could not shake it; for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an houfe upon the earth; against which the ftream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that houfe was great. I NOW when he had ended all his fayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion's fervant, who was dear 3 unto him, was (a) fick and ready to die. And when he heard of Jefus, he fent unto him the elders of the Jews, befeeching him that he would come 4 and heal his fervant. And when they came to Jefus, they befought him inftantly, faying, That he was 5 worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth 6 our nation, and he hath built us a fynagogue. Then Jefus went with him. And when he was now not far from the houfe, the centurion fent friends to him, faying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself, for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under 7 my roof. Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my 8 fervant fhall be healed. For I also am a (b) man fet under authority, having under me foldiers, and I fay unto one, Go, and he goeth: and to another, Come, and he cometh and to my fervant, Do 9 this, and he doeth it. When Jefus heard thefe things, he marvelled at him and turned him about, and faid unto the people that followed him, I fay unto you, I have not found fo great (c) faith, no, not (a) See Matt. viii. 5. To in Ifrael. And they that were fent, returning to the houfe, found the fervant whole that had been fick. II And it came to pafs the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his difciples 12 went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only fon of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of 13 the city was with her. And when the Lord faw her, he had compaffion on her, and faid unto her, 14 Weep not. And he came and touched the bier (and they that bare him ftood ftill) and he faid, Young 15 man, I say unto thee, Arife. And he that was dead, fat up, and began to fpeak: and he delivered him 16 to his mother. And there came a fear on all and they glorified God, faying, That a great prophet is rifen up amongst us, and, That God hath (4) 17 vifited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about. 18 And the difciples of John fhewed him of all 19 these things. And John calling unto him two of his difciples, fent them unto Jefus, faying, Art thou (e) he that fhould come, or look we for another? 20 When the men were come, unto him, they faid, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, faying, Art thou he 21 that fhould come, or look we for another? And in that fame hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil fpirits, and unto many that 22 were blind he gave fight. Then Jefus anfwering, faid unto them, Go your way, aud tell John what things ye have feen and heard; how that the blind fee, the lame walk, the lepers are cleanfed, the deaf hear, the dead are raifed, to the poor the gof23 pel is preached. And bleffed is he whofoever fhall not be offended in me. (d) Vifit is taken here, as Chap. i. 68, (e) See Matt. xi. 3. 24 And when the meffengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to fee? 25 a reed fhaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to fee? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they which are gorgeoufly apparelled, and live 26 delicately, are in kings courts. But what went ye ont for to fee? A prophet? Yea, I fay unto you, 27 and much more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I fend my meffenger before thy face, which fhall prepare thy way before 28 thee. For I fay unto you, Among those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than (f) John the Baptift: but he that is leaft in the 29 kingdom of God, is greater than he. And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, juftified God (g), being baptized with the baptifm of John. 30 But the Pharifees and lawyers rejected the counfel of God against themfelves, being not baptized of him. 31 And the Lord faid, Whereunto then fhall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they 32 like? They are like unto children (b) fitting in the market-place, and calling one to another, and faying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced we have mourned to you, and ye have not 33 wept. For John the Baptift came neither eating bread, nor drinking wine; and ye fay, (i) He hath 34 a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye fay, Behold, a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and finners. 35 But wifdom is juftified of all her children. (f) See Matt. xi. 11. (g) They glorified God for his wifdom and mercy in ferding John to preach repentance, and affented to the character Chrift had given of him. (h) See Matt. xi. 16. (i) See Matt. xi. 18. 36 And 36 And one of the Pharifees (k) defired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharifee's 37 houfe, and fat down to meat. And behold, a woman in the city, which was a finner, when the knew that Jefus fat at meat in the Pharifee's house, 38 brought an alabafter-box of ointment, And ftood at his (1) feet behind him weeping, and began to wafh his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kiffed his feet, and anointed 39 them with the ointment (m). Now when the Pharifee which had bidden him, faw it, he fpake within himfelf, faying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who, and what manner of woman, this is that toucheth him: for fhe is a finner. 40 And Jefus anfwering, faid unto him, Simon, I have fomewhat to fay unto thee. And he faith, Mafter, There was a certain creditor, which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and 42 the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, 43 which of them will love him moft? Simon anfwered and faid, I fuppofe that he to whom he forgave most. And he faid unto him, Thou haft 44 rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and faid unto Simon, Seeft thou this woman? I entered 41 fay on. (k) Whofe name was Simon. See Verfe 40. (1) The Jews did not fit on chairs at their meals, but lay along on their fide upon couches; and as they firft took off their fhoes, and wore no flockings, their feet were bare, and either refted on the couch, or hung down backward a little beyond the edge of it; and in either of thefe pofitions a perfon ftanding behind, and leaning a little forward, might eafily handle them. See John xiii. 23. (m) This anointing appears in feveral refpects to differ from that which is related by the other Evangelifts. That was done by Mary, an excellent holy woman; this by one who had been notorious for her bad life. That was at Bethany, and this in Galilee. That gave occafion to our Lord's vindication and praife of the woman; whereas here he reproves his hoft for difrefpect. See Matt. xxvi. Mark xiv. John xii. into thine houfe, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but the hath washed my feet with tears, and 45 wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gaveft me no (2) kifs: but this woman, fince the time I came in, hath not ceafed to kifs my feet. 46 Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I fay unto thee, Her fins, which are many, are forgiven for fhe loved much: but to 48 whom little is forgiven, the fame loveth little. And 49 he faid unto her, Thy fins are forgiven. And they that fat at meat with him, began to fay within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth fins alfo? 50 And he faid to the woman, Thy faith hath faved thee; go in peace (0). I AN ND it came to pafs afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching, and fhewing the glad (a) tidings of the kingdom of God: 2 and the twelve were with him ;. And certain women which had been healed of evil fpirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went 3 feven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Sufanna, and many others, which miniftered unto him of their fubftance. 4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he fpake 5 by a parable: A fower went out to fow his feed: and as he fowed, fome fell by the way-fide, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air de (n) See Matt. xxvi. xvi. 49. Note. (o) This woman approacheth Chrift with deep contrition for her fins, and in full affurance of faith in him; and is therefore pro nounced to be in a state of falvation. (a) The glad tidings of the gofpel covenant. 5 See Matt. iii. 2. 6 voured |