Part 23

018:029 "His fellow servant therefore fell at his feet and entreated him, "`Only give me time,' he said, `and I will pay you.'

018:030 "He would not, however, but went and threw him into prison until he should pay what was due.

018:031 His fellow servants, therefore, seeing what had happened, were exceedingly angry; and they came and told their master without reserve all that had happened.

018:032 At once his master called him and said, "`Wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you entreated me:

018:033 ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'

018:034 "So his master, greatly incensed, handed him over to the jailers until he should pay all he owed him.

018:035 "In the same way my Heavenly Father will deal with you, if you do not all of you forgive one another from your hearts."

019:001 When Jesus had finished these discourses, He removed from Galilee and came into that part of Judaea which lay beyond the Jordan.

019:002 And a vast multitude followed him, and He cured them there.

019:003 Then came some of the Pharisees to Him to put Him to the proof by the question, "Has a man a right to divorce his wife whenever he chooses?"

019:004 "Have you not read," He replied, "that He who made them `made them' from the beginning `male and female,

019:005 and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be one'?

019:006 Thus they are no longer two, but `one'! What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

019:007 "Why then," said they, "did Moses command the husband to give her `a written notice of divorce,' and so put her away?"

019:008 "Moses," He replied, "in consideration of the hardness of your nature permitted you to put away your wives, but it has not been so from the beginning.

019:009 And I tell you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except her unfaithfulness, and marries another woman, commits adultery."

019:010 "If this is the case with a man in relation to his wife," said the disciples to Him, "it is better not to marry."

019:011 "It is not every man," He replied, "who can receive this teaching, but only those on whom the grace has been bestowed.

019:012 There are men who from their birth have been disabled from marriage, others who have been so disabled by men, and others who have disabled themselves for the sake of the Kingdom of the Heavens. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."

019:013 Then young children were brought to Him for Him to put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples interfered.

019:014 Jesus however said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of the Heavens belongs."

019:015 So He laid His hands upon them and went away.

019:016 "Teacher," said one man, coming up to Him, "what that is good shall I do in order to win the Life of the Ages?"

019:017 "Why do you ask me," He replied, "about what is good? There is only One who is truly good. But if you desire to enter into Life, keep the Commandments."

019:018 "Which Commandments?" he asked. Jesus answered, "`Thou shalt not kill;' `Thou shalt not commit adultery;' `Thou shalt not steal;' `Thou shalt not lie in giving evidence;'

019:019 `Honour thy father and thy mother'; and `Thou shalt love thy fellow man as much as thyself.'"

019:020 "All of these," said the young man, "I have carefully kept. What do I still lack?"

019:021 "If you desire to be perfect," replied Jesus, "go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and come, follow me."