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98. Jesus speaks a parable to his disciples, and another to certain men, who trusted in themselves that they were righteous.

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AND he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, "There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded "man; and there was a widow in that city; " and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me "of my adversary. And he would not for "a while: but afterward he said within him“self, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she $6 weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what "the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man "cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up "into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, " and the other a Publican. The Pharisee "stood, and prayed thus with himself, God, I "thank thee, that I am not as other men are, "extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as "this publican. I fast twice in the week, I

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b How few will be saved! The Jews fasted on Mondays and Thursdays: on one of which Moses went up into the Mount, and on the other descended,

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give tithes of all that I possess. And the "publican standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote "upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to 66 me a sinner. I tell you, this man went "down to his house justified' rather than the "other: for every one that exalteth himself "shall be abased; and he that humbleth him"self shall be exalted."

99. Jesus is received into Martha's house.

Place.

Bethany.

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 troub

led about many things; but one thing is "needful: and Mary hath chosen that good "part which shall not be taken away from "her."

Pardoned and accepted by God.

100. Jesus keeps the feast of Dedication at

Time. A.D. 33.

Jerusalem.

AND it was at Jerusalem, Place. After the 3d the feast of the dedication,* Jerusalem.

Passover, on

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the 25th of and it was winter. And Jesus walked the 9th Jew-in the temple in Solomon's porch. ish month. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told I told you, "and ye believed not: the works that I do in 86 my father's name, they bear witness of me. "But ye believe not; because ye are not of "my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep "hear my voice, and I know them, and they "follow me: and I give unto them eternal "life; and they shall never perish, neither "shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater "than all; and no man is able to pluck them "out of my Father's hand. I and my Father 66 are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye "stone me?" The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being

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This feast was kept by burning lights in their houses by night, in memory of the cleansing of the temple, and consecrating a new altar, by Judas Maccabeus, after the profanation by Antiochus king of Syria. See 1 Mac. iv. 56. 2 Mac. x. 5, 6.

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a man, makest thyself, God. Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, I said, "Ye are gods? if he called them gods, unto "whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;' say ye of him "whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent "into the world, Thou blasphemest; because " I said, I am the son of God? if I do not the "works of my Father, believe me not. But "if I do, though ye believe not me, believe "the works that ye may know, and believe, "that the Father is in me, and I in him." Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand.

101. Jesus goes again to Bethabara, after the feast of Dedication, and remains there till a fit occasion calls him into Judea.

A. D. 33.

Bethabara.

Time. AND he went away again Place. Between beyond Jordan into the the feast of place where John at first baptized; Dedication and there he abode. And many reand the 4th sorted unto him, and said, John spake no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. And lieved on him there.

Passover.

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If this title be given in your law to man for his office sake, who acts as ruler and judge; much more is it due to me, who am the Son of God. Psalm lxxxii, 6.

102. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. The consequences of this miracle.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, "This sickness "is not unto death, but for the glory of God, "that the Son of God might be glorified

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thereby." Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, "Let us go "into Judea again." His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the "day? if any man walk in the day, he "stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of "this world. But if a man walk in the night, "he stumbleth, because there is no light in "him." These things said he and after that he saith unto them, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him "out of sleep." Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he

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"The Jews divided the day from sun-rise to sun-set into twelve hours.

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