Part 652 (1/2)

17:10. And his disciples asked him, saying: Why then do the scribes say that Elias must come first?

17:11. But he answering, said to them: Elias indeed shall come, and restore all things.

17:12. But I say to you, that Elias is already come, and they knew him not, But have done unto him whatsoever they had a mind. So also the Son of man shall suffer from them.

17:13. Then the disciples understood, that he had spoken to them of John the Baptist.

17:14. And when he was come to the mult.i.tude, there came to him a man falling down on his knees before him saying: Lord, have pity on my son, for he is a lunatic, and suffereth much: for he falleth often into the fire, and often into the water.

17:15. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

17:16. Then Jesus answered and said: O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you?

Bring him hither to me.

17:17. And Jesus rebuked him, and the devil went out of him, and the child was cured from that hour.

17:18. Then came the disciples to Jesus secretly, and said: Why could not we cast him out?

17:19. Jesus said to them: Because of your unbelief. For, amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain: Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible to you.

As a grain of mustard seed... That is, a perfect faith; which in its properties, and its fruits, resembles the grain of mustard seed, in the parable, chap. 13. 31.

17:20. But this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting.

17:21. And when they abode together in Galilee, Jesus said to them: The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

17:22. And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall rise again.

And they were troubled exceedingly.

17:23. And when they were come to Capharnaum, they that received the didrachmas, came to Peter, and said to him: Doth not your master pay the didrachma?

The didrachmas... A didrachma was half a sicle, or half a stater; that is, about 15d. English: which was a tax laid upon every head for the service of the temple.

17:24. He said: Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying: What is thy opinion, Simon? The kings of the earth, of whom do they receive tribute or custom, of their own children, or of strangers?

17:25. And he said: Of strangers. Jesus said to him: Then the children are free.

17:26. But that we may not scandalize them, go to the sea, and cast in a hook: and that fish which shall first come up, take: and when thou hast opened it's mouth, thou shalt find a stater: take that, and give it to them for me and thee.

Matthew Chapter 18

Christ teaches humility, to beware of scandal, and to flee the occasions of sin: to denounce to the church incorrigible sinners, and to look upon such as refuse to hear the church as heathens. He promises to his disciples the power of binding and loosing: and that he will be in the midst of their a.s.semblies. No forgiveness for them that will not forgive.

18:1. At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who, thinkest thou, is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?

18:2. And Jesus, calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them.

18:3. And said: amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.