHAPTER XXIII III 
 
 in the markets, and to be called of men, 
 Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: 
 for one is your Master, even Christ; and 
 ail ye are brethren. And call no man your 
 father upon the earth: for one is your 
 Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye 
 called masters: for one is your Master, even 
 Christ. But he that is greatest among you 
 shall be your servant. And whosoever shall 
 exalt himself shall be abased; and he that 
 shall humble himself shall be exalted. 
 
 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, 
 hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of 
 heaven against men: for ye neither go in 
 yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are 
 entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes 
 and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour 
 widows' houses, and for a pretence make 
 long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the 
 greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes 
 and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass 
 sea and land to make one proselyte; and 
 v/hen he is made, ye make him twofold 
 more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe 
 unto you, ye blind guides, which say. Who- 
 soever shall swear by the temple^ it is noth- 
 
112 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 ing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold 
 of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and 
 blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or 
 the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, 
 Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is 
 nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the 
 gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools 
 and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, 
 or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whoso 
 therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth 
 by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso 
 shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, 
 and by him that dwelleth therein. And 
 he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth 
 by the throne of God, and by him that sit- 
 teth thereon. Woe unto you, scribes and 
 Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of 
 mint and anise and cummin, and have 
 omitted the weightier matters of the law, 
 judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye 
 to have done, and not to leave the other 
 undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at 
 a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto 
 you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for 
 ye make clean the outside of the cup and 
 of the platter, but within they are full of 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 113 
 
 extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, 
 cleanse first that which is within the cup 
 and platter, that the outside of them may 
 be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and 
 Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto 
 whited sepulchres, which indeed appear 
 beautiful outward, but are within full of 
 dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 
 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous 
 unto men, but within ye are full of hypoc- 
 risy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes 
 and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build 
 the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the 
 sepulchres of the righteous, and say. If we 
 had been in the days of our fathers, we 
 would not have been partakers with them 
 in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore 
 ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are 
 the children of them which killed the pro- 
 phets. Fill ye up then the measure of your 
 fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of 
 vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of 
 hell? 
 
 W^herefore, behold, I send unto you pro- 
 phets, and wise men, and scribes: and some 
 of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some 
 
114 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, 
 and persecute them from city to city: that 
 upon you may come all the righteous blood 
 shed upon the earth, from the blood of 
 righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias 
 son of Barachias, whom ye slew between 
 the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto 
 you, All these things shall come upon this 
 generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou 
 that killest the prophets, and stonest them 
 which are sent unto thee, how often would I 
 have gathered thy children together, even 
 as a hen gathereth her chickens under her 
 wings, and ye would not! Behold, your 
 house is left unto you desolate. For I say 
 unto you. Ye shall not see me henceforth, 
 till ye shall say. Blessed is he that cometh 
 in the name of the Lord. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 Christ for etelleth the destruction of the temple: what and 
 how great calamities shall be before it: the signs of hi^ 
 coming to judgment. And because that day and hour 
 is unknown, we ought to watch like good servants, ex- 
 pecting every moment our master s coming. 
 
 4 ND Jesus went out, and departed from 
 /% the temple: and his disciples came 
 X JL to him for to shew him the build- 
 ings of the temple. And Jesus said unto 
 them, See ye not all these things? verily I 
 say unto you. There shall not be left here 
 one stone upon another, that shall not be 
 thrown down. 
 
 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, 
 the disciples came unto him privately, say- 
 ing, Tell us, when shall these things be? and 
 what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of 
 the end of the world? And Jesus answered 
 and said unto them. Take heed that no man 
 deceive you. For many shall come in my 
 name, saying, I am Christ; and shall de- 
 ns 
 
