Section XXV.
1 125 And in that day this thought presented itself to his disciples, and they said, which haply should be the great est among them. 2 127 And when they came to Capernaum, and entered into the house, Jesus said unto them, What were ye considering in the way among yourselves? 3 128 And they were silent because they had considered that matter .
4 129 And when Simon went forth without, those that received two dirhams for the tribute came to Cephas, and said unto him, Doth your master not give his two dirhams? He said unto them, Yea. 5 130 And when Cephas entered the house, Jesus anticipated him, and said unto him, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive custom and tribute? from their sons, or from strangers? 6 131 Simon said unto him, From strangers. Jesus said unto him, Children then are free. Simon said unto him, Yea. Jesus said unto him, Give thou also unto them, like the stranger. 7 132 But, lest it trouble them, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook; and the first fish that cometh up, open its mouth, and thou shall find a staler: take therefore that, and give for me and thee.
8 133 And in that hour came the disciples to Jesus, and said unto him, Who, thinkest thou, is greater in the kingdom of heaven? 9 134 And Jesus knew the thought of their heart, and called a child, and set him in the midst, and took him in his arms, and said unto them, 10 136 Verily I say unto you, If ye do not return, and become as children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. 11 137 Every one that shall receive in my name such as this child hath received me: and whosoever receiveth me receiveth not me, but him that sent me. 12 138 And he who is little in your company, the same shall be great. 13 140 But whosoever shall injure one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and he should be drowned in the depths of the sea.
14 142 John answered and said, Our Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we prevented him, because he followed not thee with us. 15 143 Jesus said unto them, Prevent him not; for no man doeth powers in my name, and can hasten to speak evil of me. 16 144 Every one who is not in opposition to you is with you. 17 145 Woe unto the world because of trials! but woe unto that man by whose hand the trials come 18 147 If thy hand or thy foot injure thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is better for thee to enter into life being halt or maimed, and not that thou shouldest have two hands or two feet, and fall into the hell of fire that burneth for ever; 19 149 where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched. 20 150 And if thine eye seduce thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; 21 152 for it is better for thee to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than that thou shouldest have two eyes, and fall into the fire of Gehenna; 22 153 where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched. 23 154 Every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 24 155 How good is salt! but if the salt also be tasteless, wherewith shall it be salted? 25 156 It is fit neither for the land nor for dung, but they cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 26 157 Have ye salt in yourselves, and be in peace one with another.
27 158 And he arose from thence, and came to the borders of Judaea beyond Jordan: and there went unto him thither great multitudes, and he healed them; and he taught them also, according to his custom. 28 159 And the Pharisees came unto him, tempting him, and asking him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? 29 160 He said, What did Moses command you? 30 161 They said, Moses made it allowable for us, saying , Whosoever will, let him write a writing of divorcement, and put away his wife. 31 162 Jesus answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, He that made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 32 163 For this reason shall the man leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife; and they both shall be one body? 33 164 So then they are not twain, but one body; the thing, then, which God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. 34 165 And those Pharisees said unto him, Why did Moses consent that a man should give a writing of divorcement and put her away? 35 167 Jesus said unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts gave you leave to divorce your wives; but in the beginning it was not so. 36 168 I say unto you, Whosoever putteth away his wife without fornication, and marrieth another, hath exposed her to adultery. 37 170 And his disciples, when he entered the house, asked him again about that. 38 171 And he said unto them, Every one who putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, hath exposed her to adultery. 39 172 And any woman that leaveth her husband, and becometh another's, hath committed adultery. And whosoever marrieth her that is divorced hath committed adultery. 40 173 And his disciples said unto him, If there be between the man and the woman such a case as this, it is not good for a man to marry. 41 175 He said unto them, Not every man can endure this saying, except him to whom it is given. 42 176 There are eunuchs which from their mother's womb were born so; and there are eunuchs which through men became eunuchs; and there are eunuchs which made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He that is able to be content, let him be content.
43 178 Then they brought to him children, that he should lay his hand upon them, and pray: and his disciples were rebuking those that were bringing them. 44 179 And Jesus saw, and it was distressing to him; and he said unto them, Suffer the children to come unto me, and prevent them not; for those that are like these have the kingdom of God. 45 180 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever receiveth not the kingdom of God as this child, shall not enter it. 46 181 And he took them in his arms, and laid his hand upon them, and blessed them.