And as he approached and looked at the city he wept over it, saying: If you only knew on this day, even you, what leads to peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days will come when your enemies will run an entrenchment around you and encircle you and crush you from every side, and they will level you to the ground, and your children in you, and they will not leave stone upon stone in you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.
And he went into the temple and began to drive out those who sold there, saying to them: It is written: And my house shall be a house of prayer. But you have made it into a den of robbers.
And he was teaching day by day in the temple. But the high priests and the scribes looked for a way to destroy him, and so also did the leading men among the people, but they could not think of what to do, for all the populace hung on his words.
t| And it happened on one of those days when he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the high priests and the scribes came up to him, along with the elders, and they said to him: Tell us by what authority you do this, or who it is who gave you this authority. He answered and said to them: I too will ask you a question, and you tell me. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? They discussed this among themselves, saying: If we say: From heaven, he will say: Why did you not believe him? But if we say: From men, the whole populace will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet. And they answered that they did not know whence it came. And Jesus said to them: Neither will I tell you by what authority I do this.
And he began to tell the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to farmers, and left the country for some time. And when the time came he sent his slave to the farmers so that they could give him some of the fruits of the vineyard. But the farmers lashed him and sent him away empty-handed. He sent another slave in addition and they lashed him too and outraged him and sent him away empty-handed. He added still a third and sent him, and they wounded him and threw him out. Then the lord of the vineyard said to himself: What shall I do? I will send them my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him. But when they saw him the facers discussed it with each other, and they said: This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours. And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What will the lord of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others. When they heard it, they said: May it never happen! But he looked at them and said: What then is this that is written? The stone that the builders rejected has come to be at the head of the corner. And anyone who falls on that stone shall be broken; and he on whom it falls shall be crushed by it. And the scribes and the high priests were looking for a way to lay their hands on him at that very time, and they were afraid of the people, for they knew that he had spoken that parable against them. And they watched their opportunity and sent spies who pretended to be righteous men, so that they could seize on something he said and be able to turn him over to the government and the authority of the governor. And they questioned him, saying: Master, we know that you speak and teach straight, and do not take account of persons, but truthfully teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay the tax to Caesar or not? But he knew their knavery and said to them: Show me a denarius. Whose is the image and whose name is inscribed? They said: Caesar's. And he said to them: Then give Caesar what is Caesar's and God what is God's. And they could not get a hold on this saying before the people, and they wondered at this answer and were silent.
Then there came to him certain of the Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, and they questioned him, saying: Master, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, married but without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up issue for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers; and the first one took a wife and died without children; and the second took her, and the third, and in the same way all seven left no children, and died; and finally the woman died. So in the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had her as wife. Jesus said to them: The sons of this life marry and are given in marriage, but those who have been called worthy to attain that other life, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage. For they can no longer die, for they are like angels, and being sons of the resurrection they are sons of God. But that the dead waken Moses bore witness, at the bush, when he says: The Lord God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob; for he is not God of the dead but of the living, for all live in him. Then some of the scribes answered and said: Master, you have spoken well; for they no longer dared question him on anything. But he said to them: How do they say that the Christ is the son of David? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit on my right, so that I may put your enemies beneath your feet. So David calls him Lord, and how can he be his son?
And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples: Beware of the scribes, who like to walk about in their robes, who love the salutations in the marketplaces and the first seats in the synagogues and the foremost couches at the dinners, who eat up the houses of the widows and pray long as an excuse. The greater the condemnation these will receive.
t Then he looked out and saw the people throwing their gifts into the treasury, rich people; and he saw a poor widow tossing in two little coins. And he said: Truly I tell you, this widow who is poor has put in more than all. For they all put in their gifts out of their surplus, but she put in out of her deficit, her whole livelihood.