ii6 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 ceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and 
 rumours of wars: see that ye be not trou- 
 bled: for all these things must come to pass, 
 but the end is not yet. For nation shall 
 rise against nation, and kingdom against 
 kingdom: and there shall be famines, and 
 pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers 
 places. All these are the beginning of sor- 
 rows. Then shall they deliver you up to 
 be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall 
 be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 
 And then shall many be offended, and shall 
 betray one another, and shall hate one an- 
 other. And many false prophets shall rise, 
 and shall deceive many. And because 
 iniquity shall abound, the love of many 
 shall wax cold. But he that shall endure 
 unto the end, the same shall be saved. And 
 this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached 
 in all the world for a witness unto all na- 
 tions; and then shall the end come. When 
 ye therefore shall see the abomination of 
 desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, 
 stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, 
 let him understand,) then let them which 
 be in Judea flee into the mountains: let him 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 117 
 
 which is on the housetop not come down to 
 take any thing out of his house: neither let 
 him which is in the field return back to take 
 his clothes. And woe unto them that are 
 with child, and to them that give suck in 
 those days! But pray ye that your flight 
 be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath 
 day: for then shall be great tribulation, such 
 as was not since the beginning of the world 
 to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And 
 except those days should be shortened, 
 there should no flesh be saved: but for the 
 elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 
 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, 
 here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For 
 there shall arise false Christs, and false 
 prophets, and shall shew great signs and 
 wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, 
 they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, 
 I have told you before. Wherefore if they 
 shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the des- 
 ert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret 
 chambers; believe it not. For as the light- 
 ning Cometh out of the east, and shineth 
 even unto the west; so shall also the coming 
 of the Son of man be. For wheresoever 
 
ii8 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 the carcass is, there will the eagles be 
 gathered together. 
 
 Immediately after the tribulation of those 
 days shall the sun be darkened, and the 
 moon shall not give her light, and the stars 
 shall fall from heaven, and the powers of 
 the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall 
 appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven : 
 and then shall all the tribes of the earth 
 mourn, and they shall see the Son of man 
 coming in the clouds of heaven with power 
 and great glory. And he shall send his 
 angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and 
 they shall gather together his elect from the 
 four winds, from one end of heaven to the 
 other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; 
 When his branch is yet tender, and putteth 
 forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 
 so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these 
 things, know that it is near, even at the 
 doors. Verily I say unto you. This genera- 
 tion shall not pass, till all these things be 
 fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, 
 but my words shall not pass away. 
 
 But of that day and hour knoweth no 
 man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 119 
 
 Father only. But as the days of Noe were, 
 so shall also the coming of the Son of man 
 be. For as in the days that were before the 
 flood they were eating and drinking, marry- 
 ing and giving in marriage, until the day 
 that Noe entered into the ark, and knew 
 not until the flood came, and took them all 
 away; so shall also the coming of the Son 
 of man be. Then shall two be in the field; 
 the one shall be taken, and the other left. 
 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; 
 the one shall be taken, and the other left. 
 Watch therefore; for ye know not what 
 hour your Lord doth come. But know 
 this, that if the goodman of the house had 
 known in what watch the thief would come, 
 he would have watched, and would not have 
 sufi^ered his house to be broken up. There- 
 fore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as 
 ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who 
 then is a faithful and wise servant, whom 
 his lord hath made ruler over his household, 
 to give them meat in due season? Blessed 
 is that servant, whom his lord when he 
 Cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say 
 unto you, That he shall make him ruler 
 
I20 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 over all his goods. But and if that evil 
 servant shall say in his heart, My lord de- 
 layeth his coming; and shall begin to smite 
 his fellow servants, and to eat and drink 
 with the drunken; the lord of that servant 
 shall come in a day when he looketh not for 
 him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 
 and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him 
 his portion with the hypocrites: there shall 
 be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 
 
CHAPTER XXV 
 
 The parable of the ten virgins^ and of the talents. Also 
 the description of the last judgment, 
 
 THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be 
 likened unto ten virgins, which took 
 their lamps, and went forth to meet 
 the bridegroom. And five of them were 
 wise, and five were foolish. They that were 
 foolish took their lamps, and took no oil 
 with them: but the wise took oil in their 
 vessels with their lamps. While the bride- 
 groom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 
 And at midnight there was a cry made, 
 Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out 
 to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, 
 and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish 
 said unto the wise. Give us of your oil; 
 for our lamps are gone out. But the wise 
 answered, saying. Not so; lest there be not 
 enough for us and you: but go ye rather to 
 them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And 
 while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; 
 
