rocky places is he that hears the word and immediately receives it with joy but has no root in himself, but is only a temporary [disciple]; and when affliction or persecution arises on account of the word, he is immediately offended. And he that received seed among thorns is he that hears the word, and the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But he that received the seed in the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it, who also bears fruit, and produces some one hundred, and some sixty, and some thirty-fold.

4 And he delivered them another parable, saying; The kingdom of heaven is like a man sowing good seed in his field; and while the men slept, his enemy came and sowed poisonous darnel in the midst of the wheat, and went away. But when the stalk grew up and bore fruit, then the poisonous darnel appeared. And the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Whence then has it poisonous darnel? And he said to them, An enemy has done this. And they said to him, Do you wish us to go and take them out? And he said, No; lest in taking out the poisonous darnel, you pull up the wheat with it; let both grow together till the harvest, and at the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers, Collect first the poisonous darnel, and bind it in bundles to be burnt; but collect the wheat in my storehouse.

5 He delivered them another parable, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field, which is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown is the greatest of plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of heaven come and lodge on its branches. He spoke another parable to them; The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three sata [33 quarts] of flour, till the whole was leavened. All these things spoke Jesus to the multitudes in parables; and without a parable spoke he not to them; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will declare things which have been concealed from the foundation of the world.

6 Then leaving the multitudes, he went into the house, and his disciples came to him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the poisonous darnel of the field. And he answered and said to them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the

world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the poisonous darnel are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the consummation of the world; and the reapers are angels. As, therefore, poisonous darnel is collected and burned with fire, so shall it be at the consummation of the world. The Son of man will send his angels, and they shall collect out of his kingdom all offenses, and all that commit wickedness, and cast them into a furnace of fire; and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous shall shine out like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that has ears, let him hear.

7 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field, which a man found, and concealed, and went away with joy, and sold all that he had and bought that field. Again; the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, finding one very costly, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again; the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea, and collecting [fish] of every kind, which, when it was full, men drew to the shore, and sitting down put up the good in vessels and cast the bad away. So shall it be at the consummation of the world. The angels shall come forth and separate the evil from the midst of the good, and cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all these things? They said to him, Yes, Lord. And he said to them, Every scribe therefore that is instructed in the kingdom of heaven, is like a householder who casts out of his treasury things new and old.

8 And when Jesus had finished these parables he departed hence, and coming to his native country he taught them in their synagogues, so that they were astonished and said, .Whence has this man this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James, and Josehp, and Simon, and Judas? And are not his sisters all with us? Whence then has this man all these things? And they were offended with him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his native country, and in his own house; and he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

CHAPTER XII.

THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. — CHRIST FEEDING FIVE THOUSAND, AND WALKING ON THE LAKE.

1 AT that time Herod the Tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and said to his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is raised from the dead; and on that account the mighty works are performed by him. For Herod having seized John, had bound him, and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. For John had said to him, It is not lawful for you to have her. And he wished to kill him; but feared the people, because they regarded him as a prophet. And Herod's birthday being kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, on account of which he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask; and she, having been put forward by her mother, said, Give me here on a plate the head of John the Baptist.

2 And the king was sorry; but on account of the oath, and those reclining with him, he commanded it to be given. And he sent and beheaded John in the prison; and his head was brought on a plate and given to the girl, and she carried it to her mother. And his disciples went and took up the body and buried it, and came and told Jesus.

3 And when Jesus heard of it he departed thence in a ship to a solitary place by himself. And the multitudes hearing of it followed him on foot from the cities.

4 And going out he saw a great multitude, and had compassion on them, and cured their sick. And when it was evening his disciples came to him, saying, The place is solitary, and the hour is already past; dismiss the multitudes that they may go to the villages and buy themselves food. But Jesus said to them, They need not go away; give them food to eat. And they said to him, We have here only five loaves and two fishes. And he said, Bring them here to me. And commanding the multitudes to sit down on the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and, looking up to heaven, blessed them, and having broken them gave the bread to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. And they all eat and were filled; and they took up the fragments which

remained over, twelve travelling-baskets full; and those that eat were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

5 And he immediately constrained the disciples to go into a ship and go before him to the other side, till he should dismiss the multitudes. And having dismissed the multitudes, he went on a mountain by himself to pray. And when it was evening he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the lake tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them walking on the lake. And when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were troubled and said, It is an apparition; and they cried out for fear. But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, Be of good courage; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered and said to him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters. And he said, Come. And Peter going down from the ship walked on the waters to go to Jesus. But seeing the wind strong he was afraid; and beginning to sink, cried, saying, Lord save me! and Jesus immediately stretching out his hand, took hold of him and said, Man of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they entered into the ship, the wind ceased; and those in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God.

6 And having crossed over, they came to Gennesaret. And when the men of that place knew him, they sent to all the country around, and brought to him all that were sick, and requested of him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were entirely cured.

CHAPTER XIII.

CHRIST'S DOCTRINE OF JEWISH TRADITIONS, ETC.

1 THEN came the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders, for they wash not their hands when they eat bread? And he answered and said to them, Why do you transgress the command of God by your tradition? For God said, Honor your father and mother; and he that reviles father or mother, let him surely die. But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother what you might be profited with by me is a gift, then he shall

not honor his father or his mother; and you have made the law of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophecy of you, saying; This people honors me with the lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching teachings and commandments of men.

2 And having called the multitude, he said, Hear and understand. Not that which enters into the mouth, defiles the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth that defiles the man. Then the disciples came to him, and said to him, Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this word? And he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them go; they are blind guides of the blind. But if the blind lead the blind, they will both fall into the pit. And Peter answered and said to him, Explain the parable to us. And he said, Are you so entirely without understanding? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is cast out on the earth? But the things which proceed from the mouth come from the heart, and these defile the man. For from the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies: these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.

3 And Jesus going out thence departed to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan from those regions came out and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is badly affected with a demon. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and asked him, saying, Dismiss her, for she cries after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent, except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me! But he answered and said, It is not right to take the children's bread and cast to the dogs. But she said, Yes, Lord; for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the table of their masters. Then Jesus answered and said to her, O woman, great is your faith! Be it to you as you wish; and her daughter was cured from that hour.

4 And returning thence Jesus came to the lake of Galilee, and going up on the mountain sat down there. And great mul