MARTHA'S ENTERTAINMENT--FORM OF PRAYER--DUMB DEVIL.
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain
village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and
heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to
him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to
serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and
said unto her,
Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many
things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that
good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he
ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as
John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them,
When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be
thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven,
so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive
us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to
us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
And he said unto them,
Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at
midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for
a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have
nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and
say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are
with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you,
Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his
friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give
him as many as he needeth.
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and
ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For
every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall
ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a
stone? or if _he ask_ a fish, will he for a fish give him a
serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a
scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
unto your children; how much more shall _your_ heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass,
when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief
of the devils. And others, tempting _him_, sought of him a sign from
heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them,
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation;
and a house _divided_ against a house falleth. If Satan also
be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?
because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And
if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast
_them_ out? Therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with
the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God
is come upon you.
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in
peace. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him and
overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he
trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is
against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh
through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith,
I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he
cometh, he findeth _it_ swept and garnished. Then goeth he,
and taketh _to him_ seven other spirits more wicked than
himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last
_state_ of that man is worse than the first.
And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the
company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed _is_ the womb
that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said,
Yea rather, blessed _are_ they that hear the word of God, and
keep it.