Part 244 (2/2)

From a photograph of the Palestine Exploration Fund, and used by special permission.

[End ill.u.s.tration]

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And he took him aside from the mult.i.tude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, ”Ephphatha,” that is, ”Be opened.” And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it. And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, ”He hath done all things well: he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.”

In those days, when there was again a great mult.i.tude, and they had nothing to eat, he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, ”I have compa.s.sion on the mult.i.tude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way; and some of them are come from far.”

And his disciples answered him, ”Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?”

And he asked them, ”How many loaves have ye?”

And they said, ”Seven.”

And he commandeth the mult.i.tude to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke the bread, and gave to his disciples, to set before them; and they set them before the mult.i.tude.

And they had a few small fishes: and having blessed {176} them, he commanded to set these also before them. And they ate, and were filled: and they took up, of broken pieces that remained over, seven baskets. And they were about four thousand: and he sent them away. And straightway he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, trying him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, ”Why doth this generation seek a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.” And he left them, and again entering into the boat departed to the other side.

And they forgot to take bread; and they had not in the boat with them more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, ”Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

And they reasoned one with another, saying, ”It is because we have no bread.” And Jesus perceiving it saith unto them, ”Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? do ye not yet perceive, neither understand?

have ye your heart hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces took ye up?”

They say unto him, ”Twelve.”

”And when the seven among the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces took ye up?”

And they say unto him, ”Seven.”

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And he said unto them, ”Do ye not yet understand?” Then understood they that he bade them not to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him. And he took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, ”Seest thou aught?”

And he looked up, and said, ”I see men; but I behold them as trees, walking.”

Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked steadfastly, and was restored, and saw all things clearly. And he sent him away to his home, saying, ”Do not even enter into the village.”

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IV

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