Part 12

010:031 Away then with fear; you are more precious than a multitude of sparrows.

010:032 "Every man who acknowledges me before men I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in Heaven.

010:033 But whoever disowns me before men I also will disown before my Father who is in Heaven.

010:034 "Do not suppose that I came to bring peace to the earth: I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

010:035 For I came to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

010:036 and a man's own family will be his foes.

010:037 Any one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and any one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

010:038 and any one who does not take up his cross and follow where I lead is not worthy of me.

010:039 To save your life is to lose it, and to lose your life for my sake is to save it.

010:040 "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives Him who sent me.

010:041 Every one who receives a prophet, because he is a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward, and every one who receives a righteous man, because he is a righteous man, will receive a righteous man's reward.

010:042 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, I solemnly tell you that he will not lose his reward."

011:001 When Jesus had concluded His instructions to His twelve disciples, He left in order to teach and to proclaim His Message in the neighbouring towns.

011:002 Now John had heard in prison about the Christ's doings, and he sent some of his disciples to inquire:

011:003 "Are you the Coming One, or is it a different person that we are to expect?"

011:004 "Go and report to John what you see and hear," replied Jesus;

011:005 "blind eyes receive sight, and cripples walk; lepers are cleansed, and deaf ears hear; the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them;

011:006 and blessed is every one who does not stumble and fall because of my claims."

011:007 When the messengers had taken their leave, Jesus proceeded to say to the multitude concerning John, "What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at? A reed waving in the wind?

011:008 But what did you go out to see? A man luxuriously dressed? Those who wear luxurious clothes are to be found in kings' palaces.

011:009 But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.

011:010 This is he of whom it is written, "`See I am sending My messenger before Thy face, and he will make Thy road ready before Thee.'

011:011 "I solemnly tell you that among all of woman born no greater has ever been raised up than John the Baptist; yet one who is of lower rank in the Kingdom of the Heavens is greater than he.

011:012 But from the time of John the Baptist till now, the Kingdom of the Heavens has been suffering violent assault, and the violent have been seizing it by force.

011:013 For all the Prophets and the Law taught until John.

011:014 And (if you are willing to receive it) he is the Elijah who was to come.

011:015 Listen, every one who has ears!

011:016 "But to what shall I compare the present generation? It is like children sitting in the open places, who call to their playmates.