Part 244 (1/2)

Jesus said, ”A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. When they had nothing with which to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”

Simon answered and said, ”He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.”

And he said unto him, ”Thou hast rightly judged.” And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, ”Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

And he said unto her, ”Thy sins are forgiven.”

And they that were at the feast with him began to say within themselves, ”Who is this who even forgiveth sins?”

And he said unto the woman, ”Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”

_Conflict About the Wonderful Deeds of Jesus_.

There was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that {171} the dumb man spoke and saw. And all the mult.i.tude were amazed, and said, ”Is this the son of David?”

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ”This man doth not cast out demons but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.”

And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, ”Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I by the Spirit of G.o.d cast out demons, then is the kingdom of G.o.d come upon you.”

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III

A LONG JOURNEY

_How the Lord Jesus Traveled to the North to be Alone with His Disciples, and How the People Still Thronged Him_.

And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon.

And he entered into a house, and would have no one know it: but he could not be hid. Soon a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought him that he would cast forth the demon out of her daughter.

And he said unto her, ”Let the children first be filled: for it is not fitting to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs.”

But she answered and saith unto him, ”Yea, Lord: even the little dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.”

And he said unto her, ”For this saying go thy way; the demon is gone out of thy daughter.”

And she went away unto her house, and found the child laid upon the bed, and the demon gone out.

And again he went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis.

And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to lay his hand upon him.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

RUINS OF THE CASTLE AT CAESAREA-PHILIPPI.

A magnificent fortress at the head of the Jordan.