Chapter 6
Contemporary Opinions About the Worth of Jesus
After Jesus had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
And a certain centurion, when he heard concerning Jesus, sent unto him elders of the Jews, asking him that he would save his boy. And they, when they came to Jesus, besought him earnestly, saying, He is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him: for he loveth our nation, and himself built us our synagogue.
And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Sir, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say the word. For I also am a man set under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
And when Jesus heard these things, he marveled at the centurion, and turned and said unto the multitude that followed him, I say unto you, I have found not so great a faith, no, not in Israel.
And the disciples of John told him of all these things. And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another? And when the men were come unto Jesus, they said, John the Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard. And blessed is he, whosoever shall find none occasion of stumbling in me.
And when the messengers of John were departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out in the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in king’s courts. But what went ye out to see? A prophet? I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there is none greater than John: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of God is greater than John. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of God suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesized until John.
Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation, and to what are they like? They are like unto children that sit in the marketplace, and call one to another; which say, We piped unto you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not weep. For John is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, he hath a devil. I am come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold, a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! And wisdom is justified of all her children.
And one of the Pharisees desired Jesus that he would eat with him. And Jesus entered into the Pharisees house and sat down to meat. And behold, a woman which was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that Jesus was sitting at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment, and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden Jesus saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is which toucheth him, that she is a sinner.
And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on. Jesus said, A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed 500 pence, and the other 50. When they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most? Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And Jesus said unto him, Thou has rightly judged.
And turning to the woman, Jesus said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house; thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much.
And Jesus said unto the woman, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth sins? And he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
30. On a Tour in Galilee
And it came to pass soon afterwards, that Jesus went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve, and certain women which ministered to them of their substance.
And Jesus cometh into a house. And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. And when his friends heard it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
And Jesus was casting out a devil. And when it came to pass that when the devil was gone out the multitudes marveled. And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the devils casteth he out the devils.
And Jesus called them unto him, and said unto them, How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand but is brought to desolation. And every city or house divided against itself will not be able to stand, but falleth. And if Satan hath risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
If I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges.
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall speak a word against me, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall blaspheme against the spirit of God, it shall not be forgiven him. This was because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
[See also “Opinion of Disciples about Jesus”, Chapter Ten, #47.]