CHAPTER 51: The Truth Makes Free

 

1.Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you continue to follow my word, then your are my disciples indeed; And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 

2.They answered Him, "We are Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man; why do you say, 'You shall be made free?" Jesus answered them, "I tell you truly, whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant does not live in the house for ever; but the son even the daughter lives there for ever." 

3.If the son therefore will free you, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham's seed after the flesh; but you seek to kill me, because you can't relate to my words." (1997 translation reads: "because my words have no place in you")

4."I relate that which I have seen with my Parent and you do that which you have seen with your parent." They answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham." 

5."But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard from God; Abraham did do that. You behave the way your fathers did." Then they said to Him, "We were bastards; we have one Father, even God." 

6.Jesus replied, "If God were your Parent, you would love me; because I originate out of and come from God; I did not spontaneously appear, but the all holy sent me. Why don't you understand what I am talking about? Even because he cannot hear my word." 

7."Your father is the devil; and you will lust as your father lusts. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not live in the truth, because there is no truth in him." 

8.When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lying. And because I tell you the truth, you don't believe me." 

9."As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the son of a daughter of man be lifted up, that whosoever gazes, believing, should not perish; but have everlasting life." 

10.Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I speak the truth, why do you not believe me? He that is of God hears God's words; you therefore don't hear them, because you are not of God." 

11.The Jews said to him, "Aren't we correct in saying you are a Samaritan, and that you have a devil? Jesus answered, "I don't have a demon; but I honor the all holy, and you dishonor me. I am not looking for my own glory, but the glory of God. But there is One who judges." 

12.And certain of the elders and scribes from the temple came to him saying, "Why do your disciples teach men that it is unlawful to eat the flesh of beasts though beasts are offered in sacrifice as Moses ordained." 

13.For it is written, "God said to Noah, 'The fear and the dread of you will be upon every beast of the field, and every bird of the air, and every fish of the sea, into your hand they are delivered." 

14.And Jesus said to them, "You hypocrites. Esaias spoke so well of you, and your forefathers, reporting, 'This people comes close to me, with their mouths, and honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; for in vain do they worship me, teaching and believing, and teaching for divine doctrines, the commandments of men in my name, only to satisfy their own lusts. 

15.As also Jeremiah bore witness when he said, concerning blood offerings and sacrifices, "I the Lord God commanded none of these things on the day that you came out of Egypt, but only this I commanded you to do, righteousness, walk in the ancient paths, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God." 

16."But you did not listen to me, who in the beginning gave you all sorts of seed, and fruit of the trees and seed having been for the food and healing of man and beast. And they said, You speak against the law." 

17.And He said against Moses "Indeed I do not speak against the law, but against those who corrupted his law, which he permitted because of the hardness of your hearts

18."But behold, a greater than Moses is here!" And they were furious and picked up stones to throw at him. And Jesus passed through their midst and was hidden from their violence.

 

 

                CHAPTER 52: He Declares His Pre-Existence

 

1.Another time Jesus said, "I tell you, if a man honors what I tell him, he will never see death. Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you are possessed by a demon." 

2.Abraham is dead, as are the prophets and you are telling us, "If a man keep honors what I tell him, he will never taste of death. Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who are you making yourself out to be?" 

3.Jesus answered, "If I honor myself, my honor is nothing; it is my Father that honors me; of whom you say, 'he is your God'. Yet you have not know him; but I know him; and if I would say I don't know him, I would be a liar like to you; but I do know the all holy and am known by the eternal." 

4."Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad." Then the Jews said to him, "You are not yet forty five years old, and you have seen Abraham?" 

5.Jesus said to them, "I am telling you, Before Abraham was, I AM. 

6.And he said to them, "The all holy has sent you many prophets, but you rose against those who were contrary to your lusts, reviling some and slaying others." 

7.Then they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, through the midst of them, and so again passed by unseen by them. 

8.Again when His disciples were with him in a place apart, one of them asked him concerning the kingdom, and He said to them," 

9."As it is above, so it is below. As it is within, so it is without. As on the right hand, so on the left. As it is before, so its is behind. As with the great so with the small. As with the male, so with the female. When these things will be seen, then you will see the "kingdom" of God." 

10."For in me there is neither male nor female, but both are One in the all perfect. The woman is not without the man, nor is the man without the woman." 

