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that the word of the Lord by the prophet was fulfilled, saying, "Out of Egypt 1 recalled my son."

there till the death of Herod: so|proacheth." S For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, "The voice of one crying in the desert, 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."" 4 Now this John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his food was locusts and wild honey.

16 Then Herod finding that he had been deceived by the Magians, was greatly enraged; and sent and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had learnt exactly from the Magians. 17 Then was fulfilled the word by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, [wailing, and] weeping, and great lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they were not.'

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5 Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan; 6 and were baptized by him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But seeing many of the Pharisees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "O brood of vipers! who hath prompted you to flee from the impending ven19 But, when Herod was dead, geance? 8 Produce then the prolo, a messenger of the Lord ap- per fruit of reformation; 9 and peared in a dream to Joseph in presume not to say within yourEgypt, 20 saying, “ Arise, take selves, We have Abraham for the child and his mother, and go our father' for I assure you, to the land of Israel: for they that of these stones God is able are dead who sought the child's to raise up children to Abraham. life." 21 Accordingly, he rose, 10 And already the axe [also] took the child and his mother, and lieth at the root of the trees: came to the land of Israel. 22 every tree therefore which proBut hearing that Archelaus reign- duceth not good fruit is cut ed [over] Judea, instead of his fa- down, and cast into the fire. 11 ther Herod, he was afraid to go I indeed baptize you in water thither: but, having been warn- to a reformation: but he who ed of God in a dream, he with-cometh after me is mightier than drew into the parts of Galilee; 23 And came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: thus was fulfilled the word by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

CH. III. 1 [NOW] in those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the desert of Judea, 2 and saying, "Reform: for the reign of heaven ap

I, whose sandals I am not wor thy to carry he will baptize you in a holy spirit, [and fire :] 12 whose winnowing-shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and gather [his] wheat into the granary; but he will consume the chaff in unquenchable fire."

13 THEN Came Jesus from

Galilee to Jordan unto John to | is written, He shall give his

be baptized by him. 14 But John excused himself, saying, "I have need to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me ?" 15 Jesus answering, said to him, "Suffer it now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he suffered him. 16 Now Jesus being baptized, arose immediately out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened to him, and the spirit of God appeared, descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. 17 And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

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angels charge concerning thee: and on their hands they shall support thee, lest thou strike thy foot against a stone."" 7 Jesus said to him, "It is also written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." " 8 Again the impostor conveyed him up a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 and he said to him, "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." 10 Then said Jesus to him, " Get thee hence, adversary for it is written, • Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and thou shalt serve him only.""

Then the impostor left him : and, lo, angels came and ministered to him.

CH. IV. 1 THEN was Jesus led up by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by an im-11 postor. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he became hungry. 3 And the tempter coming to him, said, "If thou be a son of God, command that these stones become loaves." 4 But he answering, said, "It is written, Man liveth not by bread alone, but by every thing which God is pleased to appoint.'"+ 5 Then the impostor conveyed him into the holy city, and placed him upon the battlement of the temple, 6 and said to him, "If thou be a son of God, cast thyself down for it

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12 NOW [Jesus] hearing that John was imprisoned, retired into Galilee. 13 And, having left Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is on the side of the sea, in the borders of Zebulon and Naphtali: 14 and thus was fulfilled the word of the prophet Isaiah; saying, 15 The land of Zebulon, and the land of Naphtali, toward the way of the sea, by the side of Jordan, in Galilee of the gentiles; 16 the people who sat in

* Jesus was led up by the spirit into the desert.-This form of expression denotes that the historian is about to describe a visionary scene, and not a real event. See Rev. i. 10. Acts xi. 5. Our Lord was intrusted with the power of working miracles at pleasure, John iii. 34, 25; and by the visionary scene presented to his mind upon this occasion, he was instructed that he was not to exert his miraculous powers for his own personal advantage or aggrandizement, but solely in subservience to the great design of his mission and ministry. See Farmer on Christ's Temptation. Some have thought that the account of the temptation is a figurative description of the train of thoughts which passed through the mind of Jesus. See Cappe's Dissertations. The introduction of the impostor, or devil, into this scenical representation, no more proves the real existence of such a being, than the introduction of the lamb, or the red dragon, in the apocalyptic vision, is a proof of the real existence of those symbolical agents. See Improved Version, note on the place.

+ So Campbell. Whatever God is pleased to appoint.-Thomson. Every word which goeth forth out of the mouth of God.-Gr. and Im. Ver.

darkness have seen a great light; and to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light hath sprung up."