122 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 and they that were ready went in with him 
 to the marriage: and the door was shut. Af- 
 terward came also the other virgins^ saying, 
 Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and 
 said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 
 Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day 
 nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 
 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man 
 travelling into a far country, who called his 
 own servants, and delivered unto them his 
 goods. And unto one he gave five talents, 
 to another two, and to another one; to every 
 man according to his several ability; and 
 straightway took his journey. Then he 
 that had received the five talents went and 
 traded with the same, and made them other 
 five talents. And likewise he that had 
 received two, he also gained other two. But 
 he that had received one went and digged in 
 the earth, and hid his lord's money. After 
 a long time the lord of those servants 
 cometh, and reckoneth with them. And 
 so he that had received five talents came 
 and brought other five talents, saying. Lord, 
 thou deliveredst unto me five talents: be- 
 hold, I have gained beside them five talents 
 
CHAPTER XXV 123 
 
 more. His lord said unto him, Well done, 
 thou good and faithful servant: thou hast 
 been faithful over a few things, I will make 
 thee ruler over many things: enter thou into 
 the joy of thy lord. He also that had re- 
 ceived two talents came and said. Lord, 
 thou deliveredst unto me two talents: be- 
 hold, I have gained two other talents beside 
 them. His lord said unto him. Well done, 
 good and faithful servant; thou hast been 
 faithful over a few things, I will make thee 
 ruler over many things: enter thou into the 
 joy of thy lord. Then he which had re- 
 ceived the one talent came and said, Lord, 
 I knew thee that thou art a hard man, 
 reaping where thou hast not sown, and 
 gathering where thou hast not strewed: 
 and I was afraid, and went and hid thy 
 talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that 
 is thine. His lord answered and said unto 
 him. Thou wicked and slothful servant, 
 thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, 
 and gather where I have not strewed: thou 
 oughtest therefore to have put my money 
 to the exchangers, and then at my coming 
 I should have received mine own with usury. 
 
124 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 Take therefore the talent from him, and give 
 it unto him which hath ten talents. For 
 unto every one that hath shall be given, and 
 he shall have abundance: but from him that 
 hath not shall be taken away even that 
 which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable 
 servant into outer darkness: there shall be 
 weeping and gnashing of teeth. 
 
 When the Son of man shall come in his 
 glory, and all the holy angels with him, then 
 shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 
 and before him shall be gathered all nations: 
 and he shall separate them one from an- 
 other, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from 
 the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his 
 right hand, but the goats on the left. Then 
 shall the King say unto them on his right 
 hand. Come, ye blessed of my Father, in- 
 herit the kingdom prepared for you from the 
 foundation of the word: for I was a hung- 
 ered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, 
 and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and 
 ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: 
 I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in pri- 
 son, and ye came unto me. Then shall the 
 righteous answer him, saying. Lord, when 
 
CHAPTER XXV 125 
 
 saw we thee a hungered, and fed thee? or 
 thirsty, and gave thee drink? when saw we 
 thee a stranger, and took thee in ? or naked, 
 and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, 
 or in prison, and came unto thee? And the 
 King shall answer and say unto them. 
 Verily I say unto you. Inasmuch as ye have 
 done it unto one of the least of these my 
 brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then 
 shall he say also unto them on the left hand. 
 Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting 
 fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 
 for I was a hungered, and ye gave me no 
 meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no 
 drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not 
 in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and 
 in prison, and ye visited me not. Then 
 shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, 
 when saw we thee a hungered, or athirst, 
 or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, 
 and did not minister unto thee? Then 
 shall he answer them, saying. Verily I say 
 unto you. Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of 
 the least of these, ye did it not to me. And 
 these shall go away into everlasting punish- 
 ment: but the righteous into life eternal. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 The rulers conspire against Christ, The wofnan 
 anointeth his head. Judas selleth him. Christ eateth 
 the passover: instituteth his holy supper: prayeth in the 
 garden: and being betrayed with a kiss, is carried to 
 CaiaphaSy and denied oj Peter. 
 