11."Wisdom is not without love, nor is love without wisdom. The head is not without the heart, nor is the heart without the head, in the Christ who at-ones all things. For God has made all things by number, by weight, and by measure, corresponding, the one with the other." 

12."These things are for those who understand, to believe. If they don't understand, the things are not for them. For to believe is to understand, and not to believe, is not to understand."

 

 

                CHAPTER 53: Jesus Heals the Blind on the Sabbath

 

1.And at another time as Jesus passed by, he saw a man who was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 

2.Jesus answered, "Of what importance is it whether this man or his parents sinned. In order for the works of God to be made manifest in him, I must work the works of my Parent who sent me, while it is day; the night comes, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (1997 translation reads: "The rewards of our actions return again to us so that the works of the Lord are made manifest")

3.After he spoke, he spat on the ground, and mingled clay with the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" ("Siloan" may be interpreted as "Sent".) He went his way, and washed, and returned seeing. 

4.The neighbors and those who knew him to be blind said, "Isn't this the beggar?" Some said, "This is he," others said, "He is like him," but he said, "It is me." 

5.They said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" He answered and said, "A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash; and I went and washed, and I received sight." 

6.Then they said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don't know where the one who made me whole is." 

7.Then they brought to the Pharisees the formerly blind man. And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 

8.Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay upon My eyes, and I washed, and I do see." 

9.Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not of God, because he doesn't keep the Sabbath day." Others said, "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles?" And there was a division among them. 

10.They said again to the blind ma, "What can you tell us about Him, that He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." 

11.But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called his parents. 

12.And they asked the parents, Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered them, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we don't know; nor who has opened his eyes; he is of age; ask him, he will speak for himself."

13.This is what the parents said, because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man confessed that he was the Christ he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age? Ask him." 

14.Then they called the blind man again, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know; one thing I know, whereas I was blind, now I see." 

15.Then they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you did not hear; would you hear me if I told you again? Will you also be his disciples?" 

16.Then they reviled him, and said, "You are his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we don't know from where he is." 

17.The man responded to them, "Why here is a marvelous thing, you do not know his origins, and yet he has opened my eyes. Now we know that God does not hear sinners;" 

18."But if any man wants to be a worshipper of God, and does His Will, him God hears. Since the world began was it not understood that any who opened the eyes of one who was blind, was God. If this man was not God, he could do nothing." 

19.They responded to him, "You were born altogether in sin, and you are teaching us? And they threw him out." 

20.Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" He answered and said , "Who is he, Lord, that I might believe in him." 

21.And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he that talks with you." And he said, "Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him." 

22.And Jesus said, "I have come into this world for judgment, that they who don't see might see; and that they who see might be made blind." And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said to him. "Are we blind also?" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                CHAPTER 54: Ressurrection In The Spirit. 

                                            The Importance Of All

 

1.Then certain of the Sadducees who denied that there is a resurrection, came to Him. They asked him, "Master, Moses wrote to us, if any man's brother dies leaving a wife and no children, his brother should take that man's wife and raise any children of that union as those of his brother." 

2."Now there were six brothers, and the first took her to wife and he died childless; and the second took her to wife and he died childless; and the third even to the sixth all died also leaving no children. Last of all the woman died also." 

3."Now in the resurrection, to whom does she belong, for all six married her." 

4.And Jesus answered them saying, "whether a woman with six husbands, or a man with six wives, the case is the same. For the children of this world marry and are given in marriage." 

5."But they, which being worthy, attain to the resurrection from the (1997 translation: cycles of rebirth) dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage, neither can they die any more, for they are equal to the angels and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." 

6."That the dead are raised even Moses demonstrated at the bush, when he called the Lord, the God Abram, Isaac and Jacob, for he is not the God of the dead , but the God of the living for all live within Him."

7.And Jesus, when he came to a certain place where seven palm trees grew, gathered his disciples around him. To each he gave a number and a name. Only he knew who received it. And he said to them, Stand as pillars in the house of God, and show forth the order according to your numbers which you have received."

8.And they stood around him , and they made a body four square, and they counted the number, and could not. And they said to Him, "Lord we cannot." And Jesus said, "Let him who is greatest among you be even as the least, and the symbol for that which is first be as the symbol of that which is last." 

