For I tell you that many Prophets and good men have longed for the sight of the things which you are seeing, yet never saw them, and to hear the things which you are hearing, yet never heard them.

But, as he has no root, he stands for only a short time; and, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Message, he falls away at once.

'No,' said he, 'for fear that, while you are gathering the tares, you should root up the wheat as well.

Let both grow side by side till harvest; and then I shall say to the reapers, Gather the tares together first, and tie them in bundles for burning; but bring all the wheat into my barn.'"

For Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and shut him up in prison, to please Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother Philip.

For John had said to him 'You have no right to be living with her.'

In the evening the disciples came up to him, and said: " This is a lonely spot, and the day is now far advanced; send the crowds away, that they may go to the villages, and buy themselves food."

But Jesus said: "They need not go away, it is for you to give them something to eat."

The boat was by this time some miles from shore, laboring in the waves, for the wind was against her.

But, when they saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they exclaimed, and cried out for fear.

"How is it that your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? For they do not wash their hands when they eat food."

His reply was: "How is it that you on your side break God's commandments out of respect for your own traditions?

For God said--'Honor thy father and mother,' and 'Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,'

'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me;

But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.'"

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts--murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander.

"It is not fair," replied Jesus, "to take the children's food and throw it to dogs."

"Yes, Master," she said, "for even dogs do feed on the scraps that fall from their owners' table."

Afterwards Jesus called his disciples to him, and said: "My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, for fear that they should break down on the way."

"Where can we," his disciples asked, "in a lonely place find enough bread for such a crowd as this?"

The men who ate were four thousand in number without counting women and children.

But Jesus answered: [ "In the evening you say 'It will be fine weather, for the sky is as red as fire.'

But in the morning you say 'To-day it will be stormy, for the sky is as red as fire and threatening.' You learn to read the sky; yet you are unable to read the signs of the times!]

A wicked and unfaithful generation is asking for a sign, but no sign shall be given it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and went away.

Do not you yet see, nor remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took away?

Nor yet the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you took away?

"Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah," Jesus replied. "For no human being has revealed this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven.

Jesus, however, turning to Peter, said: "Out of my way, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you look at things, not as God does, but as man does."

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake, loses his life shall find it.

For the Son of Man is to come in his Father's Glory, with his angels, and then he 'will give to every man what his actions deserve.'

"Master," exclaimed Peter, interposing, "it is good to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

"Master, take pity on my son, for he is epileptic and suffers terribly; indeed, he often falls into the fire and into the water;

"Because you have so little faith," he answered; "for, I tell you, if your faith were only like a mustard-seed, you could say to this mountain 'Move from this place to that!' and it would be moved; and nothing would be impossible to you."

"From others," answered Peter. "Well then," continued Jesus, "their sons go free.

Still, that we may not shock them, go and throw a line into the Sea; take the first fish that rises, open its mouth, and you will find in it a piece of money. Take that, and give it to the collectors for both of us."

And any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me.

But, if any one puts a snare in the way of one of these lowly ones who believe in me, it would be best for him to be sunk in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung round his neck.

Alas for the world because of such snares! There cannot but be snares; yet alas for the man who is answerable for the snare!

If your hand or your foot is a snare to you, cut it off, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the Life maimed or lame, than to have both hands, or both feet, and be thrown into the aeonian fire.

If your eye is a snare to you, take it out, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the Life with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fiery Pit.

Beware of despising one of these lowly ones, for in Heaven, I tell you, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in Heaven.

What think you? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them strays, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills, and go and search for the one that is straying?

Again, I tell you that, if but two of you on earth agree as to what they shall pray for, whatever it be, it will be granted them by my Father who is in Heaven.

For where two or three have come together in my Name, I am present with them."

Thereupon his fellow-servant threw himself on the ground and begged for mercy. 'Have patience with me,' he said, 'and I will pay you.'

Upon that the master sent for the servant, and said to him 'You wicked servant! When you begged me for mercy, I forgave you the whole of that debt.

Presently some Pharisees came up to him, and, to test him, said: "Has a man the right to divorce his wife for every cause?"

And said--'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and be united to his wife, and the man and his wife shall become one'?

Some men, it is true, have from birth been disabled for marriage, while others have been disabled by their fellow men, and others again have disabled themselves for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let him accept it who can."

