Diatessaron (Gospel Harmony) 28–30

English translation by Hope W. Hogg (1896); the original is not shown

Section XXVIII. [1, 2] And at that time the feast of tabernacles of the Jews drew near. So the brethren of Jesus said unto him, Remove now hence, and go to Judæa, that [3] thy disciples may see the deeds that thou doest. For no man doeth a thing secretly [4] and wisheth to be apparent. If thou doest this, shew thyself to the world. For [5] up to this time not even the brethren of Jesus believed on him. Jesus said unto them, My time till now has not arrived; but as for you, your time is alway ready. [6] It is not possible for the world to hate you; but me it hateth, for I bear witness [7] against it, that its deeds are evil. As for you, go ye up unto this feast: but I go [8] not up now to this feast; for my time has not yet been completed. He said this, and remained behind in Galilee. [9] But when his brethren went up unto the feast, he journeyed from Galilee, and [10] came to the borders of Judæa, to the country beyond Jordan; and there came after [11] him great multitudes, and he healed them all there. And he went out, and proceeded [12] to the feast, not openly, but as one that conceals himself. And the Jews sought him [13] at the feast, and said, In what place is this man? And there occurred much murmuring there in the great multitude that came to the feast, on his account. For [14] some said, He is good: and others said, Nay, but he leadeth the people astray. But no man spake of him openly for fear of the Jews. [15] But when the days of the feast of tabernacles were half over, Jesus went [16] up to the temple, and taught. And the Jews wondered, and said, How doth [17] this man know writing, seeing he hath not learned? Jesus answered and said, My doctrine [18] is not mine, but his that sent me. Whoever wisheth to do his will understandeth my doctrine, whether it be from God, or whether I speak of mine own accord. [19] Whosoever speaketh of his own accord seeketh praise for himself; but whosoever seeketh praise for him that sent him, he is true, and unrighteousness in his heart [20] there is none. Did not Moses give you the law, and no man of you keepeth the [21] law? Why seek ye to kill me? The multitude answered and said unto him, Thou [22] hast demons: who seeketh to kill thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I did [23] one deed, and ye all marvel because of this. Moses hath given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but it is from the fathers); and ye on the sabbath [24] circumcise a man. And if a man is circumcised on the sabbath day, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I healed on the sabbath [25] day the whole man? Judge not with hypocrisy, but judge righteous judgement. [26] And some people from Jerusalem said, Is not this he whom they seek to slay? [27] And lo, he discourseth with them openly, and they say nothing unto him. Think [28] you that our elders have learned that this is the Messiah indeed? But this man is known whence he is; and the Messiah, when he cometh, no man knoweth whence [29] he is. So Jesus lifted up his voice as he taught in the temple, and said, Ye both know me, and know whence I am; and of my own accord am I not come, but he [30] that sent me is true, he whom ye know not: but I know him; for I am [31] from him, and he sent me. And they sought to seize him: and no man [32] laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. But many of the multitude believed on him; and they said, The Messiah, when he cometh, can it be that he will do more than these signs that this man doeth? [33] And a man of that multitude said unto our Lord, Teacher, say to my brother [34] that he divide with me the inheritance. Jesus said unto him, Man, who is it that [35] appointed me over you as a judge and divider? And he said unto his disciples, Take heed within yourselves of all inordinate desire; for it is not in abundance of [36] possessions that life shall be. And he gave them this parable: The ground of a [37] rich man brought forth abundant produce: and he pondered within himself, and [38] said, What shall I do, since I have no place to store my produce? And he said, I will do this: I will pull down the buildings of my barns, and build them, and make [39] them greater; and store there all my wheat and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid by for many years; take thine ease, eat, [40] drink, enjoy thyself. God said unto him, O thou of little intelligence, this night shall thy soul be taken from thee; and this that thou hast prepared, whose shall it [41] be? So is he that layeth up treasures for himself, and is not rich in God. [42] And while Jesus was going in the way, there came near to him a young man of the rulers, and fell on his knees, and asked him, and said, Good Teacher, what is [43] it that I must do that I may have eternal life? Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou [44] me good, while there is none good but the one, even God? Thou knowest the commandments. [45] If thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments. The young man said unto him, Which of the commandments? Jesus said unto him, [46] Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not do injury, Honour thy father [47] and thy mother: and, Love thy neighbour as thyself. That young man said unto [48] him, All these have I kept from my youth: what then is it that I lack? And Jesus [49] looked intently at him, and loved him, and said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, what thou lackest is one thing: go away and sell everything that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and take thy [50] cross, and follow me. And that young man frowned at this word, and went away [51] feeling sad; for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw his sadness, he looked towards his disciples, and said unto them, How hard it is for them that have possessions to enter the kingdom of God!