 4 ND it came to pass, when Jesus had 
 /% finished all these sayings, he said un- 
 JL jL to his disciples, Ye know that after 
 two days is the feast of the passover, and 
 the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. 
 Then assembled together the chief priests, 
 and the scribes, and the elders of the people, 
 unto the palace of the high priest, who was 
 called Caiaphas, and consulted that they 
 might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. 
 But they said. Not on the feast day, lest 
 there be an uproar among the people. 
 
 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the 
 house of Simon the leper, there came unto 
 him a woman having an alabaster box of 
 very precious ointment, and poured it on his 
 
 126 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 127 
 
 head, as he sat at meat. But when his 
 disciples saw it, they had indignation, say- 
 ing. To what purpose is this waste? For 
 this ointment might have been sold for 
 much, and given to the poor. When Jesus 
 understood it, he said unto them. Why 
 trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought 
 a good work upon me. For ye have the 
 poor always with you; but me ye have not 
 always. For in that she hath poured this 
 ointment on my body, she did it for my 
 burial. Verily I say unto you, Whereso- 
 ever this gospel shall be preached in the 
 whole world, there shall also this, that this 
 woman hath done, be told for a memorial 
 of her. 
 
 Then one of the twelve, called Judas 
 Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and 
 said unto them. What will ye give me, and 
 I will deliver him unto you? And they 
 covenanted with him for thirty pieces of 
 silver. And from that time he sought op- 
 portunity to betray him. 
 
 Now the first day of the feast of unleav- 
 ened bread the disciples 'came to Jesus, 
 saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we 
 
128 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he 
 said. Go into the city to such a man, and say 
 unto him. The Master saith, My time is at 
 hand; I will keep the passover at thy house 
 with my disciples. And the disciples did as 
 Jesus had appointed them; and they made 
 ready the passover. Now when the even 
 was come, he sat down with the twelve. 
 And as they did eat, he said. Verily I say 
 unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 
 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and be- 
 gan every one of them to say unto him, 
 Lord, is it I? And he answered and said. 
 He that dippeth his hand with me in the 
 dish, the same shall betray me. The Son 
 of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe 
 unto that man by whom the Son of man is 
 betrayed! it had been good for that man if 
 he had not been born. Then Judas, which 
 betrayed him, answered and said. Master, 
 is it I? He said unto him. Thou hast 
 said. 
 
 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, 
 and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the 
 disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my 
 body. And he took the cup, and gave 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 129 
 
 thanks^ and gave it to them, saying. Drink 
 ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new 
 testament, which is shed for many for the 
 remission of sins. But I say unto you, I 
 will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the 
 vine, until that day when I drink it new with 
 you in my Father's kingdom. And when 
 they had sung a hymn, they went out into 
 the mount of Olives. Then saith Jesus 
 unto them. All ye shall be offended because 
 of me this night: for it is written, I will smite 
 the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock 
 shall be scattered abroad. But after I am 
 risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 
 Peter answered and said unto him. Though 
 all men shall be offended because of thee, 
 yet will I never be offended. Jesus said 
 unto him. Verily I say unto thee, That this 
 night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny 
 me thrice. Peter said unto him. Though I 
 should die with thee, yet will I not deny 
 thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. 
 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a 
 place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the 
 disciples. Sit ye here, while I go and pray 
 yonder. And he took with him Peter and 
 
