Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



And as He spake, a certain pharisee asked Him to dine with him: and He went in and sat down at table. And when the pharisee saw it he wondered that He did not wash first, before dinner. But the Lord said unto him, ye pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of rapine and wickedness. read more.
Senseless creatures! Did not He who made the outside, make also that which is within? give alms rather according to your ability: and behold all things are clean to you. But wo unto you pharisees, who tithe even your mint, and rue, and all your herbs, and pass by judgement and the love of God: these ought ye to practise and not to omit the others. Wo unto you pharisees; for ye love the chief seat in synagogues, and salutations in public places. Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like graves that do not appear, and those that walk over them are not aware of them. And one of the doctors of the law answered and said unto Him, Master, in saying these things thou reproachest us also. And He said, Wo unto you also, ye interpreters of the law, for ye load men with insupportable burthens, and ye yourselves touch not the burthens with one of your fingers. Wo unto you; who build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Thus ye testify that ye approve of the deeds of your fathers; for they put them to death, and ye build their sepulchres. And therefore the wisdom of God hath said, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute: that the blood of all the prophets which has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the temple. Verily I tell you, it shall be required of this generation. Wo unto you interpreters of the law; for ye have taken away the key of knowledge, ye entered not in yourselves, and those that were entering in, ye hindered. As He was saying these things unto them the scribes and pharisees began vehemently to attack Him, and urge Him to speak of many things, laying snares for Him, and endeavouring to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse Him.


In the mean time great multitudes of people being gathered together about Him, so that they trode upon one another, He began to say to his disciples, Beware of the leaven of the pharisees, which is hypocrisy: for there is nothing concealed,

And when ye fast, be not, like the hypocrites, of a gloomy countenance; for they disfigure their faces, that they may be observed by men to fast: I tell you, they have indeed their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head and wash thy face; that thou mayst not appear unto men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, will reward thee openly.

Hear another parable, There was a certain man, a master of a family, that planted a vineyard, and made a fence about it, and put a wine-press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and travelled abroad. And when the fruit-season drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive the fruits of it: and the husbandmen took his servants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. read more.
And he sent again other servants more than the first: and they did the like to them. At last 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 seize on his inheritance: so they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and slew him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard cometh, what will he do to those husbandmen? They answer, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out the vineyard to other husbandmen, who will render him the fruits in their seasons. Then saith Jesus to them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, "The stone which the builders refused, is made the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" Therefore I tell you, that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation, that will bring forth the fruits thereof. And he that stumbleth at this stone shall be bruised, but on whomsoever it falls, it will crush him to pieces. And when the chief priests and pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that He spake of them: and would have seized Him, but that they were afraid of the people; because they took Him for a prophet.

Therefore when thou dost an alms-deed, do not proclaim it abroad, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues, and in the streets, that they may be applauded by men. Verily I tell you, they have their reward. But when thou givest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth: that thine alms may be in secret, and thy Father, who seeth in secret, will himself reward thee openly. read more.
And when thou prayest, be not like the hypocrites; for they love to pray in public assemblies, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be taken notice of by 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 who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret, will reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathens do, for they think they shall be heard for their speaking much: be not ye therefore like them; for your Father knoweth what ye have need of before ye ask Him.

Then came to Jesus the scribes and pharisees from Jerusalem saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat. But He answered and said unto them, And why do ye transgress the commandment of God for your tradition? read more.
For God commanded saying, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, He that revileth father or mother, let him be put to death: but ye say, If any man say to his father or mother, "that which thou mightest be profited by from me is a gift to the temple," and so honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. And thus have ye made void the commandment of God by your tradition. Well did Esaias prophecy concerning you, saying, This people approach me with their mouth, and honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: but in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the injunctions of men.

