The Gospels

by Sarah Ruden

  “Blessed is the one who’s coming,

  The king, in the name of the lord;

  Peace is in the sky,

  And glory in the highest places!”*202

  39 Then some of the Farisaioi in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, take your students to task.” 40 But he answered by saying, “I tell you, if they fall silent, the stones will cry out.”

  41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he cried over her, 42 saying, “If only you too had known, on this day, what would bring peace—! As things are, that’s hidden from your eyes. 43 But surely the days will find you when your enemies set up a barricade against you and encircle you all around, and close in on you on every side. 44 And they’ll bring you, and your children inside you, level with the ground, and they won’t leave one stone in you on top of another, to pay you back for not recognizing the time when god was here, watching over you.”*203

  45 Then, once he came into the temple precinct, he began to throw out the vendors, saying to them, 46 “It’s been written,

  “ ‘And my house will be a house of prayer,’

  but you made it a cave where bandits lurk.”*204

  47 And there he was, teaching in the temple precinct day after day. And the high priests and the scholars and the leading men among the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they couldn’t find a way to do it, as the whole of the people were glued to him, listening.

  Chapter 20

  1 And it happened that, on one of the days when he was teaching the people in the temple precinct and giving the good news, the high priests and the scholars, along with the elders, loomed near 2 and spoke, addressing him: “Tell us, by what authority do you do these things, or who is it who gave you this authority?” 3 In answer, he said to them, “I’m going to question you myself about a matter, and you must answer me. 4 Did the baptism Iōannēs carried out come from heaven or from human beings?” 5 And they tried to work it out among themselves, in these terms: “If we say ‘From heaven,’ he’ll say, ‘Then why didn’t you trust him?’ 6 But if we say ‘From human beings,’ the people as a whole are going to stone us, as they’ve come to believe that Iōannēs was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they didn’t know where it had come from. 8 And Iēsous said to them: “I’m not telling you either by what authority I do these things.”

  9 And he undertook to tell the people this story for the sake of comparison: “A [certain] man planted a vineyard, then leased it to farmers and went abroad for a considerable time. 10 And at the proper time he dispatched his slave to the farmers so that they could give him a share of the vineyard’s harvest. But the farmers nearly skinned him alive, and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Then the owner tried again, sending another slave, but they nearly skinned him alive too, and treated him shamefully,*205 and sent him away empty-handed. 12 Then he tried again, sending a third slave, and on this one they inflicted some serious wounds and threw him out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What am I going to do? I’ll send my son, whom I love. Perhaps they’ll have respect for him.’ 14 But when they saw him, the farmers worked it out with each other and said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. So what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He’ll come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others.”*206

  Those who heard this said, “May that never happen!” 17 But he gave them a penetrating look and told them, “Then what’s this mean, that’s been written?

  “ ‘The stone that the builders tested and rejected—

  It turned out to head up the corner.’*207

  18 “Everybody who falls over that stone will be shattered, and anyone on whom it falls will be pulverized.”

  19 And at that very time, the scholars and the high priests were trying to get their hands on him, but they were afraid of the crowd, since they knew that they themselves were the target of this story he’d told.

  20 Then they watched closely and sent spies, who were acting the part of upright people, so that they could use what he said against him, which would provide a chance to turn him over to the control and authority of the governor.*208 21 And they questioned him, saying, “Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is straightforwardly correct, and that you don’t judge with favoritism, but rather on the basis of truth you teach god’s path. 22 Is it permitted for us to pay tax to Kaisar or not?” 23 But detecting their malice, he said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have on it?” They said, “Kaisar’s.” 25 He told them, “In that case, pay Kaisar what belongs to Kaisar—give it right back to him—and pay god what belongs to god.”*209 26 And they weren’t able to use against him what he said in front of the people, so they fell silent, amazed at his answer.

  27 And certain Saddoukaioi came to him, people who say [in contradiction] that there is no rising of the dead again;*210 and they questioned him, 28 saying, “Teacher, Mōüsēs wrote down for us that if someone’s brother dies when he has a wife but is childless, his brother has to take the wife and raise up seed for his brother.*211 29 So there were seven brothers. And the first one took a wife but died childless. 30 Then the second 31 and then the third took her, and it actually went the same way with all seven, who died without leaving children. 32 Finally, the wife died too. 33 So when the dead rise, whose wife will the woman be? All seven in fact had her as a wife.”

  34 But Iēsous said to them, “The children of this world of time*212 take wives and are given as wives, 35 but those who are judged worthy to partake in that other world of unending time and in the rising from among the dead don’t take wives, and aren’t given as wives either. 36 They also in fact can no longer die, as they’re equals of the messengers, and they’re children of god, being children of rising again. 37 That the dead rise Mōüsēs himself showed in the passage about the bush, when he spoke of the lord as ‘the god of Abraam and the god of Isaak and the god of Iakōb.’ 38 God isn’t a god of corpses but of living people, because through him they are all alive.”*213

  39 In response, some of the scholars said, “Teacher, that was the right thing to say!” 40 They in fact no longer dared to ask him anything.

