All Four Gospels for Readers | Page 9

but are not able to kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing. The very hairs on your head are all numbered by Him. Fear not because ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whoever confesses me before all, I will confess him before my Father in heaven. Whoever denies me before all, I will deny him before my Father in heaven.
Do not think that I came to earth to bring peace. I came not to bring peace, but a sword. My coming will set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. One's foes shall be those of his own household.
Anyone who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Anyone who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me.
He who finds his life will lose it. He who loses his life for my sake will find it. Whoever accepts you accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of the little ones in the name of a disciple, will never lose his reward.
11. When Jesus finished instructing His twelve disciples, He departed to teach and preach in their cities. When John, who was in prison, heard of the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples. They asked Jesus, Art thou the one who is to come or do we look for another? Jesus answered, Go and show John what you hear and see. The blind receive their sight. The lame walk. The lepers are cleansed. The deaf hear. The dead are raised up. And the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he who is not be offended by me.
As they departed, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. He said, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? What went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. What went ye out to see? A prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send my messenger who shall prepare the way before thee.
Truly, I tell you, of all those born of woman, there is none greater than John the Baptist, who would make himself least in the kingdom of heaven. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffered violence and the violent took it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied of John. If ye will receive it, this is Elias, who was to come. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
But how shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets and calling unto their fellows saying, We have piped to you and ye have not danced. We have mourned you and ye have not lamented. John came neither eating nor drinking and they said he had a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking and they say he is a glutton, a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom will be justified by her children.
Then He began to upbraid the cities where most of His mighty works were done because they did not repent. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! If the mighty works that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, It will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you.
And Capernaum, praised to heaven, will be brought down to hell. If the mighty works that were done in Capernaum had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.
Then Jesus prayed aloud: I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. It is so, Father, for it seemed good in thy sight.
All things are delivered