On one of those days, when Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and Doctors of the Law were sitting near by. (They had come from all the villages in Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was upon Jesus, so that he could work cures.)

The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began debating about this. "Who is this man who speaks so blasphemously?" they asked. "Who can forgive sins except God?"

The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law belonging to their party complained of this to the disciples of Jesus."

"John's disciples," they said to Jesus, "Often fast and say prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, while yours are eating and drinking!"

"Why are you doing what it is not allowable to do on the Sabbath?" asked some of the Pharisees.

The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely, to see if he would work cures on the Sabbath, so that they might find a charge to bring against him.

But the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees were goaded to madness, and consulted together what they could do to Jesus.

But the Pharisees and the Students of the Law, having rejected John's baptism, frustrated God's purpose in regard to them.)

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, so Jesus went to his house and took his place at table.

Just then a woman, who was an outcast in the town, having ascertained that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of perfume,

When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself: "Had this man been 'The Prophet,' he would have known who, and what sort of woman, this is who is touching him, and that she is an outcast."

As Jesus finished speaking, a Pharisee asked him to breakfast with him, and Jesus went in and took his place at table.

The Pharisee noticed, to his astonishment, that Jesus omitted the ceremonial washing before breakfast.

But the Master said to him: "You Pharisees do, it is true, clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are filled with greed and wickedness.

But alas for you Pharisees! You pay tithes on mint, rue, and herbs of all kinds, and pass over justice and love to God. These last you ought to have put into practice without neglecting the first.

Alas for you Pharisees! You delight to have the front seat in the Synagogues, and to be greeted in the markets with respect.

When Jesus left the house, the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to press him hard and question him closely upon many subjects,

Meanwhile the people had gathered in thousands, so that they trod upon one another, when Jesus, addressing himself to his disciples, began by saying to them: "Be on your guard against the leaven--that is, the hypocrisy--of the Pharisees.

Just then some Pharisees came up to Jesus and said: "Go away and leave this place, for Herod wants to kill you."

On one occasion, as Jesus was going, on a Sabbath into the house of one of the leading Pharisees to dine, they were watching him closely.

"Is it allowable," said Jesus, addressing the Students of the Law and the Pharisees, "to work a cure on the Sabbath, or is it not?"

But the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law found fault. "This man always welcomes outcasts, and takes meals with them!" they complained.

All this was said within hearing of the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they began to sneer at Jesus.

Being once asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God was to come, Jesus answered: "The Kingdom of God does not come in a way that admits of observation,

"Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.

The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way--'O God, I thank thee that I am not like other men-- thieves, rogues, adulterers--or even like this tax-gatherer.

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him: "Teacher, reprove your disciples."