I30 ST. MATTHEW* 
 
 the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be 
 sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he 
 unto them. My soul is exceeding sorrowful, 
 even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch 
 with me. And he went a little further, and 
 fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my 
 Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass 
 from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as 
 thou wilt. And he cometh unto the dis- 
 ciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith 
 unto Peter, What, could ye not watch 
 with me one hour? Watch and pray, that 
 ye enter not into temptation: the spirit 
 indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He 
 went away again the second time, and 
 prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup 
 may not pass away from me, except I drink 
 it, thy will be done. And he came and 
 found them asleep again : for their eyes were 
 heavy. And he left them, and went away 
 again, and prayed the third time, saying 
 the same words. Then cometh he to his 
 disciples, and saith unto them. Sleep on 
 now, and take your rest: behold, the hour 
 is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed 
 into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 131 
 
 going: behold, he is at hand that doth be- 
 tray me. 
 
 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one 
 of the twelve, came, and with him a great 
 multitude with swords and staves, from 
 the chief priests and elders of the people. 
 Now he that betrayed him gave them a 
 sign, saying. Whomsoever I shall kiss, that 
 same is he; hold him fast. And forthwith 
 he came to Jesus, and said. Hail, Master; 
 and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, 
 Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then 
 came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and 
 took him. And, behold, one of them which 
 were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and 
 drew his sword, and struck a servant of the 
 high priest, and smote off his ear. Then 
 said Jesus unto him. Put up again thy 
 sword into his place: for all they that take 
 the sword shall perish with the sword. 
 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to 
 my Father, and he shall presently give me 
 more than twelve legions of angels? But 
 how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, 
 that thus it must be? In that same hour 
 said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come 
 
132 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 out as against a thief with swords and staves 
 for to take me? I sat daily with you teach- 
 ing in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. 
 But all this was done, that the Scriptures 
 of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then 
 all the disciples forsook him, and fled. 
 
 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led 
 him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where 
 the scribes and the elders were assembled. 
 But Peter followed him afar off unto the 
 high priest's palace, and went in, and sat 
 with the servants, to see the end. Now 
 the chief priests, and elders, and all the 
 council, sought false witness against Jesus, 
 to put him to death; but found none: yea, 
 though many false witnesses came, yet 
 found they none. At the last came two 
 false witnesses, and said. This fellow said, 
 I am able to destroy the temple of God, 
 and to build it in three days. And the high 
 priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest 
 thou nothing? what is it which these wit- 
 ness against thee? But Jesus held his 
 peace. And the high priest answered and 
 said unto him, I adjure thee by the living 
 God, that thou tell us whether thou be the 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 133 
 
 Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto 
 him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say 
 unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of 
 man sitting on the right hand of power, and 
 coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the 
 high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath 
 spoken blasphemy; what further need have 
 we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard 
 his blasphemy. What think ye? They 
 answered and said. He is guilty of death. 
 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted 
 him; and others smote him with the palms 
 of their hands, saying. Prophesy unto us, 
 thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? 
 
 Now Peter sat without in the palace: 
 and a damsel came unto him, saying. Thou 
 also wast with Jesus of Gahlee. But he 
 denied before them all, saying, I know not 
 what thou sayest. And when he was gone 
 out into the porch, another maid saw him, 
 and said unto them that were there, This 
 fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 
 And again he denied with an oath, I do not 
 know the man. And after a while came 
 unto him they that stood by, and said to 
 Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for 
 
134 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began 
 he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not 
 the man. And immediately the cock crew. 
 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, 
 which said unto him. Before the cock crow, 
 thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went 
 out, and wept bitterly. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 Christ is delivered bound to Pilate. Judas hangeth 
 himself. Pilate, admonished oj his wife, washeth his 
 hands: and looseth Barabhas. Christ is crowned with 
 thorns, crucified, reviled, dieth, a,nd is buried: his sepul- 
 chre is sealed, and watched. 
 
 WHEN the morning was come, all the 
 chief priests and elders of the people 
 took counsel against Jesus to put 
 him to death: and when they had bound 
 him, they led him away, and delivered him 
 to Pontius Pilate the governor. 
 