And when some said concerning the temple that it was made beautiful with fine stones and dedications, he said: There will come days when of all this that you see there will be no stone set on stone that will escape falling to ruin. But they questioned him, saying: Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about to happen? He said: See to it that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name saying: I am he, and: The time is near. Do not follow them. But when you hear of wars and dissensions, do not be frightened. For all this must come first, but the end will not be soon. Then he said to them: Nation shall rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom, there will be great earthquakes, and in places there will be pestilences and famines, and horrors and great signs from the sky. But before all these things they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, as you are brought before kings and chiefs because of my name. This will be your time to testify. Then store it in your hearts that you must not study beforehand how you will defend yourselves, for I will give you such lips and such skill that all your antagonists will be unable to stand against you or speak against you. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of my name. But not one hair of your head shall be destroyed. Through your endurance you will possess your own souls. But when you see Jerusalem encircled by encampments, then know that her desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains, and those who are in the middle of the city go out, and those who are in the provinces not go into her, because these are the days of her retribution, for all the scriptures to be fulfilled. Woe to the women who are with child in those days and the women who are nursing in those days. For there will be great stress upon the land and anger against this people, and they will fall to the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the nations until the times of the nations are fulfilled. And there will be portents in the sun and the moon and stars, and on earth distress of nations in bewilderment of the sound of the sea and its surf, as people faint from fear and expectation of what is advancing upon the world, for the powers of the skies will be shaken. And then they will see the son of man coming upon the cloud with
power and great glory. As these things begin to happen, look up and raise your hands, because the time of your deliverance is near.
And he told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they put forth leaves, you look at them for yourselves and know that the summer is now near; so also when you see these things happening you know that the Kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you that this generation will not pass by before all these things are done. The sky and the earth will pass away but my words may not pass away. But look to yourselves so that your hearts may not become heavy with surfeit and drunkenness and thoughts of this life, lest that day come upon you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who are settled upon the face of the whole earth. Be wakeful at every moment, praying for strength to escape all those things that are going to happen, and to stand before the son of man.
And during the days he would teach in the temple, but for the nights he would go out and stay at the Mount of Olives; and all the people would go out at dawn to the temple to hear him.
•1 The festival of the unleavened bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the high priests and the scribes were looking for a way to destroy him, for they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered into Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the number of the twelve. And he went and talked with the high priests and generals about how to betray him to them. And they were delighted and contracted to give him money. And he agreed, and looked for an opportunity to betray him, when the crowd was not there.
And the day of unleavened bread came, when it was time to sacrifice the paschal l^b. And Jesus sent out Peter and John, saying: Go and make preparations for us to eat the feast of the Passover. And they said to him: Where shall we prepare it? And he said to them: See, as you go into the city, a man carrying a pot of water will meet you. Follow him into whatever house he enters. And say to the master of the house: The master says to you: Where is my guest chamber where I can eat the Passover dinner with my disciples? And he will show you a large upper room, furnished. There prepare it. And they went and found it as he had told them, and made ready the Passover. And when the time came, he took his place, and the apostles with him. And he said to them: I greatly desired to eat this Passover dinner with you, before my sufering; for I tell you that I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the Kingdom of God. And he accepted a cup and gave thanks and said: Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you, I will not drink of the produce of the vine from now until the Kingdom of God arrives. And he took a loaf and gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them, saying: This my body [which is given for your sake; do this in remembrance of me. And so too with the cup, after dinner, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for your sake]. But see, the hand of the betrayer is with me, on the table. Because the son of man goes the way appointed, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed. And they began to ask among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do this thing.
And a dispute arose among them over which of them was thought to be the greatest. But he said to them: The kings of the Gentiles are as lords over them, and those who exercise authority are called their benefactors. Not so you; but let the greater among you be as the younger, and let him who leads be as him who serves. For who is greater, he who dines, or he who serves him? Is it not he who dines? Yet I am among you as the one who serves. But you are the ones who have stayed with me in my times of trial; and I appointed for you, as my father appointed a kingdom for me, that you shall eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit upon thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked for you, to sift you like grain, but I asked for you that your faith should not fail you. So you, one day, tum to your brothers and strengthen them. But he said to him:
Lord, with you I am ready to go to prison and to death. But he said: I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you have denied three times that you knew me.
And he said to them: When I sent you forth without purse or bag or shoes, surely you did not lack for anything? They said: Nothing. But he said to them: But now, let him who has a purse, take it; let him who has a bag, likewise; let him who has no sword sell his coat and buy one. For I tell you, this that has been written must be fulfilled in me: He was even counted among the outlaws. For what is said about me comes to fulfillment. They said: Lord, here are two swords. But he said to them: It is enough.