And the pharisees and sadducees came to Him, and captiously asked Him to shew them a sign from heaven. But He answered them, In the 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 lowring. Ye hypocrites, can ye distinguish the appearance of the sky, and not discern the signs of these times? read more.
This wicked and degenerate race demand a sign; but no sign shall be given them, except that of the prophet Jonah. And so He left them and went away. Now when his disciples departed to the other side, they forgot to take bread with them: and therefore when Jesus said to them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the pharisees and of the sadducees, they said one to another, It is because we have taken no bread. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said to them, O ye of little faith, why do ye argue among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves divided among five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? nor the seven loaves among four thousand, and how many baskets-full ye took away? How is it then that ye do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread, when I bid you to beware of the leaven of the pharisees and of the sadducees? Then they understood, that He did not bid them beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the pharisees and of the sadducees.

The scribes and pharisees sit in the seat of Moses: observe therefore and do all things whatsoever they tell you to observe; but do not ye according to their works, for they say and do not: for they bind grievous and intolerable burthens, and impose them upon men; but they themselves will not put a finger to them: read more.
but they do all their works to be seen by men; they make their phylacteries broad, and enlarge the fringes of their garments, and love the uppermost places at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and salutations in public assemblies, and to be called by men Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your instructor even Christ, and ye are all brethren. Neither call any man upon earth Father; for one is your Father, who is in heaven: neither be ye called masters; for one is your master, even Christ. But let him that is greatest among you be your minister: and whosoever will exalt himself shall be abased, and whosoever will humble himself shall be exalted. But wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, who shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, nor suffer those that are entering to go in. Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites; for ye devour widows houses, and for a cover make long prayers: therefore ye shall receive the heavier judgement. Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites: for ye compass sea and land to make a proselyte, and when he is gained, ye make him more the child of hell than yourselves. Wo unto you, ye blind guides, who say, If any one swear by the temple, it is nothing; but if any man swear by the gold of the temple, the oath is binding. Foolish and blind creatures! for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, If any one swear by the altar, it is nothing; but if any one swear by the gift upon it, he is bound. O foolish and blind! for which is greater, the gift, or the altar which sanctifieth the gift? He then, that sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it and by all things upon it: and he, that sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by Him that dwelleth in it: and he, that sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by Him that sitteth upon it. Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, who tithe even your mint, and anise, and cummin, but neglect the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy, and fidelity: these ye ought undoubtedly to practise, and not to omit the others. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel! Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites; for ye clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but within they are full of rapine and intemperance: thou blind pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the dish, that the outside of them may be also clean. Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites; who are like whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful without, but within are full of the bones of the dead, and all manner of filthiness; so do ye likewise outwardly appear to men to be righteous, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites; who build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the just, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been concerned with them in shedding the blood of the prophets: so that ye are witnesses yourselves, that ye are the children of those who killed the prophets: fill up then the measure of your fathers, ye serpents, ye brood of vipers: how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