  41 Then he said to them, “What do they mean by saying that the anointed one is David’s son? 42 In fact, David himself says, in the book of praise songs:*214

  “ ‘The lord said to my lord:

  “Sit to the right of me

  43 Until I put your enemies

  Under your feet.” ’

  44 “David thus calls him lord, so how is he his son?”*215

  45 With the whole of the people hearing, he said to [his] students, 46 “Be on your guard against the scholars, who’re always ready to walk around in long robes and love to be greeted respectfully in the marketplaces, and to have the seats of highest honor in the synagogues, and the couches of highest honor at banquets.*216 47 They wolf down the homes of widows and say long prayers as a pretext. They’re going to get a heavier verdict given on them than they ever gave!”*217

  Chapter 21

  1 Looking up, he saw the wealthy putting their offerings into the treasury, 2 but then he saw a certain needy widow there putting in two lepta,*218 3 and he said, “I tell you truly that this destitute widow put in more than everybody else did; 4 they all of course put in offerings out of their excess, but she did it out of her shortfall, putting in the whole of what she had to live on.”

  5 While some were speaking about the temple, and the beautiful stones and votive offerings that decorated it,*219 he said, 6 “These things that you’re all gazing at—there will come days when there won’t be one stone left on top of another: every one of them will be torn down.”*220

  7 Then they questioned him, saying, “Teacher, so when will these things take place, and what will be the sign for when they’
re about to happen?” 8 And he said, “See to it that you’re not led astray. A lot of people will come in my name, saying, ‘It’s me,’ and ‘The time is close now.’ Don’t set out following at their backs. 9 When you hear about wars and insurrections, don’t panic. It’s necessary that these things happen first, but the end won’t be right away.”

  10 Then he said to them, “One nation will rise up against another, and one kingdom against another; 11 there’ll be great earthquakes, and there’ll be starvation and contagion*221 in various places, and there will be both terrifying portents and powerful signs from the sky.

  12 “But before all these things, they’ll lay hold of you and prosecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you’ll be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will result in your testifying. 14 So resolve in your hearts not to prepare in advance for your defense.15 I myself will put clever words in your mouth, which all those who’re opposed to you won’t be able to withstand or contradict.*222 16 And you’ll be handed over even by parents and brothers and other relatives, and by close friends, and they’ll put some of you to death. 17 And you’ll be hated by everybody because of my name. 18 But not a hair on your head will ever be destroyed. 19 By holding out, you’ll be put in secure possession of your lives.*223

  20 “But when you see Ierousalēm surrounded by armies, then you’ll know that her desolation is close at hand.*224 21 Then those in Ioudaia had better run to the mountains, and those in the city had better clear out, and those in the villages had better not come into the city, 22 since these are the days of retribution, for fulfilling everything that has been written. 23 Pity the women who have children in their wombs, and the women who are nursing, in those days. There will be great distress in the land, and rage toward this people. 24 And they’ll fall to the sword’s devouring mouth, and they’ll be taken as captives to every nation, and Ierousalēm will be trampled by foreign nations, until the crises of those nations are brought to completion.

  25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on earth anguish in nations that are helpless before the crashing, surging sea. 26 People will be half dead from terror, and from dread of the things on the move against all the inhabited world, since the powers of the skies will be shaken; 27 but then they’ll see the son of mankind coming on a cloud with power and great glory.*225 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up straight from where you’re crouching and raise your heads, because your liberation is close at hand.”

  29 And he gave them an analogy: “You see the fig tree and all the other trees. 30 As soon as they sprout leaves, you can see for yourself and be sure that summer is already near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things I’ve spoken of happening, be sure that god’s kingdom is near. 32 Amēn I tell you that this generation absolutely won’t pass away until everything happens. 33 The sky and the earth will pass away, but the things I’m saying will absolutely not pass away.

  34 “Look out for yourselves, so that your hearts aren’t weighed down by wild, drunken parties and the cares of ordinary life:*226 then that day won’t spring on you suddenly, without warning, 35 like a snare. It will rush in, in fact, on everyone living on the face of the whole earth. 36 So stay awake and on the watch at every juncture, begging to have enough strength to escape all these things that are going to happen, and to stand before the son of mankind.”

  37 During the days he was in the temple precinct teaching, but as for the nights, he went out and spent them in the place they call the Mountain of Olives. 38 And the entire people got up early in the morning to come listen to him in the temple precinct.

  Chapter 22

  1 Now the festival of the bread made without yeast, called the pascha, was approaching, 2 and the high priests and the scholars were looking for a way to destroy him, as they were afraid of the people.

