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¹ Then Jesus address'd himself to them in this parabolical manner. a certain person planted a vineyard, made a fence about it, clear'd the way for a wine-press, built a tower, and committed it to the care of vine-dressers, while he was travelling abroad. ² at the time of vintage he sent his servant to the vine-dressers to receive the profits of his vineyard. ³ but they seized on him, and beat him, and sent him home empty. ⁴ after this he sent another servant to them, him they assaulted with stones and cudgels, and sent him back with contempt. ⁵ then he sent another, whom they killed: and of several more, some they beat, some they killed. ⁶ at last, having one only son, whom he loved, he sent him to them; surely, said he, they will reverence my son. ⁷ but these husbandmen said to one another, this is the heir, come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be our own. ⁸ so they seized upon him, and dragg'd him out of the vineyard, and killed him. ⁹ now what will the master of the vineyard do? on his return, said they, he will destroy those vine-dressers, and give his vineyard to others. ¹⁰ have you not read, said he, this passage of scripture, "the stone which the builders rejected, is become the principal stone of the angle. ¹¹ it is the Lord, that has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes." ¹² then they contriv'd how they might seize him, for they perceived, that he applied the parable to them; but for fear of the people they left him, and went away.

¹³ Then they sent some of the Pharisees, and of the Herodians to insnare him in his discourse. ¹⁴ when they were come, they said to him, master, we know that you are sincere, that you are not influenced by any one, for you have no regard to the person of men: but teach us the way of God according to truth. now should we pay tribute to Cesar, or no? shall we pay, or shall we not pay? ¹⁵ but he, perceiving their hypocrisy, said to them, why do you lay snares for me? ¹⁶ let me see a penny. and when they brought it, he asked them, whose image and inscription is this? they said, Cesar's. ¹⁷ to which Jesus reply'd, render to Cesar what belongs to Cesar, and to God what belongs to God. and they were surprized at the answer.

¹⁸ Then the Saducees, who deny the resurrection, came and asked him, ¹⁹ saying, master, Moses has left it us in writing, that if a man dies, and leaves his wife without any children, his brother should marry his widow, in order to perpetuate his name. ²⁰ now there were seven brothers: the first married a wife and died, leaving her without any children. ²¹ the second married her, and he died too without leaving her any children: the third did the same. ²² so that all the seven married her, but left no children. last of all she died. ²³ at the time therefore of the resurrection, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of the seven? ²⁴ for they all married her. Jesus answered them, don't you see you are in a mistake, by being unacquainted with the scriptures, as well as with the power of God? ²⁵ for when they shall rise from the dead, they neither will marry, nor be given in marriage, but be immortal like the angels in heaven. ²⁶ and as for the dead, that they will actually rise, have you not read in the book of Moses those words, which God pronounc'd out of the bush to him, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?" ²⁷ he is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: and therefore you greatly mistake the meaning.

²⁸ One of the Scribes, that had heard their dispute, observing the propriety of his answers, propos'd this question to him, which is the principal commandment of all? ²⁹ Jesus answer'd him, the first of all the commandments is thus deliver'd, "hear, o Israel, the lord our God is the only lord. ³⁰ you shall therefore love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, to the utmost of your understanding, and all your faculties." this is the first commandment. ³¹ and the second, which has an affinity to it, is this: "you shall love your neighbour as yourself." there is no other commandment greater than these. ³² the Scribe replied, what you have said, master, is very true, there is one God, and no other but he. ³³ and to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, with all its faculties, and to love one's neighbour as one's self is more acceptable than all the offerings and sacrifices in the world. ³⁴ Jesus observing he answer'd so discreetly, said to him, you are not far from the kingdom of God. and no man after that was so hardy as to ask him any question.

³⁵ As Jesus was teaching in the temple, he address'd himself to them, saying, why do the Scribes maintain that Christ is the son of David? ³⁶ for David himself, who was inspired by the holy spirit, has this expression, "the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou at my right hand till I make thy enemies thy foot-stool." ³⁷ now since David himself calls him Lord, how can he be David's son? and the common people heard him with pleasure. ³⁸ in the sequel of the discourse, he said to them, beware of the Scribes, who affect to walk about in their long robes, to be saluted in publick places, ³⁹ and to have the first seats in their synagogues, and at their feasts: ⁴⁰ who yet devour widows estates under the shew of making long prayers, such shall receive greater condemnation.

⁴¹ At length, as Jesus was sitting over-against the treasury, he observed the peoples throwing money into the chest; when many of the rich gave large sums. ⁴² and there came a certain poor widow, who threw in two mites, to the value of a farthing. ⁴³ upon which he call'd to his disciples, and said to them, I declare unto you, that this poor widow has given more than any of those, who have given to the treasury. ⁴⁴ for all the rest contributed out of their superfluous substance; but she has contributed what she wanted for her bare subsistence.