The Life of Jesus

and he who is falling on this stone shall be broken, and on whomsoever it may fall it will crush him to pieces.'

And the chief priests and the Pharisees having heard his similes, knew that of them he speaketh,

and seeking to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, seeing they were holding him as a prophet.

And Jesus answering, again spake to them in similes, saying,

`The reign of the heavens was likened to a man, a king, who made marriage-feasts for his son,

and he sent forth his servants to call those having been called to the marriage-feasts, and they were not willing to come.

`Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Say to those who have been called: Lo, my dinner I prepared, my oxen and the fatlings have been killed, and all things are ready, come ye to the marriage-feasts;

and they, having disregarded it , went away, the one to his own field, and the other to his merchandise;

and the rest, having laid hold on his servants, did insult and slay them .

`And the king having heard, was wroth, and having sent forth his soldiers, he destroyed those murderers, and their city he set on fire;

then saith he to his servants, The marriage-feast indeed is ready, and those called were not worthy,

be going, then, on to the cross-ways, and as many as ye may find, call ye to the marriage-feasts.

`And those servants, having gone forth to the ways, did gather all, as many as they found, both bad and good, and the marriage-feast apartment was filled with those reclining.

`And the king having come in to view those reclining, saw there a man not clothed with clothing of the marriage-feast,

and he saith to him, Comrade, how didst thou come in hither, not having clothing of the marriage-feast? and he was speechless.

`Then said the king to the ministrants, Having bound his feet and hands, take him up and cast forth to the outer darkness, there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth;

for many are called, and few chosen.'

Then the Pharisees having gone, took counsel how they might ensnare him in words,

and they send to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, `Teacher, we have known that thou art true, and the way of God in truth thou dost teach, and thou art not caring for any one, for thou dost not look to the face of men;

tell us, therefore, what dost thou think? is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?'

And Jesus having known their wickedness, said, `Why me do ye tempt, hypocrites?

show me the tribute-coin?' and they brought to him a denary;

and he saith to them, `Whose is this image and the inscription?'

they say to him, `Caesar's;' then saith he to them, `Render therefore the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;'

and having heard they wondered, and having left him they went away.