English translation by Hope W. Hogg (1896); the original is not shown

Section XXIX. [1] Verily I say unto you, It is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of [2] heaven. And I say unto you also, that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of [3] a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And the disciples were wondering at these sayings. And Jesus answered and said unto them again, My children, how hard it is for those that rely on their possessions to enter the [4] kingdom of God! And those that were listening wondered more, and said amongst [5] themselves, being agitated, Who, thinkest thou, can be saved? And Jesus looked at them intently, and said unto them, With men this is not possible, but with God it is: [6] it is possible for God to do everything. Simon Cephas said unto him, Lo, we have left everything, and followed thee; what is it, thinkest thou, that we [7] shall have? Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, Ye that have followed me, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also [8] shall sit on twelve thrones, and shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Verily I say unto you, No man leaveth houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or kinsfolk, or lands, because of the kingdom of God, or for [9] my sake, and the sake of my gospel, who shall not obtain many times as much in this [10] time, and in the world to come inherit eternal life: and now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecution; [11] and in the world to come everlasting life. Many that are first shall be last, and that are last shall be first. [12] And when the Pharisees heard all this, because of their love for wealth they [13] scoffed at him. And Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves before men; while God knows your hearts: the thing that is lofty with men is base before God. [14] And he began to say, A certain man was rich, and wore silk and purple, and enjoyed [15] himself every day in splendour: and there was a poor man named Lazarus, and [16] he was cast down at the door of the rich man, afflicted with sores, and he longed to fill his belly with the crumbs that fell from the table of that rich man; yea, [17] even the dogs used to come and lick his sores. And it happened that that poor man died, and the angels conveyed him into the bosom of Abraham: and the [18] rich man also died, and was buried. And while he was being tormented in Hades, [19] he lifted up his eyes from afar, and saw Abraham with Lazarus in his bosom. And he called with a loud voice, and said, My father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to wet the tip of his finger with water, and moisten my tongue [20] for me; for, behold, I am burned in this flame. Abraham said unto him, My son, remember that thou receivedst thy good things in thy life, and Lazarus his afflictions: [21] but now, behold, he is at rest here, and thou art tormented. And in addition to all this, there is between us and you a great abyss placed, so that they that would cross unto you from hence cannot, nor yet from thence do they cross unto [22] us. He said unto him, Then I beseech thee, my father, to send him to my father’s [23] house; for I have five brethren; let him go, that they also sin not, and come to [24] the abode of this torment. Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the [25] prophets; let them hear them. He said unto him, Nay, my father Abraham: but [26] let a man from the dead go unto them, and they will repent. Abraham said unto him, If they listen neither to Moses nor to the prophets, neither if a man from the dead rose would they believe him. [27] The kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder, which went out early [28] in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. And he agreed with the labourers on [29] one penny a day for each labourer, and he sent them into his vineyard. And he went [30] out in three hours, and saw others standing in the market idle. He said unto them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and what is right I will pay you. [31] And they went. And he went out also at the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise, [32] and sent them. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said unto them, Why are ye standing the whole day idle? [33] They said unto him, Because no one hath hired us. He said unto them, Go ye [34] also into the vineyard, and what is right ye shall receive. So when evening came, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the labourers, and pay them [35] their wages; and begin with the later ones, and end with the former ones. And [36] those of eleven hours came, and received each a penny. When therefore the first came, they supposed that they should receive something more; and they also [37] received each a penny. And when they received it, they spake angrily against the [38] householder, and said, These last worked one hour, and thou hast made them equal [39] with us, who have suffered the heat of the day, and its burden. He answered and said unto one of them, My friend, I do thee no wrong: was it not for a penny that [40] thou didst bargain with me? Take what is thine, and go thy way; for I wish to [41] give this last as I have given thee. Or am I not entitled to do with what is mine [42] what I choose? Or is thine eye perchance evil, because I am good? Thus shall the last ones be first, and the first last. The called are many, and the chosen are few. [43] And when Jesus entered into the house of one of the chiefs of the Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, and they were watching him to see what he would [44, 45] do, and there was before him a man which had the dropsy, Jesus answered and [46] said unto the scribes and the Pharisees, Is it lawful on the sabbath to heal? But they were silent. So he took him, and healed him, and sent him away. [47] And he said unto them, Which of you shall have his son or his ox fall on the sabbath day into a well, and not lift him up straightway, and draw water for [48] him? And they were not able to answer him a word to that.