9.And they did so, and in every way there was equality, and yet each carried a different number, and the one side was as the other, and the upper was as the lower; and the inner as the outer. And the Lord said, "It is enough. Such is the house of the wise master builder. Four-square it is, and perfect. Many are the chambers, but the house is One." 

10."Again consider the body of man, which is a temple of the spirit. For the body is one, united to its head, with which it is one body. And it has many members, yet, all are one body and the one spirit rules and works in all; so also in the kingdom." 

11."And the head does not say to the bosom, I have no need of you, not the right hand to the left, I have no need of you, nor the left foot to the right, I have no need of you; neither the eyes to the ears, we have no need of you, nor the mouth to the nose, I have no need of you. For God has placed into one body every member as is fitting." 

12."If the whole were the head, where were the breasts? If the whole were the belly, where were the feet? Yea, those members which some affirm are less honorable, upon them has God bestowed the more honor." 

13."And those parts which some call uncomely, upon them has been bestowed more abundant comeliness, that they may care one for the other; so, if one member suffers, all members suffer with it, and if one member is honored all members rejoice." 

14."Now you are my body; and each one of you is a member in particular, and to each one of you do I give the fitting place, and one head over all, and one heart the center of all, that there be no lack nor schism, that so with your bodies, your souls and your spirits you may glorify the all Parent through the divine spirit which works in all and through all.

 

 

                CHAPTER 55: Christ the Good Shepherd. One with the Father

 

1.At that time there passed by the way a shepherd leading his flock to the fold; and Jesus took up one of the young lambs in his arms, and talked to it lovingly and pressed it to his bosom. And he spoke to his disciples saying: 

2."I am the good shepherd and know my sheep and am known of mine. As the Parent of all knows me, even so do I know my sheep, and lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep which are not of this fold; them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." 

3."I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay my body down and I have power to take it up again." 

4."I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd feeds his flock, he gathers his lambs in his arms and carries them on his bosom and gently leads those that are with young, yea the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep." 

5."But he who is an worker, not the shepherd; a worker who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf catches them and scatters the sheep. The worker flees because he is hired help and does not care for the sheep." 

6."I am the door; all who enter through me will be safe, and will go in and out and find pasture. The evil one only comes to steal, to kill and destroy; I am come that thy might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

7."He that enters in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep, to whom the porter opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his sheep by name, and leads them out, and he knows the number." 

8."And when he moves his sheep he goes before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but will run from him, for they don't know the voice of strangers." 

9.Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they did not understand what he was talking about. Then Jesus said to them again, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish, neither will any man pluck them out of my hand." 

10."My Parent, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Parent's hand. I and my Parent are One." 

11.Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus asked them, "I have shown you many good works from my Parent, for which of those works do you stone me?" 

12.The Jews answered him, "For a good work we don't stone you; but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are making yourself equal to God." Jesus responded, "Did I say I was equal with God? No, but I am one with God. It is not written in the scripture, 'I said, You are gods?" 

13."If he, to whom the word of God came, called them gods, and the scripture cannot be broken, are you telling him whom the Parent of all hath sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said I am the Son of God, and therefore One with the All Parent

14.If I don't do the works of my Parent don't believe me, but if I do the works of my Parent, though you don't believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the spirit of the great Parent is in me, and I in my Parent." 

15.Therefore they tried again to take him, but he escaped out of their hands and went away beyond Jordan , into the place where John at first baptized and there he stayed. 

16.And many resorted to him, and said, John indeed did no miracle, but all the things that John spoke about this man were true. He is the Prophet that should come. And many believed in Him.

 

 

                CHAPTER 56: The Raising of Lazarus 

 

1.Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha . (It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 

2.Therefore his sisters sent to Him saying, Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, "This sickness is not to death, but that the glory of God might be manifest in him." Now Jesus loved Mary and her sister and Lazarus . 

3.When he heard that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that, he said to his disciples, "Let us go into Judæa again." 

4.His disciples said to him, "Master, the Jews of late attempted to stone you and you are gong there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in he day? If any man walks in the day he doesn't stumble, because he sees the light of this world."

5."But if a man walks in the night, he tumbles, because there is no light in him." These things he said, and after that he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, and I am going that I may awake him out of sleep." 

