Section XVI.

[1] 1068    Matt. xii. 38.Then answered certain of the scribes and Pharisees, that they might tempt him, [2] and said, Teacher, we desire to see a sign from thee.  1069    Matt. xii. 39.He answered and said, This evil and adulterous generation1070    See § 1, 49, note. seeketh a sign; and it shall not be given a sign, [3] except the sign of Jonah the prophet.  1071    Luke xi. 30.And as Jonah was a sign to the inhabitants [4] of Nineveh, so shall the Son of man also be to this generation.  1072    Matt. xii. 40.And as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man [5] be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.  1073    Luke xi. 31.The queen of the south shall rise in the judgement with the people of this generation, and condemn1074    See note to § 10, 13. them:  for she came from the ends of the earth that she might hear the wisdom of Solomon; [6] [Arabic, p. 62] and behold, here is a better than Solomon.  1075    Matt. xii. 41.The men of Nineveh shall stand in the judgement with this generation, and condemn it:  for they repented at [7] the preaching of Jonah; and behold, here is a greater than Jonah.  1076    Luke xi. 24.The unclean spirit, when he goeth out of the man, departeth, and goeth about through places wherein are no waters, that he may find rest for himself; and when he findeth it not, he [8] saith, I will return to my house whence I came out.  1077    Luke xi. 25.And if he come and find it [9] adorned and set in order, 1078    Luke xi. 26.then he goeth, and associateth with himself seven other spirits worse than himself; and they enter and dwell in it:  and the end of that man [10] shall be worse than his beginning.  1079    Matt. xii. 45b.Thus shall it be unto this evil generation.

[11] 1080    Luke xi. 27.And while he was saying that, a woman from the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts that nursed [12] thee.  1081    Luke xi. 28.But he said unto her, Blessed is he that heareth the word of God, and keepeth it.

[13] 1082    Matt. xii. 46a; Luke viii. 19a.And while he was speaking unto the multitude, there came unto him his mother [14] and his brethren, and sought to speak with him; 1083    Matt. xii. 46c; Luke viii. 19b.and they were not able, because of [15] the multitude; and they stood without and sent, calling him unto them.  1084    Mark iii. 31; Matt. xii. 47.A man said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren are standing without, and seek to [16] speak with thee.  1085    Matt. xii. 48.But he answered unto him that spake unto him, Who is my [17] mother? and who are my brethren?  1086    Matt. xxii. 49.And he beckoned with his hand, stretching it out towards his disciples, and said, Behold, my mother! and behold, my brethren!  [18] 1087    Matt. xii. 50.And every man that shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven is my brother, and my sister, and my mother.

[19] 1088    Luke viii. 1.And after that, Jesus was going about in the cities and in the villages, and proclaiming [Arabic, p. 63] and preaching the kingdom of God, and his1089    The Arabic printed text gives no sense.  A simple change in the diacritical points of one letter gives the reading of the Syriac versions, which is adopted here. twelve with him, [20] 1090    Luke viii. 2.and the women which had been healed of diseases and of evil spirits, Mary [21] that was called Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven devils, 1091    Luke viii. 3.and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who were ministering to them of their substance.