And He was casting out a demon, and it was dumb: and when the demon was gone out, the dumb man spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out demons by Beelzebub the prince of demons: and others, to try Him, desired of Him a sign from heaven. read more.
But He who well knew their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself becomes desolate, and a house against a house falleth: if Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say, that I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your own people cast them out? wherefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the power of God, you may be sure the kingdom of God is come unto you: for when a strong man well-armed defends his palace, his substance is secure: but when a stronger than he cometh upon him and conquers him, he taketh away his armour, wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He, that is not with me, is against me; and he, that gathereth not with me, scattereth. When an impure spirit is gone out of a man, he wanders through dry desert places, seeking rest: and finding none he saith, I will return into my house, that I came out of; and when he cometh he findeth it swept and set in order. Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and so the last state of that man is worse than the first. As He was speaking these things, a certain woman lifted up her voice from amidst the croud, and said, Happy is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou didst suck! but He replied, Yea rather happy are they, that hear the word of God and keep it. And when the multitudes were gathering thick together He began to say, This is a wicked generation: they demand a sign, but no sign shall be given them, except that of the prophet Jonah: for as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of the south shall rise up in the day of judgement against the men of this generation and condemn them: for she came from the remote parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold a greater than Solomon is here. And the men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgement against this generation, and condemn it; for they repented upon the preaching of Jonas, and behold a greater than Jonas is here. But yet no one having lighted a candle putteth it into a secret place, nor under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they who come in may see the light. The eye is the candle of the body: therefore when thine eye is clear, thy whole body also is light; but when it is bad, thy body also is dark. Take heed therefore least the light which is in thee be darkness. For if thy whole body be light, having no part dark, it will be (when all enlightened) as when a candle giveth thee light by its brightness. And as He spake, a certain pharisee asked Him to dine with him: and He went in and sat down at table. And when the pharisee saw it he wondered that He did not wash first, before dinner. But the Lord said unto him, ye pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of rapine and wickedness. Senseless creatures! Did not He who made the outside, make also that which is within? give alms rather according to your ability: and behold all things are clean to you. But wo unto you pharisees, who tithe even your mint, and rue, and all your herbs, and pass by judgement and the love of God: these ought ye to practise and not to omit the others. Wo unto you pharisees; for ye love the chief seat in synagogues, and salutations in public places. Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like graves that do not appear, and those that walk over them are not aware of them. And one of the doctors of the law answered and said unto Him, Master, in saying these things thou reproachest us also. And He said, Wo unto you also, ye interpreters of the law, for ye load men with insupportable burthens, and ye yourselves touch not the burthens with one of your fingers. Wo unto you; who build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Thus ye testify that ye approve of the deeds of your fathers; for they put them to death, and ye build their sepulchres. And therefore the wisdom of God hath said, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute: that the blood of all the prophets which has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the temple. Verily I tell you, it shall be required of this generation. Wo unto you interpreters of the law; for ye have taken away the key of knowledge, ye entered not in yourselves, and those that were entering in, ye hindered. As He was saying these things unto them the scribes and pharisees began vehemently to attack Him, and urge Him to speak of many things, laying snares for Him, and endeavouring to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse Him.

Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and other notorious sinners, to hear Him. And the pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man entertaineth wicked persons, and eateth with them. But He spake to them this parable, read more.
saying, What man of you that hath an hundred sheep, and loseth one of them, doth not leave the ninety-nine in the field, and go after that which was lost, till he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing: and coming home, he calleth his friends and neighbors together and saith unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. Thus, I tell you, there shall be joy in heaven over one repenting sinner, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons, that have no need of repentance. Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and search carefully till she find it? and when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and neighbors together; saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.




And as He spake, a certain pharisee asked Him to dine with him: and He went in and sat down at table.



And as He spake, a certain pharisee asked Him to dine with him: and He went in and sat down at table.


And as He spake, a certain pharisee asked Him to dine with him: and He went in and sat down at table. And when the pharisee saw it he wondered that He did not wash first, before dinner. But the Lord said unto him, ye pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of rapine and wickedness. read more.
Senseless creatures! Did not He who made the outside, make also that which is within? give alms rather according to your ability: and behold all things are clean to you. But wo unto you pharisees, who tithe even your mint, and rue, and all your herbs, and pass by judgement and the love of God: these ought ye to practise and not to omit the others. Wo unto you pharisees; for ye love the chief seat in synagogues, and salutations in public places. Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like graves that do not appear, and those that walk over them are not aware of them. And one of the doctors of the law answered and said unto Him, Master, in saying these things thou reproachest us also. And He said, Wo unto you also, ye interpreters of the law, for ye load men with insupportable burthens, and ye yourselves touch not the burthens with one of your fingers. Wo unto you; who build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Thus ye testify that ye approve of the deeds of your fathers; for they put them to death, and ye build their sepulchres. And therefore the wisdom of God hath said, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute: that the blood of all the prophets which has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the temple. Verily I tell you, it shall be required of this generation. Wo unto you interpreters of the law; for ye have taken away the key of knowledge, ye entered not in yourselves, and those that were entering in, ye hindered. As He was saying these things unto them the scribes and pharisees began vehemently to attack Him, and urge Him to speak of many things, laying snares for Him, and endeavouring to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse Him.