6.Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will do well." And a messenger came to him saying, "Lazarus is dead." 

7.Now when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already (Bethany was near to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off). And many of Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother. 

8.Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him, but Mary sat still in the house. Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now, what so ever you will ask of God, God will give it you." 

9.Jesus said to her, "Your brother sleeps, and he will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again, at the resurrection at the last day." 

10.Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes in me, though he were dead yet shall he live. I am the way, the truth and the life, and whosoever lives and believes in me will never die." 

11.She said to him, "Yea Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the son of god, who should come into the world." And when she had so said she went her way and called Mary her sister secretly, saying "The Master is come and calls for you. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and went to him. 

12.Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews who were with her in the house and comforted her, when they saw Mary and that she arose hastily and went out, followed her saying, "She goeth to the grave to weep there." 

13.Then when Mary had come to where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, "Jesus if you had been here my brother would not have died." When Jesus therefore saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled, and said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." And Jesus wept. 

14.Then the Jews said, "Behold, how he loved him!" And some of them said, "Couldn't this man which opened the eyes of the blind, have prevented this man from dying?" Jesus therefore, groaning again in himself (for he feared that he might be already dead) came to the grave. It was a cave and a stone lay upon it. 

15.Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him supposed to be dead, said to him, "Lord by this time he stinks, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" Then they took away the stone from the place where Lazarus lay. 

16.And Jesus lifted up his eyes and chanting, invoked the great name , and said, "My Parent, I thank you that you have heard me. And I know that you always hear me, but because of the people who stand by, I call upon you that they may believe that you have sent me." And when he had thus spoken he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus come forth." 

17.And he that was as dead came forth bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face were bound about with a napkin. 

18.Jesus said to them, "Loose him and let him go. When the thread of life is cut indeed, it does not come again, but when it is whole there is hope." The many of the Jews which came to Mary and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed in him.

 

 

                CHAPTER 57: Concerning Little Children

The Forgiveness of Those Who Trespass. 

Parable of the Fishes.

 

1.At the same time the disciples came to Jesus saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus called a little child to him and set him in the midst of them and said, "Except you be converted (1997 "born again of the Spirit") and become innocent and teachable as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven." 

2."Whosoever humbles themselves, and becomes as a little child matures into the greatest in heaven. And who so will receive one such little child in my name receives me." 

3."Distress comes to the world because of transgressions of the law! Of necessity transgressions occur, but woe to the man who commits these transgression. For that reason, if your lust, or your pleasure offends others, cut them out and get rid of them, it is better for you to enter into life without, rather than having that which will be cast into everlasting fire." 

4."Be mindful that you do not neglect one of these little children. I am telling you that in heaven their angels always see the face of God. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." 

5."What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety nine and go into the mountains and seek that one which has gone astray? And if he finds it, I tell you truly, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety nine which did not go astray." 

6."Even so it is not the will of your Parent, who is in Heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." 

7.And there were certain men, of doubtful mind, who came to Jesus, and said to him, "You tell us that our life and being comes from God, but we have never seen God, nor do we know of any God. Can you show us whom you call the Father-Mother, one God? We don't know if there is a God." 

8.Jesus answered them, saying, "Hear this parable of the fishes. The fishes of a certain river communed with one another, saying, they tell us that our life and being is from water, but we have never seen water, we don't know what it is." Then some among them, wiser than the rest, said, We have heard there dwells in the sea a wise and learned fish, who knows all things. Let us journey to him, and ask him to show us what water is." 

9."So several of them set out to find this great and wise fish, and they came at last to the sea where in the wise fish dwelt, and they asked of him." 

10."And when he heard them he said to them, O you foolish fish that don't contemplate! The few of you who seek, are wise. You live, and move, and have your being in the water; from the water you came, to the water you return. You live in the water, yet you don't know it.' In a similar manner, you live in God, and yet you ask of me, 'Show us God.' God is in all things, and all things are in God." 

11.Again Jesus said to them, "If your brother or sister intrude on you, tell them about it privately; if they will hear you, you have won them. But if they will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, so that communication can become clear." 

12."And if they neglect to hear them, tell it to the church, but if they neglect to hear the church, let them be to you as those that are outside the church. I tell to you truly, Whatsoever you justly secure on earth, will be secured in heaven; and whatsoever nonattachment you justly claim on earth, shall be a nonattachment in heaven." 