 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, 
 when he saw that he was condemned, re- 
 pented himself, and brought again the thirty 
 pieces of silver to the chief priests and 
 elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have 
 betrayed the innocent blood. And they 
 said. What is that to us? see thou to that. 
 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the 
 temple, and departed, and went and hanged 
 himself. And the chief priests took the 
 
 I3S 
 
136 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for 
 to put them into the treasury, because it is 
 the price of blood. And they took counsel, 
 and bought with them the potter's field, to 
 bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was 
 called. The field of blood, unto this day. 
 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken 
 by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they 
 took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of 
 him that was valued, whom they of the 
 children of Israel did value; and gave them 
 for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed 
 me. And Jesus stood before the governor: 
 and the governor asked him, saying, Art 
 thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus 
 said unto him. Thou sayest. And when he 
 was accused of the chief priests and elders, 
 he answered nothing. Then said Pilate 
 unto him, Hearest thou not how many 
 things they witness against thee? And he 
 answered him to never a word; insomuch 
 that the governor marvelled greatly. Now 
 at that feast the governor was wont to re- 
 lease unto the people a prisoner, whom they 
 would. And they had then a notable pri- 
 soner, called Barabbas. Therefore when 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 137 
 
 they were gathered together, Pilate said 
 unto them. Whom will ye that I release unto 
 you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called 
 Christ? For he knew that for envy they 
 had delivered him. 
 
 When he was set down on the judgment 
 seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have 
 thou nothing to do with that just man: for 
 I have suffered many things this day in a 
 dream because of him. But the chief 
 priests and elders persuaded the multitude 
 that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy 
 Jesus. The governor answered and said 
 unto them. Whether of the twain will ye 
 that I release unto you? They said, Bar- 
 abbas. Pilate saith unto them. What shall 
 I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? 
 They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 
 And the governor said. Why, what evil hath 
 he done? But they cried out the more, 
 saying. Let him be crucified. 
 
 When Pilate saw that he could prevail 
 nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, 
 he took water, and washed his hands before 
 the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the 
 blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then 
 
138 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 answered all the people, and said, His blood 
 be on us, and on our children. 
 
 Then released he Barabbas unto them: 
 and when he had scourged Jesus, he de- 
 livered him to be crucified. Then the sol- 
 diers of the governor took Jesus into the 
 common hall, and gathered unto him the 
 whole band of soldiers. And they stripped 
 him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 
 
 And when they had platted a crown of 
 thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed 
 in his right hand: and they bowed the knee 
 before him, and mocked him, saying. Hail, 
 King of the Jews! And they spit upon 
 him, and took the reed, and smote him on 
 the head. And after that they had mocked 
 him, they took the robe off from him, and 
 put his own raiment on him, and led him 
 away to crucify him. And as they came 
 out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon 
 by name: him they compelled to bear his 
 cross. And when they were come unto a 
 place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place 
 of a skull. 
 
 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled 
 with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 139 
 
 he would not drink. And they crucified 
 him, and parted his garments, casting lots: 
 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken 
 by the prophet, They parted my garments 
 among them, and upon my vesture did they 
 cast lots. And sitting down they watched 
 him there; and set up over his head his ac- 
 cusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE 
 KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there 
 two thieves crucified with him; one on the 
 right hand, and another on the left. 
 
 And they that passed by reviled him, 
 wagging their heads, and saying. Thou that 
 destroyest the temple, and buildest it in 
 three days, save thyself. If thou be the 
 Son of God, come down from the cross. 
 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, 
 with the scribes and elders, said, He saved 
 others; himself he cannot save. If he be 
 the King of Israel, let him now come down 
 from the cross, and we will believe him. 
 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, 
 if he will have him: for he" said, I am the 
 Son of God. The thieves also, which were 
 crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. 
 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness 
 
I40 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 over all the land unto the ninth hour. And 
 about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud 
 voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? 
 that is to say, My God, my God, why hast 
 thou forsaken me? Some of them that 
 stood there, when they heard that, said, 
 This man calleth for Elias. And straight- 
 way one of them ran, and took a sponge, 
 and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a 
 reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, 
 Let be, let us see whether Elias will come 
 to save him. 
 
