Page images
PDF
EPUB

the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom." But Jesus answered and said, "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They say unto him, "We are able." He saith unto them, "Ye shall indeed drink of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on my right hand and on my left, is not mine to give, except to those for whom it is prepared by my Father."

And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them to him and said, “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them; and they who are great exercise authority

* By this our Lord means to ask them, whether they were prepared to drink of that bitter cup of affliction of which he would have to drink-or, in other words, whether they were prepared to endure much suffering as his disciples.

upon them. But it shall not be so among you; but whosoever would be great among you, let him be your minister; * and whosoever would be chief among you, let him be your servant; even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

CHRIST ENTERS INTO JERUSALEM,
AND CLEARS THE TEMPLE.

(Matthew xxi. 1—16.)

AND when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying unto them, "Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, "The Master hath need of them, and he will send them.""

* That is, one who serves or waits.

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying, "Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon an ass, even upon a colt, the foal of an ass.""

[ocr errors]

Then the disciples went and did as Jesus had commanded them; and they brought the ass, and the colt, and put their garments on the colt, (Luke xix. 35,) and set him thereon. And the greater part of the multitude spread their gar-ments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitude that went before and that followed, cried, saying, "Hosannah to the Son of David! Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosannah in the highest!"* And

* "Hosannahı" means 66 Save now, we pray:" it is an expression of joy, trust, and admiration. It is addressed to Christ, who is here called "The Son of David," and to God, who dwelleth "in the highest❞ heavens. "He who cometh in the name of the Lord," is another name for Christ.

when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" And the multitude said, "This is Jesus the prophet, who is of Nazareth in Galilee."

Then Jesus went into the Temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, "It is written, My House shall be a House of prayer,' but ye have made it a den of thieves."

[ocr errors]

[St. John informs us, (ii. 14, 15,) that our Lord drove out also those that sold sheep and oxen. These, as well as the doves, were needed for the sacrifices; but they who sold them, and they also who changed money, were probably in the habit of making unjust and exorbitant gains; they were therefore a disgrace to the holy temple of God, in the outer court of which they had established themselves; and when Christ drove them out, he treated them as they deserved.]

[ocr errors]

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. And when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things which he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, "Hosannah to the Son of David!" they were sore displeased, and said unto him, "Hearest thou what these say?" Jesus answered, "Yes; have ye never read, 'Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast prepared praise'?"

JESUS QUESTIONED BY THE PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES.

(Matt. xxii. 15–23; Mark. xii. 28–34.)

THEN Went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent to him some of their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man; for thou

« PreviousContinue »