Part 248 (2/2)

And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him. And he said unto them, ”Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but G.o.d knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of G.o.d.”

_The Story of the Rich Man and the Poor Man_.

”Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day: and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pa.s.s, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.'

”But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedest thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they who would pa.s.s from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.'

”And he said, 'I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house; for I have five {207} brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'

”But Abraham saith, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'

”And he said, 'Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.'

”And he said unto him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.'”

_The Story of the Men Who Made Excuses_.

And it came to pa.s.s, at another time, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.

And he said unto those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats, ”When thou art bidden of any man to a marriage feast, sit not down in the chief seat; lest haply a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him, and he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, 'Give this man place'; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, 'Friend, go up higher': then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all who are at the feast with thee. For everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

And he said to him also that had bidden him, ”When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor {208} thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.”

And when one of those who sat at the feast with him heard these things, he said unto him, ”Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of G.o.d.” But he said unto him, ”A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many: and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, 'Come; for all things are now ready.'

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, 'I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it: I pray thee have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.'

And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

”And the servant came and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room.' And the lord said unto the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men who were bidden shall taste of my supper.'”

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHRIST AND THE RICH RULER By Heinrich Hofmann (1824- ) [End ill.u.s.tration]

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XI

THE RICH YOUNG MAN.

_How the Lord Jesus Spoke of the Evil of Pride, and of the Dangers of the Love of Riches_.

And as he was going forth, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, ”Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

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