  3 Then satanas entered into Ioudas, who was called Iskariōtēs, and who counted among the twelve. 4 And he went away and spoke with the high priests and the commanders of the temple guards*227 about a way to hand him over. 5 And they were thrilled and promised to pay him in silver. 6 And he agreed and was looking for the right moment to hand him over to them, when the crowd wasn’t there.

  7 Then came the day of bread made without yeast, [on] which sacrificing the pascha was required. 8 And he sent off Petros and Iōannēs, saying, “Be on your way and prepare the pascha for us so that we can eat it.” 9 But they asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Look, once you’ve gone into the city, a person carrying a jar of water will come face to face with you. Follow him into the house he makes his way back to,*228 11 and say to the head of that household, ‘The teacher asks you, “Where’s the accommodation where I can eat the pascha along with my students?” ’ 12 And that person will show you an upstairs room, large and comfortably furnished: make preparations there.” 13 And they went away and found it just as he had told them, and they got the pascha ready.

  14 And when the time came, he reclined at the table, and his envoys joined him. 15 And he said to them, “I’m eager beyond eagerness to eat this pascha with you before my suffering. 16 But I tell you, in fact, that I absolutely won’t eat it until its purpose is fulfilled in god’s kingdom.” 17 Then when he was handed a cup, he gave thanks for it and said, “Take this and share it out among yourselves.*229 18 I tell you, in fact, [that] from now on, I will certainly not drink any of this, which the grapevine yields, until god’s kingdom comes.” 19 Then, taking a loaf, he gave thanks for it, broke it into pieces, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for the sake of you all. Do this to keep me in your minds.” 20 And in the same way, he took the cup after they had feasted, saying, “This cup is the new dispensation, through my blood that has been poured out for your sake.*230

  21 “But look, the hand of the one who’s giving me up is with me, on the table,*231 22 because the son of mankind is going on his way, as it’s been decreed—but he has it coming, that specimen of mankind by whom he’s handed over.” 23 And they began to argue among themselves as to which of them, in that case, was about to do this.

  24 But then there also arose a squabble among them as to which of them could be regarded as the greatest. 25 But he said to them, “The kings of the foreign nations act as their masters, and those who have power over them are called ‘benefactors.’*232 26 But that’s not the case for you—it’s the opposite: the greatest one among you has to become like the youngest, and whoever’s leading has to become like the one serving. 27 Who, after all, is greater, the one reclining at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one reclining? But I myself, surrounded by you all, am like the one who’s serving.

  28 “But you’re the ones who’ve endured with me in my ordeals. 29 Hence I make over the kingdom to you, just as my father made it over to me, 30 so that you can eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and so that you can sit on chairs of state judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

  31 “Simōn, Simōn, look, satanas has claimed the whole group of you for himself, to sift like grain. 32 But I’ve pleaded on your behalf, so that your own loyalty won’t fall short. But once you’ve turned back, give your brothers some backbone.” 33 But Petros said to him, “With you, master, I’m ready to take the path even to prison, and even to death.” 34 But he said, “I tell you, Petros, today the rooster won’t crow until you deny three times that you know me.”

  35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out without a wallet or a bag or sandals, did anyone miss anything?” And they said, “No, not a thing.” 36 Then he said to them, “Now it’s the opposite: whoever has a wallet must take it, and the same for a bag, and whoever doesn’t have a sword needs to sell his cloak and buy one. 37 I tell you in fact that this, that’s been written, must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was counted among the lawless.’ And in fact what concerns me has its fulfillment.” 38 Then they said, “Master, look, here are tw
o swords.” And he said to them, “It’s enough.”*233

  39 Then he went out and made his way, according to his habit, to the mountain with the olive trees, and his students followed him as well. 40 And once he reached the place, he said to them: “Pray that you don’t come to be tested.” 41 But he himself withdrew from them to the distance of a stone’s throw, and, falling on his knees, he prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you’re willing, take away this cup from me. But even so, what you want must happen, not what I want.” 43 [And there appeared to him a messenger from the sky, strengthening him. 44 And in his anguish he prayed more strenuously, and his sweat became like clots of blood falling on the ground.] 45 Then, standing up after his prayer, he went to his students and found them lying asleep, worn out from their distress. 46 And he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Stand up and pray, so that you don’t come to be tested!”

  47 While he was still speaking, look, a mob came. And the man called Ioudas, one of the twelve, was at the head of it, and he came up to Iēsous to kiss him. 48 But Iēsous said to him, “Ioudas, it’s with a kiss that you’re handing the son of mankind over?” 49 But those with him saw what was going to happen, and they said, “Master, what if we strike with a sword?” 50 And one of them—someone—struck the chief priest’s slave and took off his right ear. 51 But Iēsous responded by saying, “That’s enough of this!” and touching his ear, he healed him.