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SCRIPTURES
Chapter 10
The faith of a Roman Centurion – Yeshua and the children – Disciples argue over who
is greatest – “Except you be converted as little children” – Parable: The Laborers
– Yeshua calms the stormy sea – At the city of Hippos, in the house of Demitrius
– Yeshua speaks against slavery – A Roman defends the practice of slavery – The rise
and fall of empires – Living peacefully – Demitrius follows Yeshua, but the Roman
takes offense
1 When he was come again unto Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion whose name was Rufinius, and he beseeched the Lord, saying:
2 “Rabboni, my servant is sick with fever, being greatly tormented. Therefore, be gracious unto me for my servant’s sake and heal him, for he has served me well these many years, and he is like a father unto me.”
3 And he answered him, saying: “I will come and heal him.”
4 When the centurion heard this of the Master, he spoke again, saying: “My Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter into my house; but if you will but speak the word only, then shall my servant be healed.
5 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and if I say to this man, ‘Go to yonder place,’ he goes.
6 Or if I say to another, ‘Come and do this,’ he does it. For they, being under authority, obey.
7 Therefore, when I but speak the word, I doubt not, neither do I go and see, for I know that it is done according to my word.”
8 When Yeshua heard these things, he marveled greatly and turning to the disciples, he said: “In all Israel have I not found so great a faith as this man’s.
9 For I tell you truly that many shall go in unto the kingdom before the sons of Israel, for the first shall be last and the last shall be first.”
10 And turning to the centurion, he said: “Go your way and be at peace, for even as you have believed, even so has it been accomplished unto you.”
11 And the centurion, going his own way, went to his house and his servant was healed in the very moment.
12 Now the Master went unto a certain rise above the sea, and he sat himself down to rest;
13 And there came out from the city, mothers bearing children, for they desired that the Lord should lay his hands upon them to bless.
14 And when they drew nigh, certain of the disciples forbid them, and would not that they should disturb the Master.
15 But Yeshua, hearing the voices of children, called unto them, saying: “Suffer the little children and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.”
16 Now there arose a certain contention among the disciples over who should be greatest in the kingdom of God, for some boasted, saying:
17 “Surely I shall be greatest, for this much have I forsaken to follow after the Master.” And another said: “Nay, nay, I shall be greatest, for I have sacrificed the greater portion.”
18 And when he heard these things, Yeshua was filled with heaviness, and calling unto his disciples he rebuked them, and taking a small child he sat him upon his knee, and he spoke, saying:
19 “I tell you truly, that except you be converted unto God, believing always, even as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of Heaven.
20 Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself unto the Father, even as this child, the same is great in the kingdom of Heaven.
21 And whosoever shall receive another in faith, even as a child, receiveth me also; and whosoever shall receive me, the same shall receive unto his soul the presence of the Father.
22 Take care to your souls, therefore, that you despise not one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels do always behold the face of their Father which is in Heaven, making intercession for them.
23 For as certain scriptures say: Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings have you ordained strength and perfected wisdom.
24 For it is not the will of your Father which is in Heaven, that any child should perish; for this cause has he given the angels charge over them.
25 But woe unto that one who shall destroy one of these little ones which believe in me; for it would be better for that man if he had not been born.
26 Therefore, whosoever of you would be greatest in the kingdom of Heaven, let him humble himself unto the Father that he may serve the children of men with faith exceeding, never doubting.
27 For even so great a one as I am come forth to serve and not to be served; for it is not given that the servant should be greater than his Lord, neither is he that is sent greater than he which sent him.
28 Dispute not among yourselves, therefore, over which among you shall be greatest; for the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain rich man who would hire laborers to tend his vineyards.
29 And going to the market in the early morning, he agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, and when he had hired them, he sent them unto his vineyard.
30 And when it was about the third hour, he went again unto the market to hire others, and he spoke to them which stood idle, saying:
31 ‘Go unto my vineyard and labor, and whatsoever is right will I give unto you.’ And they went forth to labor.
32 But again in the sixth and ninth hour, he went again and hired certain others also.
33 And going once again unto the market about the eleventh hour, he saw other men which stood idle and he spoke to them, saying:
34 ‘Why stand you here idle all the day long?’ And they answered him, saying: ‘Because no man will hire us.’
35 And the man, being filled with tenderness, said: ‘Go you then unto my vineyard; and whatsoever is right, even that shall you receive.’
36 Now when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard called forth his chief steward, saying:
37 ‘Call now the laborers from the field, for the day is past and I would give them their wage, beginning from the last to the first.’
38 And they which were hired about the eleventh hour came, and they received each a penny.
39 But they which were hired at the first, seeing this, supposed that they would receive still a greater wage, but when they came forth from the fields, they also received each man a penny.
40 And when they saw this, they grew angry with the lord of the vineyard, saying:
41 ‘For what cause have you paid these which were last equal to us? For we have labored the whole day in all this heat, while these others have labored but an hour.’
42 And he answered them, saying: ‘My friend, why will you be angry seeing that I did you no wrong? Did you not agree with me for a penny?