[22] 1092    Matt. xiii. 1.And after that, Jesus went out of the house, and sat on the sea shore.  1093    Matt. xiii. 2.And there [23] gathered unto him great multitudes.  And when the press of the people was great upon him, he went up and sat in the boat; and all the multitude was standing on the [24] shore of the sea.  1094    Matt. xiii. 3.And he spake to them much in parables, and said, The sower [25] went forth to sow:  and when he sowed, 1095    Matt. xiii. 4a; Luke viii. 5b.some fell on the beaten highway; and it was [26] trodden upon, and the birds ate it.  1096    Matt. xiii. 5.And other fell on the rocks:  and some, where there was not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no depth in [27] the earth:  1097    Matt. xiii. 6.and when the sun rose, it withered; and because it had no root, it dried [28] up.  1098    Luke viii. 7; Mark iv. 7b.And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it; [29] and it yielded no fruit.  1099    Luke viii. 8a; Mark iv. 8b.And other fell into excellent and good1100    cf. Peshitta (against Cur. and Sin.). ground; and it came up, and grew, and brought forth fruit, some thirty, and some sixty, and some [30] a hundred.  1101    Luke viii. 8c.And when he said that, he cried, He that hath ears that hear, let him [31] hear.  1102    Mark iv. 10; with additions from Matt. xiii. 10, and Luke viii. 9.And when they were alone, his disciples came, and asked him, and said unto [32] him, What is this parable? and why spakest thou unto them in parables?  1103    Mark iv. 11; Matt. xiii. 11.He [Arabic, p. 64] answered and said unto them, Unto you is given the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God; but it is not given unto them that are [33] without.  1104    Matt. xiii. 12.He that hath shall be given unto, and there shall be added; and he that [34] hath not, that which he hath shall be taken from him also.  1105    Matt. xiii. 13.For this cause therefore I speak unto them in parables; because they see, and see not; and hear, and hear [35] not, nor understand.  1106    Matt. xiii. 14.And in them is being fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, who said,

Hearing they shall hear, and shall not understand;

And seeing they shall see, and shall not perceive:

[36] 1107    Matt. xiii. 15.The heart of this people is waxed gross,

And their hearing with their ears is become heavy,

And they have closed their eyes;

Lest they should see with their eyes,

And hear with their ears,

And understand with their hearts,

And should return,

And I should heal them.

[37, 38] 1108    Matt. xiii. 16.But ye, blessed are your eyes, which see; and your ears, which hear.  1109    Luke x. 23b.Blessed [39] are the eyes which see what ye see.  1110    Matt. xiii. 17.Verily I say unto you, Many of the prophets and the righteous longed to see what ye see, and saw not; and to hear what ye [40] hear, and heard not.  1111    Mark iv. 13b.When ye know not this parable, how shall ye know all parables?  [41, 42] 1112    Matt. xiii. 18.Hear ye the parable of the sower.  1113    Mark iv. 14.The sower which sowed, sowed the word [43] of God.  1114    Matt. xiii. 19.Every one who heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, the evil one cometh and snatcheth away the word that hath been sown in his [44] heart:  and this is that which was sown on the middle of the highway.  1115    Matt. xiii. 20.But that which was sown on the rocks is he that heareth the word, and straightway receiveth [45, 46] [Arabic, p. 65] it with joy; 1116    Matt. xiii. 21a.only, it hath no root in his soul, but his belief in it is for a time; 1117    Luke viii. 13b; Matt. xiii. 21c.and whenever there is distress or persecution because of a1118    See above, § 1, 40, note 2. word, he [47] stumbleth1119    Or, is seduced (cf. § 25, 17, note). quickly.  1120    Matt. xiii. 22a.And that which was sown among the thorns is he that heareth the word; 1121    Mark iv. 19b.and the care of this world, and the error of riches, and the rest of the [48] other lusts enter, and choke the word, and it becometh without fruit.  1122    Luke viii. 15.And that which was sown in good ground is he that heareth my word in a pure and good heart, and understandeth it, and holdeth to it, and bringeth forth fruit with patience, 1123    Matt. xiii. 23b.and produceth either a hundredfold or sixtyfold or thirty.

[49] 1124    Mark iv. 26.And he said, So is the kingdom of God, like a man who casteth seed into the [50] earth, and sleepeth and riseth by night and day, 1125    Mark iv. 27.and the seed groweth and cometh [51] up, whence1126    Or, while. he knoweth not.  1127    Mark iv. 28.And the earth bringeth it to the fruit; and first it [52] will be blade, and after it ear, and at last perfect wheat in the ear:  1128    Mark iv. 29.and whenever the fruit ripeneth,1129    Lit. fatteneth, as in Peshitta. he bringeth immediately the sickle, for the harvest hath come.

Caput XVI.

Matth. XII, 38. Tunc responderunt ei quidam de Scribis et Pharisaeis, ut tentarent eum, dicentes; Magister, volumus a te signum videre.

