The Life of Jesus

and I say to you, that a greater than the temple is here;

and if ye had known what is: Kindness I will, and not sacrifice--ye had not condemned the blameless,

for the son of man is lord even of the sabbath.'

And having departed thence, he went to their synagogue,

and lo, there was a man having the hand withered, and they questioned him, saying, `Is it lawful to heal on the sabbaths?' that they might accuse him.

And he said to them, `What man shall be of you, who shall have one sheep, and if this may fall on the sabbaths into a ditch, will not lay hold on it and raise it ?

How much better, therefore, is a man than a sheep? --so that it is lawful on the sabbaths to do good.'

Then saith he to the man, `Stretch forth thy hand,' and he stretched it forth, and it was restored whole as the other.

And the Pharisees having gone forth, held a consultation against him, how they might destroy him,

and Jesus having known, withdrew thence, and there followed him great multitudes, and he healed them all,

and did charge them that they might not make him manifest,

that it might be fulfilled that was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

`Lo, My servant, whom I did choose, My beloved, in whom My soul did delight, I will put My Spirit upon him, and judgment to the nations he shall declare,

he shall not strive nor cry, nor shall any hear in the broad places his voice,

a bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench, till he may put forth judgment to victory,

and in his name shall nations hope.'

Then was brought to him a demoniac, blind and dumb, and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, `Is this the Son of David?'

but the Pharisees having heard, said, `This one doth not cast out demons, except by Beelzeboul, ruler of the demons.'

And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, `Every kingdom having been divided against itself is desolated, and no city or house having been divided against itself, doth stand,

and if the Adversary doth cast out the Adversary, against himself he was divided, how then doth his kingdom stand?

`And if I, by Beelzeboul, do cast out the demons, your sons--by whom do they cast out? because of this they--they shall be your judges.

`But if I, by the Spirit of God, do cast out the demons, then come already unto you did the reign of God.

`Or how is one able to go into the house of the strong man, and to plunder his goods, if first he may not bind the strong man? and then his house he will plunder.

`He who is not with me is against me, and he who is not gathering with me, doth scatter.