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Reform: for the reign of heaven approacheth."

from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.

CH. V. 1 AND seeing the multitudes, he repaired to a mountain : and having sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then opening his mouth, he taught them, saying,

3" Happy are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Happy are those who mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Happy are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Happy are those that hunger and thirst, after rightcousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Happy are the compassionate: for they shall obtain compassion. 8 Happy are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Hap

18 THEN walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 And immediately they left their nets, and followed him. 21 And he went on thence, and saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their fa-py are the peace-makers: for ther, mending their nets: and he called them. 22 And they immediately, leaving the ship and their father, followed him.

23 AND Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the glad tidings of the reign, and curing every disease, and every malady, among the people. 24 And his fame spread through all Syria: and they brought to him all their sick, seized and tormented with various diseases, demoniacs,* lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25 And great multitudes followed him from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and

they shall be called the sons of God. 10 Happy are those that are persecuted on account of righteousness: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Happy are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and speak all kind of evil against you [falsely], on my account.

12 "Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for thus were the prophets persecuted who were before you.

13" Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt become insipid, in what way shall its saltness be restored? it is thence

*Insane and epileptic persons were supposed to be possessed by demons, or the ghosts of wicked men, who were thought to have the power of entering into the bodies of living men, and of tormenting them at pleasure. And the cure of these diseases is described as the casting out of the demons. The account which the gospel reveals of the state of the dead is so inconsistent with this hypothesis, that it was soon exploded among Christians. But, that lunatics and epi. leptics were possessed by devils, or fallen angels, though it is an opinion which prevailed early, is no where asserted, nor even hinted at, in the New Testament, and is totally destitute of founda tion both in reason and revelation. See Farmer's Essay on the Demoniacs of the New Testament:

forth good for nothing, but to be | apostate wretch !' shall be liable

cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city placed on a mountain cannot be concealed. 15 Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under a measure, but on a light-stand: and it shineth to all in the house. 16 In like manner let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.

to the burning of Gehenna.

23 "If therefore thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath a complaint against thee; 24 leave there thy gift before the altar, and go, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I tell thee, Thou wilt by no means be released, till thou hast paid the last farthing.

17 "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy but to fulfil. 18 For verily I tell you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the law, till all be accomplished. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the reign of heaven; but whosoever shall perform and teach them, shall be called great in the reign of heaven. 20 For I tell you, that unless your righteousness excel that of the Scribes and Phari-lose one of thy members, than sees, ye shall by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21 "Ye have heard that it hath been said to those of old time, Thou shalt not commit murder;' and 'Whosoever shall commit murder shall be liable to the judgment.' 22 But I tell you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be liable to the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Thou vile man,' shall be liable to the council: but whosoever shall say, 'Thou

27 Ye have heard that it hath been said, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you, that whosoever looketh on a woman so as to cherish impure desire towards her, hath already committed adultery, with her in his heart. 29 Now if thy right eye insnare thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is better for thee to

that thy whole body should be cast into Gehenna. 30 And if thy right hand insnare thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is better for thee to lose one of thy members, than that thy whole body should be cast into Gehenna.

31 "Now it hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorcement.' 32 But I tell you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except on account of whoredom, causeth her to

commit adultery: and whoso- | ye may be sons of your Father

ever shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.

33" Again, ye have heard that it hath been said, to those of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths.' 34 But I say to you, Swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head; because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your discourse be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatsoever is more than these, proceedeth from evil.

38" Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man would sue thee at law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy mantle also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him that asketh thee; and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not

away.

43 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies, [bless those that curse you, do good to those that hate you,] and pray for those that [injuriously treat you, and] persecute you: 45 that

in heaven: for he maketh his sun arise on bad and good, and sendeth rain on just and unjust. 46 For if ye love those only who love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, wherein do ye excel? do not even the gentiles in like manner? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.

CH. VI. 1 "Take heed that ye do not your acts of rightefousness before men, in order to be observed by them: otherwise, ye have no reward with your Father in heaven.

2" When therefore thou givest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be extolled by men. Verily I tell you, they have their reward. 3 But when thou givest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth : 4 that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father that seeth in secret [himself] will reward thee [openly.]

5" And when thou prayest, be not like the hypocrites: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so as to be observed by men. Verily I tell you, that they have their reward.

6" But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father that is in secret: and thy Father, that seeth

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