JESUS ANSWERS SADDUCEES AND PHARISEES--WIDOWS OFFERING.
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to
silence, they were gathered together. And one of the scribes _which was_
a lawyer, came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving
that he had answered them well, asked _him a question_, tempting him,
and saying, Master, which _is_ the great commandment in the law? Which
is the First commandment of all?
And Jesus answered him,
The first of all the commandments _is_, Hear, O Israel, The
Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first and great
commandment. And the second _is_ like unto it, Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all
the law and the prophets. There is none other commandment
greater than these.
And the scribe said unto him, Well Master, thou hast said the truth: for
there is one God; and there is none other but he: and to love him with
all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul,
and with all the strength, and to love _his_ neighbor as himself, is
more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him,
Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.
And no man after that durst ask him _any question_.
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying,
What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?
They say unto him, _The Son_ of David. He saith unto them,
How then doth David in spirit call him Lord?
And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple,
How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? For
David himself saith by the Holy Ghost, in the book of Psalms,
The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I
make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore himself
calleth him Lord; and whence is he _then_ his son?
And no man was able to answer him a word: and the common people heard
him gladly: neither durst any _man_ from that day forth ask him any more
_questions_.
Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, in
his doctrine,
Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and
_love_ salutations in the market places, and the chief seats
in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: which
devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers:
these shall receive greater damnation.
And Jesus sat over against the treasury. And he looked up, and saw the
people casting their gifts into the treasury. And many that were rich
cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two
mites, which make a farthing. And he called _unto him_ his disciples,
and saith unto them,
Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in,
than all they which have cast into the treasury: for all
_they_ did cast in of their abundance, unto the offerings of
God: but she of her want did cast in all that she had, _even_
all her living.
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed
not on him: that the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled,
which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the
arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because
that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their
heart; that they should not see with _their_ eyes, nor understand with
_their_ heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but
because of the Pharisees they did not confess _him_, lest they should be
put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the
praise of God. Jesus cried and said,
He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that
sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am
come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me
should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words,
and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the
world, but to save the world.
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one
that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall
judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself;
but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I
should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his
commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore,
even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.