13.Again I say to you, "That if seven, or even if three of you will agree on earth as touching anything that thy ask, it will be done for them by my Father-Mother who is in heaven. For where even three are gathered together in my name there I am in the midst of them, and if there be but one, I am in the heart of that one." 

14.Then Peter came to him and said, "Lord, how often do I allow my brother to sin against me and I forgive him? Seven times?" Jesus said to him "I don't tell you seven times, but seven times seventy. For in the Prophets likewise sinful behavior was found, even after they were anointed by the Holy Spirit." 

15.And he spoke this parable, saying, "There was a certain king who would take account of his servants, and when he had begun to reckon, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he could not pay, his lord commanded him , as well as his wife and children and all that he had to be sold, so that payment could be made." 

16."The servant, therefore, fell down and worshipped him, saying, lord, have patience with me and I will pay you everything I owe. Then the lord of the servant was moved with compassion and set him free, and forgave him his debt."

17."But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred pence , and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, "Pay me what you owe me." 

18."And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet and implored him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will pay you everything I owe.' And he would not, but threw him into prison till he paid the debt." 

19."So when his fellow-servants saw what he had done they were very sorry, and came and told their lord all that was done." 

20."Then his lord, after he had called him, said to him, 'O you sinful servant, I forgave you all of your debt because you asked me; should you not also have had compassion on your fellow-servant, even as I had pity on you." And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors , until he paid all that was due to him. 

21."So likewise will the heavenly Parent judge you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one, his brother or sister, their trespasses. Nevertheless, let every man see that he pays what he owes, for God loves the just."

 

 

                CHAPTER 58: Divine Love to the Repentant

 

1.Jesus said to the disciples and to the multitude around them, "Who is the son of God? Who is the daughter of God? Even the company of those who turn from all evil and do righteousness, love mercy and walk reverently with their God, these are the sons and the daughters of man who come up out of Egypt, to whom it is given that they should be called the sons and the daughters of God." 

2."And they are gathered from all tribes and nations and peoples and tongues. They come from the East and the West, the North and the South, and they dwell on Mount Zion. They eat bread and they drink of the fruit of the vine at the table of God, and they see God face to face." 

3.Then all the tax gatherers and sinners drew near to hear Him. And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 

4.And he spoke this parable to them, saying, "What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing." 

5."And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.' likewise heaven will rejoice over one sinner who repents." 

6.Equally, what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she loses one piece does not light a candle and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece of silver which I had lost.' Likewise, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents ." 

7.And he also told this parable. "A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his parents, 'Give me my inheritance." And they gave it to him. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a fair country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living." 

8."And when he had spent all his legacy, a famine occurred in that land, and he was needy. And he connected to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the swine. And he should willingly have filled his body with the husks that the swine ate, and no man gave to him." 

9.When he wised up he said, "How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I am perishing with hunger! I will rise and go to my father and mother, and will say to them, 'folks, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son, take me on as one of your hired servants." 

10."And he arose and came to his parents. When he was a great way off, his mother and his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to them. Folks, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son." 

11."But the father said to his servants, 'Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet, and bring the best ripe fruits here, and the bread and the oil and the wine and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry." 

12."Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came near the house he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what was going on. And he said to him, "Your brother who was lost has come back, and your father and mother have prepared the bread and the oil and the wine and the best ripe fruits, because they have received him safe and sound." 

13."And he was angry and would not go in, therefore his father came out and implored him. And he answered, saying to his father, 'These many years I have served you, without transgression. I have kept your commandments, and you never gave me such a rich feast so that I could have fun with my friends." 

14."But as soon as this your son comes, the son who has devoured your wealth with harlots, you prepare a feast of the best that you have for him." 

15.And his father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was meet , therefore, that we should be merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found."

 

 

                CHAPTER 59: Jesus Teaches His Disciples. He Finds Zacchæs

 

1.And Jesus went up into a mountain and there he sat with His disciples and taught them, and He said to them, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom ." 

2."Sell that you have and do that which is good for those who have nothing; provide yourselves sturdy bags, a treasure in the heavens which does not fail, which no thief can approach, nor moth corrupt. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 

3.Prepare yourself for a journey requiring strength and endurance,. ,be mindful, and be like men who wait for their lord when he returns from the wedding. When he comes and knocks they are immediately available for service." 