43 Take then what is your own, and envy not another; for I will give unto the last, even as I gave unto you.
44 For is it not right that I should do as I will with my own? Will you turn your heart to evil because I am good?’
45 So shall the last be as the first, and the first shall be as the last: for this cause are many called but few are chosen.”
46 But Simon Bar Jonas spoke unto Yeshua, saying: “Lord, we have forsaken all things for your sake. What, therefore, shall we gain unto ourselves, seeing that we have none else but you?”
47 And he answered them, saying: “Whosoever has forsaken houses or land, brothers or sisters, father or mother, wife or children for my sake, even they shall receive a hundredfold from God, even life everlasting shall you inherit in the kingdom of the Father.”
48 When he had said these things, he gathered round about him all the children which came forth, and he blessed even every one of them and sent them again unto their mothers.
49 Then came Yeshua down unto the sea at evening tide, and sending away the multitudes, he entered a boat; for he desired to cross over unto the other side, unto Hippos a city of Decapolis.
50 And as he crossed over, there arose a sudden storm, for it was the month of Adar in the winter time.
51 And there beat against the boat, the waves and the wind, being furious and without relent; and the disciples, fearing for their lives, sought after the Master.
52 And finding that he was asleep amidst the storm, they awoke him, saying: “Master, arise and help us for we perish.”
53 When he heard this and saw that they were all fearful, he said: “Why are you afraid seeing that I am yet among you? Will you not believe that I am from God? Why are you without faith?
54 Fear not, therefore, the tempest which rages round about, neither be fearful for your lives, for if you will but believe in me, then shall the Father still the troublings of your heart, that according to your faith he might prepare for you the way of escape.”
55 And after he said these things, he lay back down to sleep; and behold, the winds did cease and the waves relented their fury.
56 Now when the disciples saw this thing, they spoke among themselves, saying: “What manner of man is this that even the wind and the sea should have regard for him?”
57 And arriving safely to the other side, the Lord came unto Hippos and there taught the coming of the kingdom of Heaven, and many believed.
58 And there came unto him great multitudes from all Decapolis to hear him, and to see for themselves the Anointed One which had purged the temple of money changers and who set at naught the teachings of scribes and Pharisees.
59 But a certain Greek whose name was Demitrius, an artisan of great renown, came unto Yeshua and begged that he sup with him, and going in unto his house he sat down to eat.
60 And when he had finished, Demitrius, desiring righteousness above all else, spoke, saying: “My Lord, all which I have heard regarding you do I believe, for I know that you are sent from Heaven unto men.
61 What good thing shall I do, therefore, that I might draw nigh unto God? For whatsoever you require of me, even that shall I do.”
62 And Yeshua, seeing that a multitude of servants served in both house and field, said:
63 “If you would stand near unto God, being girded round about by a goodly conscience, then set at liberty all which are made to serve you, and give unto them an honest wage.
64 For it is not good that one man should possess another, nor bring into subjection the children of men; for there is but one that ruleth wisely over all and he is God.”
65 But a certain Roman who was in the house, when he heard this, spoke, saying: “This man speaks foolishness, for it is the nature of almost all things that the strong should rule over the weak.
66 What then? Shall Rome also set free a multitude of slaves for the sake of God? Wherein then shall Rome have dominion over all the earth, except that it make subject unto its law, even all the children of men?”
67 And Yeshua answered, saying: “Will you speak of the nature of things? Come then and learn wisdom, for you yourself know that all things grow old of themselves, being made weak and feeble.
68 But when they are young, they do lord it over others weaker than themselves.
69 For in ancient times there strode about the earth Tiglath-Pileser, the Assyrian, and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who, like young lions, thought to devour unto themselves the whole earth.
70 But when they were old, then came Cyrus of Persia, and like a bull great and powerful, he made subject unto himself both kingdoms.
71 And in like measure, when there fell from Persia the bloom of youth, then came Alexander of Macedonia, young and fierce, and like a tiger he took to himself all Persia, and Egypt also, devouring unto himself a host of nations and men.
72 Then did Alexander die, and all Greece became feeble and of no effect, warring always among themselves till some younger came.
73 For this cause did Rome, like an eagle fly above the earth, seeking whom it might devour:
74 For yet is Rome young and filled with want, but when it is old, then shall another come stronger than yourself, and cause that all Rome should bow the knee in subjection.
75 Therefore, if you would dwell in peace beside your Father which is in Heaven, make no man subject unto yourselves; neither by unrighteous dominion make gain of them.
76 For of the last days has the prophet written: And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the house of the Lord shall be established upon the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.
77 And many shall say in that day: Come, let us go unto the house of the Lord, for he will teach us all his ways; and we will walk in his paths continually from this day forth.
78 For out of Zion shall the law go forth unto all the earth, and from his habitation shall the word spring up readily.
79 And the Lord shall judge righteously among the nations, and he shall rebuke even all the people because of war.
80 And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn of war anymore.”
81 When he had said these things, Demitrius being humbled by the words of the Master, said:
82 “My Lord, I shall do even as you command, and this day set at liberty even all my house.”
83 But the Roman, hearing this, drew his cloak about him and rising from his place, said: “Take care Galilean, for of all your doing is Pilate made aware.” And he went out filled with anger.
YESHUA 10