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13 But he said unto them,
Give
ye them to eat. And
they said, We have no more
but five loaves and two fishes;

13 Jesus knew what he would do. But He stated the difficulty, that his disciples might feel more entirely the extent of his power in removing it.

For

except we should go and buy meat for all this people. they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then he took the

five loaves and the two fishes,

18

16 Even Jesus looked to heaven for blessing on the food supplied! Let us never neglect what he observed *.

And they of frag

and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up ments that remained to them twelve baskets. And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets

18 Did our Redeemer strengthen himself by private prayer? Go we and do likewise.

20 What a noble decision is this is risen again. 20 He said brief reply! containing, in a word, unto them, But whom say the very substance of the Gospel. ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no. man that thing; saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. 23 And he said to them all, If any

23 O Christian! expect not to escape the burden of a daily cross.

man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his

cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the

24 The early Christians were often put to this extreme test of the sincerity of their faith.

of

26

26 Glory thou in serving Jesus Christ boldly before men; He will own thee, as his, before the angels in heaven. Son of man be ashamed, when

As then, the blessing remained with the food, though it passed through his disciples' hands, so now the bread of life-his word and sacraments-though distributed at the hands of his ministers, loses not aught of its blessing or its power.

27"My spiritual kingdom shall begin after my resurrection and ascension and of those who are now

he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. And it came to pass about

living, some shall survive the future overthrow of their nation by the Romans *."

an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. 33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and

34

one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there

came a

33 The higher our thoughts ascend towards our glorified Saviour, the less willing are we to descend again to lower things +.

for us to be here: and let us

34 Emblem of the mysteries, which yet accompany and overshadow the presence of our God in his holy word.

cloud, and overshadowed them : and they feared as they entered

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35 Hear HIM"-for in Him is centered all the authority of lawgivers and prophets.

came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer

* St. John the Evangelist lived till after the destruction of Jerusalem. +"It is good for us to be here"-exclaims the soul when in holy communion with its God. Yet, earthly duties must again be heeded; and we must wait for heavenly services till our appointed time.

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44 What firmness of purpose! He foreknew all his trials, even unto

death and He moved on towards them with an heroic calmness to

which the world shows no parallel.

spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, "Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying. Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, and said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before his face and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are 56 In no country is human life held of. 56 For the Son of man so sacred as in our own-thanks to is not come to destroy men's the blessed influence of the Gospel lives, but to save them. And of Jesus.

53 The Samaritans and the Jews had no dealings, the one with the other.

they went to another village. And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests;

but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me

first to go and bury my fa

60

ther. Jesus said unto him,

Let the dead bury their dead:

60 Meaning-" let each man to his proper work!"

but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid

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Jesus said unto him, No man,

62 If in all matters decision is right in religion it is indispensable.

having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

CHAPTER X.

FEB. 27, JUNE 27, OCT. 24.

1 "Other seventy"-in addition to the twelve apostles. The expression, "the harvest truly is great," indicated that many were ready to receive the glad tidings of salvation.

AFTER these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

4

Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes and salute no man by the way.

:

4

They had especial support for an especial occasion.

And into whatsoever house ye enter, first Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be say, there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more

12 "That city”—would sin against more extended knowledge.

tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto

thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. 16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy

16 The ministers of the Gospel are well encouraged in thus being assured, that Almighty God, their Saviour, maketh their cause his own. This truth must strike with shame and terror the hearts of those who

scoff his servants and despise their ministry.

22

sight.
All things are de-
livered to me of my Father:

17 Our Saviour claims the power of healing, as his own: the apostles, their power as derived from Him. To them also, indeed, the devils were subject; but it was in His name. 18 Satan's kingdom is weakening, and already is he rushing to his fall.

20 Yet let no earthly consideration weigh with you. Rather, look to the blessed end of all your trials, when your names shall be found written in heaven.

21 He had before exhorted us to receive the Gospel with the simple and teachable disposition of children.

22 Jesus here asserts unequivocally his essential unity with the Father.

and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. 23 And he turned

him unto his disciples, and

said privately, Blessed are

privileges. Let us not forget our own. 23 They are reminded of their higher

the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have

not heard them.

25

And, be

25 These lawyers were teachers of the law of Moses.

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