CHAPTER XLIX.

IMPORTUNATE WIDOW--MARRIAGE--CHILDREN BROUGHT TO JESUS.

And he spake a parable unto them _to this end_, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying,

There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man: yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said,

Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth.

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men _are_, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as _his_ eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified _rather_ than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them,

What did Moses command you?

And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put _her_ away. And Jesus answered and said unto them,

For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. Have ye not read, that from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? he saith unto them,

Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except _it be_ for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same _matter_. And he saith unto them,

Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with _his_ wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them,

All _men_ cannot receive this saying, save _they_ to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from _their_ mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive _it_, let him receive _it_.

Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put _his_ hands on them and pray: but when _his_ disciples saw _it_, they rebuked those that brought _them_. But when Jesus saw _it_, he was much displeased, and said unto them,

Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

And he took them up in his arms, put _his_ hands upon them, and blessed them, and departed thence.