4."Blessed are those servants whom the lord, finds attentive and watchful on his return; truly I say to you that he will gird himself and make them to sit down at his table, and will come forth and serve them." 

5."And if he will come in the second watch, or come in the third watch and find them so, blessed are those servants." 

6."Know this, that the guardian of the house not knowing what hour the thief would come, would have watched and not have suffered his house to have been broken through. Be you therefore ready also, for the Son of man comes at an hour when you don't expect it." 

7.Then Peter said to him, "Lord, do you tell this parable to only us, or to everyone?" And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will make ruler over his household, to give them who serve their portion in due season?" 

8."Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing. Of a truth I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath." 

9."But and if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' and will begin to beat the man-servants and maid-servants and to eat and drink and to be drunken; the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will appoint him his portion with the unfaithful." 

10.And that servant which knew his lord's will and did not prepare himself, nor followed his will, will be beaten with many stripes. But he that did not know, and did commit things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. For to whomsoever much is given, of him will they much require, and to whom they commit little, of him they will require the less.

11."For they who know the Godhead, and have found the way of life, the mysteries of light, and then have fallen into sin, shall be punished with greater chastisement than they who have not known the way of life." 

12."Such shall return when their cycle is completed, and to them will be given space to consider, and amend their lives, and learning the "mysteries" , enter into the kingdom of light." 

13.And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, who was the chief among the "collectors of tribute" , and he was rich. 

14.And he attempted to see Jesus, who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. 

15.And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said to him, Zacchæus , hurry, and come down; for today I must stay at your house. And he hurried and came down, and received Him joyfully." 

16.And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, "That He was going to be guest with a man that is a sinner." 

17.And Zacchæus stood, and said to the Lord, "See Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." 

18.And Jesus said to him, "This day salvation has come to your house, for so much as you are a just man, you are also is a son of Abraham . For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which you deem to be lost."

 

 

                CHAPTER 60: Jesus Rebukes Hypocrisy

 

1.Then Jesus spoke to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. All that they tell you to observe, observe and do; but don't do what they do, for they speak but don't take action. For they bind heavy burdens which are oppressive to carry, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." 

2.But all their works they do for show; 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 in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi." 

3."But don't you desire to be called Rabbi; for one is your Rabbi, even Christ; and all you are brothers. And call don't call anyone on earth father, for on earth are fathers in the flesh only; but in Heaven there is One who is your Father and Your Mother, who hath the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive." 

4."Don't desire to be to be called masters, for one is your Master, even Christ. But they that are greatest among you shall be your servants. And whosoever will raise themselves in rank will be lowered in rank; and they that are humble in themselves will be exalted." 

5.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the door of the kingdom of heaven against men; You neither go in yourselves nor tolerate those who are entering." 

6.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour windows' houses, and for a pretense make long pray our; therefore you shall receive the greater damnation. 

7.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you compass sea and land to make one convert; and when he is made, you make him twice more than child of hell than yourselves." 

8."Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, 'Whosoever shall swear by the temple it is nothing, but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!' You fools and blind; for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?" 

9."'And, whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever swears by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.' You fools and blind; for which is greater, the gift, or the altar, that sanctifies the gift?" 

10."Who so therefore will swear by the altar, swears by it, and by all things there on. And whoso will swear by the temple, swears by it, and by him that dwells therein. And he that will swear by Heaven swears by the throne of God, and by the holy One that sits there on." 

11.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone. You blind guides! For you strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel." 

12.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, then the outside of them that they may be clean also." 

13.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like to whitewashed sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of the bones of the dead and of all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and make believe." 

14."Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees , hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets , and garnish the sepulchers 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 ." 

15."Wherefore you be witnesses to yourselves, that you do as the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill you up then the measure of your fathers." 

16."Wherefore saith holy wisdom, behold I send you to you prophets , and wise men, and scribes ; and some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them will you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city. And upon you will come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias , who was slain between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation." 

17.O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you which kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathered her chickens under her wings, and you would not!" 

18."Behold, now your house is left desolate to you. For I say to you, You will not see me henceforth, till you shall say, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, Blessed are they who come in the name of the just One.'"

 

 

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