English translation by Hope W. Hogg (1896); the original is not shown

[1] And he spake a parable unto those which were bidden there, because he saw [2] them choose the places that were in the highest part of the sitting room: When a man invites thee to a feast, do not go and sit at the head of the room; lest there [3] be there a man more honourable than thou, and he that invited you come and say unto thee, Give the place to this man: and thou be ashamed when thou risest and [4] takest another place. But when thou art invited, go and sit last; so that when he that invited thee cometh, he may say unto thee, My friend, go up higher: and [5] thou shalt have praise before all that were invited with thee. For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and every one that abaseth himself shall be exalted. [6] And he said also to him that had invited him, When thou makest a feast or a banquet, do not invite thy friends, nor even thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor thy [7] rich neighbours; lest haply they also invite thee, and thou have this reward. But when thou makest a feast, invite the poor, and those with withered hand, and the [8] lame, and the blind: and blessed art thou, since they have not the means to reward [9] thee; that thy reward may be at the rising of the righteous. And when one of them that were invited heard that, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. [10, 11] Jesus answered again in parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven hath been likened to a certain king, which made a feast for his son, and prepared a [12] great banquet, and invited many: and he sent his servants at the time of the feast to inform them that were invited, Everything is made ready for you; come. And [13] they would not come, but began all of them with one voice to make excuse. And the first said unto them, Say to him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out [14] to see it: I pray thee to release me, for I ask to be excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them: I pray thee [15] to release me, for I ask to be excused. And another said, I have married a wife, [16] and therefore I cannot come. And the king sent also other servants, and said, Say to those that were invited, that my feast is ready, and my oxen and my fatlings are [17] slain, and everything is ready: come to the feast. But they made light of it, and [18] went, one to his field, and another to his merchandise: and the rest took his [19] servants, and entreated them shamefully, and killed them. And one of the servants [20] came, and informed his lord of what had happened. And when the king heard, he became angry, and sent his armies; and they destroyed those murderers, and [21] burned their cities. Then he said to his servants, The feast is prepared, but those [22] that were invited were not worthy. Go out quickly into the markets and into the partings of the ways of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and those with pains, and the lame, and the blind. And the servants did as the king commanded them. [23] And they came, and said unto him, Our lord, we have done all that thou commandedst [24] us, and there is here still room. So the lord said unto his servants, Go out into the roads, and the ways, and the paths, and every one that ye find, invite [25] to the feast, and constrain them to enter, till my house is filled. I say unto you, that no one of those people that were invited shall taste of my feast. [26] And those servants went out into the roads, and gathered all that they found, good and [27] bad: and the banquet-house was filled with guests. And the king entered to see those [28] who were seated, and he saw there a man not wearing a festive garment: and he said unto him, My friend, how didst thou come in here not having on festive garments? [29] And he was silent. Then the king said to the servants, Bind his hands and his feet, and put him forth into the outer darkness; there shall be weeping and [30] gnashing of teeth. The called are many; and the chosen, few. [31] And after that, the time of the feast of unleavened bread of the Jews arrived, [32] and Jesus went out to go to Jerusalem. And as he went in the way, there met him [33] ten persons who were lepers, and stood afar off: and they lifted up their voice, and [34] said, Our Master, Jesus, have mercy upon us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go and shew yourselves unto the priests. And when they went, they [35] were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw himself cleansed, returned, and [36] was praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face before the feet of [37] Jesus, giving him thanks: and this man was a Samaritan. Jesus answered and said, [38] Were not those that were cleansed ten? where then are the nine? Not one of them turned aside to come and praise God, but this man who is of a strange [39] people. He said unto him, Arise, and go thy way; for thy faith hath given thee life. [40] And while they were going up in the way to Jerusalem, Jesus went in front of them; and they wondered, and followed him fearing. And he took his twelve disciples apart, [41] and began to tell them privately what was about to befall him. And he said unto them, We are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things shall be fulfilled [42] that are written in the prophets concerning the Son of man. He shall be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, [43] and deliver him to the peoples; and they shall treat him shamefully, and scourge [44] him, and spit in his face, and humble him,and crucify him, and slay him: and on [45] the third day he shall rise. But they understood not one thing of this; but this word was hidden from them, and they did not perceive these things that were addressed to them. [46] Then came near to him the mother of the (two) sons of Zebedee, she and her (two) sons, and worshipped him, and asked of him a certain thing. And he said [47] unto her, What wouldest thou? And James and John, her two sons, came forward, and said unto him, Teacher, we would that all that we ask thou wouldest [48] do unto us. He said unto them, What would ye that I should do unto you? [49] They said unto him, Grant us that we may sit, the one on thy right, and the other [50] on thy left, in thy kingdom and thy glory. And Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am to drink? and with the [51] baptism that I am to be baptized with, will ye be baptized? And they said unto him, We are able. Jesus said unto them, The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and [52] with the baptism wherewith I am baptized ye shall be baptized: but that ye should sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give; but it is for him for whom my Father hath prepared it.