Part 685 (1/2)

7:21. (And in that same hour, he cured many of their diseases and hurts and evil spirits: and to many that were blind he gave sight.)

7:22. And answering, he said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, to the poor the gospel is preached.

7:23. And blessed is he whosoever shall not be scandalized in me.

7:24. And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak to the mult.i.tudes concerning John. What went ye out into the desert to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

7:25. But what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft garments?

Behold they that are in costly apparel and live delicately are in the houses of kings.

7:26. But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

7:27. This is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

7:28. For I say to you: Amongst those that are born of men, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist. But he that is the lesser in the kingdom of G.o.d is greater than he.

7:29. And all the people hearing, and the publicans, justified G.o.d, being baptized with John's baptism.

Justified G.o.d... that is, praised the justice of G.o.d, feared and wors.h.i.+pped G.o.d, as just and merciful.

7:30. But the Pharisees and the lawyers despised the counsel of G.o.d against themselves, being not baptized by him.

7:31. And the Lord said: Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? And to what are they like?

7:32. They are like to children sitting in the marketplace and speaking one to another and saying: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have mourned, and you have not wept.

7:33. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine.

And you say: He hath a devil.

7:34. The Son of man is come eating and drinking. And you say: Behold a man that is a glutton and a drinker of wine, a friend of publicans and sinners.

7:35. And wisdom is justified by all her children.

7:36. And one of the Pharisees desired him to eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee and sat down to meat.

One of the Pharisees: that is, Simon.

7:37. And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment.

7:38. And standing behind at his feet she began to wash his feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

7:39. And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: This man, if he were if a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner.

7:40. And Jesus answering, said to him: Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. But he said: Master, say it.

7:41. A certain creditor had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence and the other fifty.

7:42. And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both.

Which therefore of the two loveth him most?