The New Testament in Both Authorized and Revised Versions

Christ healeth

ST. MATTHEW, XVII.

the lunatick.

15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is luna- 15 to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on tick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously: for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft-times into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring

18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he depart- 18 him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked ed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and place, it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

him; and the devil went out from him: and the boy was cured from that hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out? 20 And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.2

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be

22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into 23 delivered up into the hands of men; and the hands of men:

23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

241 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him. Then are the children free.

27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised up. And they were exceeding sorry.

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the 4 half-shekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your 25 master pay the half-shekel? He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers? And when he said, From strangers, Jesus said unto him, Therefore the sons are free. But, lest we cause them to stumble, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a shekel: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

1 Gr. demon. Many authorities, some ancient, insert verse 21 But this kind goeth not out save by prayer and fasting. See Mark 9:29. 3 Some ancient authorities read were gathering themselves together. * Gr. didrachma. Or,

teacher.

6 Gr. stater.

15. Epileptic. More properly "lunatic." The father calls the infliction by a name not appropriate; for the boy was possessed of a spirit which made him dumb and deaf, and caused him to foam, and grind his teeth, and dashed him into fire and water (compare the accounts in Mark and Luke). The child was an only one (Luke 9:38).

17. Faithless and perverse generation. Our Lord seems to apply these epithets, both to his disciples (verse 20) and to the multitude. His disciples did not rise to the plane of spiritual power which was open to them, and the multitude were principally actuated by curiosity. Bring him hither to me. Mark tells us, that, as the boy was brought, the spirit made a fearful assault upon him; and also that Jesus called out from the father the touching cry, "I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

20. Mustard seed - mountain. Figurative language for a little and a great matter. The twenty-first verse is not found in the Revision. In this the Revisers have followed the Sinaitic and Vatican codices with some of the oldest versions. In Mark 9:29 it occurs, but with "and fasting" omitted, from the same MS. authorities. It reads in Mark, "This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer." The addition seems to have been made as early as the second century..

22, 23. A second formal announcement of his approaching death and resurrection (compare chap. 16:21). They were exceeding sorry. But, as Mark and Luke tell us, they did not understand what our Lord meant, except very vaguely, and feared to inquire of him more particularly.

24. The half-shekel. Literally, "the didrachma." The didrachma (or didrachmon) was equal to thirty-five cents, and here denotes the half-shekel, - the regular poll-tax (Exod. 30: 13, and 38:26). The tribute here spoken of is, therefore, not the tax to the Roman government, but the tax to the temple-service; and, from the twenty-seventh verse, we may suppose that its payment was not enforced.

26. The sons are free. Referring to himself as the Son of God, God being the King to whom this tribute was paid. 27. Shekel. Literally, "stater." The stater was a piece worth two didrachmas. This miracle of the fish and the piece of money is unique in the list of our Lord's miracles. It is not an act of healing, or helping the needy, but seems to have a symbolic character. May not the redemption money represent our Lord's atonement, found by seeking according to the divine revelation, and not by any human wisdom or contrivance, God's free gift to man's faith? It is worth noting, that a fish was in the early centuries the emblem of Christ; its Greek letters (ἰχθύς) being the initials of Ιησοῦς Χριστὸς Θεοῦ υἱὸς σωτήρ (Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour).

Christ warneth his disciples

ST. MATTHEW, XVIII.

to be humble.

CHAPTER XVIII.

1. Christ warneth his disciples to be humble and harmless: 7. to avoid offences, and not to despise the little ones: 15. teacheth how we are to deal with our brethren, when they offend us: 21. and how oft to forgive them: 23. which he setteth forth by a parable of the king, that took account of his servants, 32. and punished him, who shewed no mercy to his fellow.

1 AT the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'

1 IN that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is 1greatest in 2 the kingdom of heaven? And he called

to him a little child, and set him in the 3 midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the 4 kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the 1 greatest in the kingdom 5 of heaven. And whoso shall receive one 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child such little child in my name receiveth in my name receiveth me. 6 me: but whoso shall cause one of these 1 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones little ones which believe on me to stumwhich believe in me, it were better for him that a ble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he millstone should be hanged about his were drowned in the depth of the sea. neck, and that he should be sunk in the

71 Woe unto the world because of offences! for 7 depth of the sea. Woe unto the world

it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee,

cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better 8 occasion cometh! And if thy hand or

because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the

for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and

thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet

cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into 9 to be cast into the eternal fire. And if

life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my 10 into the hell of fire. See that ye despise Father which is in heaven.

thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast

11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in

12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred 12 heaven. How think ye? if any man

sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the moun13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto tains, and seek that which goeth astray? you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say ninety and nine which went not astray. unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than

1 Gr. greater. 2 Gr. a millstone turned by an ass. 3 Gr. Gehenna of fire. 4 Many authorities, some ancient, insert verse 11 For the Son of man came to save that which was lost. See Luke 19:10.