But yet no one having lighted a candle putteth it into a secret place, nor under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they who come in may see the light. The eye is the candle of the body: therefore when thine eye is clear, thy whole body also is light; but when it is bad, thy body also is dark. Take heed therefore least the light which is in thee be darkness. read more.
For if thy whole body be light, having no part dark, it will be (when all enlightened) as when a candle giveth thee light by its brightness. And as He spake, a certain pharisee asked Him to dine with him: and He went in and sat down at table. And when the pharisee saw it he wondered that He did not wash first, before dinner. But the Lord said unto him, ye pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of rapine and wickedness. Senseless creatures! Did not He who made the outside, make also that which is within? give alms rather according to your ability: and behold all things are clean to you. But wo unto you pharisees, who tithe even your mint, and rue, and all your herbs, and pass by judgement and the love of God: these ought ye to practise and not to omit the others. Wo unto you pharisees; for ye love the chief seat in synagogues, and salutations in public places. Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like graves that do not appear, and those that walk over them are not aware of them. And one of the doctors of the law answered and said unto Him, Master, in saying these things thou reproachest us also. And He said, Wo unto you also, ye interpreters of the law, for ye load men with insupportable burthens, and ye yourselves touch not the burthens with one of your fingers. Wo unto you; who build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Thus ye testify that ye approve of the deeds of your fathers; for they put them to death, and ye build their sepulchres. And therefore the wisdom of God hath said, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute: that the blood of all the prophets which has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the temple. Verily I tell you, it shall be required of this generation. Wo unto you interpreters of the law; for ye have taken away the key of knowledge, ye entered not in yourselves, and those that were entering in, ye hindered. As He was saying these things unto them the scribes and pharisees began vehemently to attack Him, and urge Him to speak of many things, laying snares for Him, and endeavouring to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse Him.

They answered Him, We are the seed of Abraham, and never were slaves to any one, how then dost thou say, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily I say unto you, whosoever maketh a practice of sin, is the servant of sin. Now the servant does not continue always in the family: but the Son abideth always. read more.
If therefore the Son make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are the seed of Abraham, but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father, and ye do what ye have seen with your father. They answered Him, Abraham is our father, Jesus replied, If ye were the children of Abraham, ye would do the works of Abraham: but now ye seek to kill me, who have told you the truth which I have heard from God: Abraham did not thus. But ye do the works of your father. Then said they unto Him, We are not born of fornication, we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your father, ye would love me: for I came forth, and do come, from God; neither came I of myself, but He sent me. And why do ye not understand my language, but because ye cannot bear my doctrine? Ye are of your father the devil, and are bent upon doing the lusts of your father: he was a murderer from the beginning, and continued not in the truth: for there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh like himself, for he is a liar, and the father of such. And because I say the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convicteth me of sin? And if I speak truth, why do ye not believe me? He, that is of God, receiveth the words of God; but ye therefore receive them not, because ye are not of God. The Jews therefore answered and said unto Him. Do we not rightly say, that thou art a Samaritan, and art possessed by a demon? Jesus answered I am not possessed by a demon, but I honour my Father, though ye dishonour me. And I seek not my own glory; there is One that seeketh it, and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If any one keep my word, he shall never see death. The Jews therefore said unto Him, Now we are sure that thou art possessed by a demon. Abraham is dead, and the prophets too; and thou sayest, If any one keep my word, he shall never taste of death: art thou greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom dost thou pretend to be? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me, of whom ye say that He is your God. And yet ye know him not; but I know Him: and if I should say, That I know Him not, I shall be like you, a liar: but I know Him, and obey his word. Your father Abraham longed to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Before Abraham was, I am. Therefore they took up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus concealed Himself, and went out of the temple, through the midst of them, and so passed on.

Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple, but we are the disciples of Moses: we know that God spake to Moses: but as for this man, we know not whence He is. The man answered, and said unto them, Why this is something strange, that ye know not whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes. read more.
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a servant of God, and do his will, him He heareth. From the beginning of the world it was never heard, that any one opened the eyes of a person that was born blind. And if this man were not from God, He could do nothing. They answered, and said unto him, Thou wast wholly born in sins, and dost thou teach us?