And he went out and proceeded according to his custom to the Mount of Olives. And when he had reached the place he said to them: Pray that you do not come to the time of trial. And he himself withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and went on his knees and prayed, saying: Father, if you will, take this cup from me; but let, not my will, but yours, be done. And an angel from the sky was seen by him, giving him strength. And as he came into his agony he prayed the more intensely, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. And he stood up from his prayer and went to his disciples and found them asleep after their sorrow, and said to them: Why do you sleep? Get up and pray that you do not come to the time of trial.
And while he was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them, and he came up to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him: Judas, are you betraying the son of man with a kiss? When his companions saw what was going to happen, they said: Lord, shall we strike with the sword? And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and took off his right ear. But Jesus spoke forth and said: Let that be enough. And he took hold of the man's ear and healed him. But Jesus said to the high priests and generals of the temple and elders who were present: Did you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a highwayman? Day by day I was with you in the temple and you did not put forth your hands against me. But this is your time, and the power of darkness.
They seized him and led him away and took him to the house of the high priest; and Peter followed him at a distance. And when they lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat by it together, Peter sat among them. A serving girl saw him sitting by the fire, and she stared at him and said: This man was with him too. But he denied it, saying: Woman, I do not know him. And after a little while someone else saw him and said: You are one of them too. But Peter said: Man, I ^ not. But after an interval of about an hour another man insisted on it, saying: Truly this man was with him; he is a Galilaean. But Peter said: Man, I do not know what you are talking about. And at that moment while he was still talking the cock crew. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the Lord's saying, how he had told him: Before the cock crows this morning you will deny me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly.
And the men who had hold of Jesus mocked him, lashing him and covering his head and asking him: Which one hit you? Prophesy! And they said many other things against him, reviling him.
And when it was day, the elders of the people were assembled, the high priests and the scribes, and they brought him before their council, saying: If you are the Christ, tell us. But he said to them: If I tell you, you will not believe me; and if I ask you you will not answer. From now on the son of man will be sitting on the right of the power of God. And they all said: Are you then the son of God? But he said to them: You are saying that I am. And they said: Why do we still need testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his mouth.
•1 And their whole assemblage rose up and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying: We found that this man was corrupting our people and interfering with the payment of taxes to Caesar and calling himself the King anointed. Pilate questioned him, saying: Are you the King of the Jews? He answered him and said: It is you who say it. And Pilate said to the high priests and the mob: I find no guilt in this man. But they insisted, saying: He is disturbing the people with his teaching throughout Judaea, all the way from Galilee to
here. When Pilate heard this he asked if the man were a Galilaean, and understanding that he was from Herod's sphere of authority, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem during these days. Herod was greatly pleased at seeing Jesus, for he had wished to see him for some time, because he had heard about him, and he hoped to see some miracle performed by him. And he questioned him at considerable length, but Jesus gave him no answer. And the high priests and the scribes stood there strenuously accusing him. And Herod despised him and put shining clothing on him in mockery and sent him back with his guards to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate be- c^e friends with each other on that same day, after having been at enmity before.
Now Pilate called together the high priests and the chief men and the people and said to them: You brought me this man as one who was corrupting the people, and look, I have judged him in your presence and found him not guilty of any of the things you charge him with. Nor did Herod either, for he sent him back to us. And see, nothing has been done by him to deserve death. So I will teach him a lesson and let him go. But they screamed in full cry, saying: Take him away and let our Barabbas go. He was a man who had been thrown into prison on account of an uprising with bloodshed that had taken place in the city. And again Pilate spoke to them, wishing to let Jesus go. But they cried out saying: Crucify, crucify him. A third time he said to them: But what harm has this man done? I have found nothing about him to deserve death. I will teach him a lesson and let him go. But they kept at him, demanding in loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices prevailed. And Pilate decided that they should have what they demanded; and he set free the man they asked for, who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, and he gave Jesus up to their will.
The New Testament Page 17