1. Saying. First, they said it among themselves, then probably to Jesus, on his inquiring the subject of their dispute (Luke 9: 46, 47, and Mark 9:33). The "then" shows it was preceded by other conversation. 3. The true spiritual church of Christ consists of humble and dependent souls, not of the self-sufficient. 4. Greatest. Here, and in verse 1, the word is strictly "greater." It refers to the greater in any special case of two.

5. One such little child. That is, one true disciple, who has the humble spirit of a little child. In verse 6, it is "one of these little ones which believe on me." These were common terms for "disciples" among the Jews (see chap. 10:42).

6. A great millstone. Literally, "a millstone turned by an ass," in distinction from the little handmillstone. The saying is a strong Orientalism, indicating that utter removal from human society would, by preventing such a man from repeating such a sin, be a benefit to him. The seventh verse has a different reference; namely, to his punishment.

8, 9. See on chap. 5:29. The hand, foot, or eye may be the cause of the body's fall. So earthly attachments may cause the soul's destruction. "Eternal fire," and the "hell of fire" (literally, Gehenna of fire), can mean Lothing short of eternal punishment (see on chap. 5:22).

10. These little ones. See above, on verse 5. Their angels. Their ministering or guardian angels (Heb. 1:14). Christ's people (his "little ones") have angels ever ministering to them.

13. More than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray. This parabolic allusion is intended only to illustrate Christ's joy over the penitent wanderer, and not his comparative neglect of those who

The forgiveness

ST. MATTHEW, XVIII.

of trespasses taught.

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father over the ninety and nine which have not which is in heaven, that one of these little ones 14 gone astray. Even so it is not the 1 will

should perish.

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between 15 thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

of 2 your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with 16 gained thy brother. But if he hear thee thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

And if thy brother sin against thee, go, shew him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast

not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three

he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the #church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it 17 every word may be established. And if

unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man

and a publican.

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall 18 the Gentile and the publican. Verily I

bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed

in heaven.

say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and what things soever ye shall loose on

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you 19 earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them

20 For where two or three are gathered together 20 of my Father which is in heaven. For in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

231 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made,

where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Then came Peter, and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy 23 times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would make a reckoning with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him 25 ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not wherewith to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, 26 payment to be made. The servant there

and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave 27 will pay thee all. And the lord of that him the debt.

fore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I

25 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an 28 But that servant went out, and found hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou

8 servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

owest.

one of his fellow-servants, which owed him a hundred 10 pence: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, say

1 Gr. a thing willed before your Father. 2 Some ancient authorities read my. 3 Some ancient authorities omit against thee. Or, congregation. 5 Or, serenty times and seven. Gr. bond-servants. 7 This talent was probably worth about £240, Gr. bond-servant. Gr. loan. 10 The word in the Greek denotes a coin worth about eight pence half-penny.

remain near him. A parable which is intended to illustrate one truth is often inapposite regarding another, and must not be pressed in that direction.

14. The Saviour will use every means to preserve his own. This thought is joined to that of woe to those who would lead them astray.

17. The church. The congregation to which he belongs. As the Gentile and the publican. Not hated or condemned, but simply as not a Christian without the intimate communion which the love of Christ justi. fies in two souls.

18. See on chap. 16: 19.

19. If two of you shall agree. From Matt. 7: 7, 8, and 21:22, Mark 11: 23, 24, we learn that faith is the sole condition on which individual Christians may have what they ask for. Here, as tico are mentioned, we seem to be referred to a church action, even two being enough to form a church. The connection seems to be this. If the church, when it rebukes a member, is not heard by him, he is to be counted as an outsider; and the binding and loosing involved in this will be ratified in heaven. So every thing the church (or assembly) agree upon to ask, even if the church is composed of only two members, will be granted by God. Of course, the condition of faith is implied.

22. Seventy times seven. Whether we read this thus, or as "seventy times and seven," it is a definite for an Indefinite number.

24. Ten thousand talents. About twelve million dollars.

28. A hundred pence. About seventeen dollars.

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