Matthew - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 1062

MATTHEW. 12.-34 35 37 that the tree is worthless, when its fruit is worthless : for the tree is known by its fruit, You venomous brood! how can you preach purity, when you are yourselves depraved? For the mouth speaks from the overfiow of the heart I The berxexicent man draws from his treasury of purity, goodness; and the depraved man can only pro- duce depravity, from his stores of depravity! I tell you, however, that every vile idea that men give expres siorrto, they shall render a reason for it in the Day of judgment. For by your thoughts you will be acquitted, and by your thoughts you will be convicted} W12 §I;sri¤z2¤ lnaxti at §$r¤¤f. 38 Some of the professors and Phari- 39 43 45 47 sees then addressed Him, saying, But in reply He said to them : ‘ Does a depraved and debauched

race ask for a Divine sign? None, same with this debased race} 1`eacher, we wish to see a sign from however, will be given it other than the sign of the prophet }onah; for as jonah was for three days and three nights in the hold of the Whale, thus shall the Son of Man be for three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment against this generation, and convict it; for they reformed under the preaching of jonahz and now a. mightier than jonah is here! The Queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment against this generation, and convict it; because she came from the most distant parts of the earth to learn the wisdom of Solomon : and yet a greater than Solomon is here! When, how- ever, the foul spirit has gone out from a man, it wanders about in waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none. Then it reflects, ‘ I will return to my house from which I came'; and re- turning, he finds it quite ready for him, cleaned and decorated. He ac- cordingly goes, and takes along with him seven other spirits more depraved than himself; and entering, they live there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. It will be the While He was still speaking to the

crowd, His mother and His brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with Him. And some one said to Him, ‘ See, Your mother and brothers are outside, wishing to speak to You! 13--15

Addressing the one who told Him,

Who is My mother? and who are My brothers Then extending His hand in the direction of His disciples, He said, ‘ Why, those are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father Who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother! ’ @132 Qsaruhlz nf tbz Sulnzr. At this time, however, }esus, going

out from the house, sat down by the sea. And a great crowd collected about Him, so that He ascended into a boat, and sat down in it; while all the crowd stood upon the shore. And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: ' It happened that a sower went

out to sow; and as he sowed, some fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured it. ‘ Another part fell upon stony land,

where the soil was not deep enough; and it sprouted very quickly on ac- conntof the shallowness of the soil: but when the sun arose, it was scorched, and it also withered for want of root. And another lot fell among the thistles, and the thistles grew up and choked it. But the rest fell upon good land, and produced grain, some a hundred- fold, some sixty, some thirty. Who- ever has ears to hear, let him listen I ’ W32 iialimtalz uf gglarslrlzs. 49 13

His disciples approaching Him, to Why do You speak to them in parables? it is

granted to you to become acquainted with the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven; but it is not granted to others. For whoever has a posses- sion, it will increase with him; but the one who possesses nothing, even what he has will be torn from him. I therefore speak to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they do not hear, neither will they understand. Thus by them is verified the prophecy of `Isaiah, which says: LISTEN I0 A SOUND, AND NEVER UNDERSTAND 1*1*; AND SEEING, SEE, BUT NEVER PERCEWE. Fox THE HEART oF THIS PEOPLE is STUPEMED, AND THEY L1sTEN WITH LOADED EARS, 1062 II 12