 Jesus, when he had cried again with a 
 loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, 
 behold, the vail of the temple was rent in 
 twain from the top to the bottom; and 
 the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 
 and the graves were opened; and many 
 bodies of the saints which slept arose, and 
 came out of the graves after his resur- 
 rection, and went into the holy city, and 
 appeared unto many. Now when the cen- 
 turion, and they that were with him, watch- 
 ing Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those 
 things that were done, they feared greatly, 
 saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 141 
 
 And many women were there beholding afar 
 off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, min- 
 istering unto him: among which was Mary 
 Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James 
 and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's 
 children. When the even was come, there 
 came a rich man of Arimathea, named 
 Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: 
 he went to Pilate, and begged the body of 
 Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body 
 to be delivered. And when Joseph had 
 taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean 
 linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, 
 which he had hewn out in the rock: and 
 he rolled a great stone to the door of the 
 sepulchre, and departed. And there was 
 Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sit- 
 ting over against the sepulchre. 
 
 Now the next day, that followed the day 
 of the preparation, the chief priests and 
 Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying. 
 Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, 
 while he was yet alive. After three days I 
 will rise again. Command therefore that 
 the sepulchre be made sure until the third 
 day, lest his disciples come by night, and 
 
142 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 steal him away, and say unto the people. 
 He is risen from the dead: so the last error 
 shall be worse than the first. Pilate said 
 unto them. Ye have a watch: go your way, 
 make it as sure as ye can. So they went, 
 and made the sepulchre sure, sealing.the 
 stone, and setting a watch. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 Christ's resurrection is declared by an angel to the 
 women. He himself appeareth unto them. The high 
 priests give the soldiers money to say that he was stolen 
 out of his sepulchre. Christ appeareth to his disciples^ 
 and sendeth them to baptize and teach all nations. 
 
 IN THE end of the sabbath, as it began 
 to dawn toward the first day of the 
 week, came Mary Magdalene and the 
 other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, 
 behold, there was a great earthquake: for 
 the angel of the Lord descended from 
 heaven, and came and rolled back the stone 
 from the door, and sat upon it. His coun- 
 tenance was like lightning, and his raiment 
 white as snow: and for fear of him the keep- 
 ers did shake, and became as dead men. 
 And the angel answered and said unto the 
 women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye 
 seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not 
 here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see 
 the place where the Lord lay. And go 
 
 143 
 
144 ST. MATTHEW 
 
 quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen 
 from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before 
 you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I 
 have told you. And they departed quickly 
 from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; 
 and did run to bring his disciples word. 
 
 And as they went to tell his disciples, be- 
 hold, Jesus met them, saying. All hail. And 
 they came and held him by the feet, and 
 worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto 
 them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that 
 they go into Galilee, and there shall they see 
 me. 
 
 Now when they were going, behold, some 
 of the watch came into the city, and shewed 
 unto the chief priests all the things that were 
 done. And when they were assembled with 
 the elders, and had taken counsel, they 
 gave large money unto the soldiers, saying. 
 Say ye. His disciples came by night, and 
 stole him away while we slept. And if this 
 come to the governor's ears, we will per- 
 suade him, and secure you. So they took 
 the money, and did as they were taught: 
 and this saying is commonly reported 
 among the Jews until this day. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII 145 
 
 Then the eleven disciples went away into 
 Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had 
 appointed them. And when they saw him, 
 they worshipped him: but some doubted. 
 And Jesus came and spake unto them, say- 
 ing, All power is given unto me in heaven 
 and in earth. 
 
 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, 
 baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
 and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 
 teaching them to observe all things what- 
 soever I have commanded you : and, lo, I am 
 with you alway, even unto the end of the 
 world. Amen. 
 
 THE END 
 
THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS 
 GARDEN CITY, N. Y. 
 
3S185.5 1920 .G2 
 
 The Gospel according to Saint Matthew 
 Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library 
 
 1 1012 00058 7321