Then some little children were brought to Jesus, for him to place his hands on them, and pray; but the disciples found fault with those who had brought them.

Jesus, however, said: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs."

On hearing these words, the young man went away distressed, for he had great possessions.

I say again, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!"

For the Kingdom of Heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire laborers for his vineyards.

'You also may go into my vineyard,' he said, 'and I will pay you what is fair.'

'My friend,' was his reply to one of them, 'I am not treating you unfairly. Did not you agree with me for two shillings?

And give him up to the Gentiles for them to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify; and on the third day he will rise."

"You shall indeed drink my cup," he said, "but as to a seat at my right and at my left--that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

Just as the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Then Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he said.

When they had almost reached Jerusalem, having come as far as Bethphage, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent on two disciples.

"Go to the village facing you," he said, "and you will immediately find an ass tethered, with a foal by her side; untie her, and lead her here for me.

And whatever you ask for in your prayers will, if you have faith, be granted you."

But if we say 'human,' we are afraid of the people, for every one regards John as a Prophet."

For when John came to you, walking in the path of righteousness, you did not believe him, but tax-gatherers and prostitutes did; and yet you, though you saw this, even then were not sorry, nor did you believe him.

When the time for the vintage drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to receive his share of the produce.

The king, in anger, sent his troops, put those murderers to death, and set their city on fire.

For many are called, but few chosen."

Then the Pharisees went away and conferred together as to how they might lay a snare for Jesus in the course of conversation.

They sent their disciples, with the Herodians, to say to him: "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and that you teach the way of God honestly, and are not afraid of any one; for you pay no regard to a man's position.

"Teacher, Moses said--'Should a man die without children, the man's brother shall become the husband of the widow, and raise a family for his brother.'

Now we had living among us seven brothers; of whom the eldest married and died, and, as he had no family, left his wife for his brother.

For at the resurrection there is no marrying or being married, but all who rise are as angels in Heaven.

and to be greeted in the markets with respect, and to be called 'Rabbi' for everybody.

But do not allow yourselves to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Father, the heavenly Father.

Nor must you allow yourselves to be called 'Leaders,' for you have only one Leader, the Christ.

But alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You turn the key of the Kingdom of Heaven in men's faces. For you do not go in yourselves, nor yet allow those who try to go in to do so.

Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You destroy widow's houses, even while pretending to make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation.

Alas for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You scour land and sea to make a single convert, and, when he is gained, you make him twice as deserving of the Pit as you are yourselves.

Alas for you, you blind guides! You say 'if any answer by the Temple, his oath counts for nothing; but, if any one swears by the gold of the Temple, his oath is binding him'!

You say, too, 'If any one swears by the altar, his oath counts for nothing, but, if any one swears by the offering placed on it, his oath is binding on him'!

Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You pay tithes on mint, fennel, and caraway seed, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law--justice, mercy, and good faith. These last you ought to have put into practice, without neglecting the first.

Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are filled with the results of greed and self-indulgence.

Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed look fair outside, while inside they are filled with dead men's bones and all kinds of filth.

Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You build the tombs of the Prophets, and decorate the monuments of religious men,

For nevermore, I tell you, shall you see me, until you say-- 'Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!'"

for, many will take my name, and come saying 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray.

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; take care not to be alarmed, for such things must occur; but the end is not yet here.

For 'nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom,' and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

And alas for the women that are with child, and for those that are nursing infants in those days!

for that will be 'a time of great distress, the like of which has not occurred from the beginning of the world down to the present time'--no, nor ever will again.

And had not those days been limited, not a single soul would escape; but for the sake of 'God's People' a limit will be put to them.

For false Christs and false Prophets will arise, and will display great signs and marvels, so that, were it possible, even God's People would be led astray.

For, just as lightning will start from the east and flash across to the west, so will it be with the Coming of the Son of Man.

And he will send his angels, with a great trumpet, and they will gather his People round him from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

For, just as in the days of Noah, so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man.

Therefore watch; for you cannot be sure on what day your Master is coming.

But the prudent ones answered 'No, for fear that there will not be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell it, and buy for yourselves.'

For it is as though a man, going on his travels, called his servants, and gave his property into their charge.

And, in my fear, I went and hid your money in the ground; look, here is what belongs to you!'