39. Qui respondens ait: Haec generatio mala et adultera signum quaerit, et signum non dabitur ei, nisi signum Ionae prophetae.

Luc. XI, 30. Sicut enim fuit Ionas signum Ninivitis, ita erit et Filius hominis generationi isti.

Matth. XII, 40. Et sicut fuit Ionas in ventre ceti tribus diebus et tribus noctibus, sic erit Filius hominis in corde terrae tribus diebus et tribus noctibus.

Luc. XI, 31. Regina Austri surget in iudicio cum viris generationis huius, et condemnabit illos, quia venit a finibus terrae audire sapientiam Salomonis: et hic plus quam Salomon est.

Matth. XII, 41. Viri Ninivitae surgent in iudicio cum generatione ista, et condemnabunt eam, quia poenitentiam egerunt in praedicatione Ionae: et hic maior est Iona.

Luc. XI, 24. Cum immundus spiritus exierit de homine, ambulat et Circuit per

loca inaquosa, ut inveniat sibi requiem, et cum non invenerit, dicit: Revertar in domum meam, unde exivi.

25. Et si venerit, et invenerit eam ornatam et compositam;

26. tunc vadit, et assumit septem alios spiritus secum, nequiores se, et ingrediuntur, et habitant in ea. Et fiunt novissima hominis illius peiora prioribus.

Matth. XII, 45b. Sic erit generationi huic pessimae.

Luc. XI, 27. Et cum ipse haec diceret, extollens vocem quaedam mulier de turba, dixit illi: Beatus venter, qui te portavit, et ubera, quae te lactaverunt.

28. Dixit autem illi: Beatus, qui audit verbum Dei, et custodit illud.

Matth. XII, 46a. Adhuc eo loquente ad turbas,

Luc. VIII, 19a. venerunt ad illum mater et fratres eius,

Matth. XII, 46b. et quaerebant loqui ei,

Luc. VIII, 19b. et non poterant prae turba;

Marc. III, 31b. et foris stantes, miserunt vocare eum.

Matth. XII, 47. Dixit ei quidam: Ecce, mater tua et fratres tui foris stant, et quaerunt loqui tibi.

48. Respondit dicenti sibi: Quae est mater mea, et qui sunt fratres mei?

49. Et manu extensa innuens ad discipulos suos, dixit: Ecce mater mea, et ecce fratres mei.

50. Quicumque enim fecerit voluntatem patris mei, qui in caelis est, ipse meus frater, et soror, et mater est.

Luc. VIII, 1. Et post haec circuibat Iesus civitates et castella, praedicans et evangelizans regnum Dei; et duodecim cum illo,

2. et mulieres, quae erant curatae ab infirmitatibus, et a spiritibus malignis: Maria, quae vocatur Magdalene, de qua septem daemonia eiecerat,

3. et Ioanna, uxor Chusae procuratoris Herodis, et Susanna, et aliae multae, quae ministrabant eis de facultatibus suis.

Matth. XIII, 1. Et post haec, exiens Iesus de domo, sedit super litus maris.

2. Et congregatae sunt ad eum turbae multae; et cum magnus factus esset circa eum impetus hominum, ascendit et sedit in navicula; et omnis turba stabat in litore maris,

3. et loquebatur eis multa in parabolis, dicens: Ecce, exiit, qui seminat, seminare.

4a. Et dum seminat, quaedam ceciderunt secus viam,

Luc. VIII, 5b. et conculcata sunt, et volucres comederunt ea.

Matth. XIII, 5. Alia autem ceciderunt super petram, et alia ubi non habebant terram multam, et continuo exorta sunt, quia non habebant altitudinem in terra:

6. sole autem orto aestuaverunt, et quia non habebant radicem, aruerunt.

Luc. VIII, 7. Et quaedam ceciderunt inter spinas, et simul exortae sunt spinae, et suffocaverunt ea,

Marc. IV, 7b. et fructum non dederunt.

Luc. VIII, 8a. Et alia ceciderunt in terram bonam, et speciosam,

Marc. IV, 8b. et ascenderunt et creve-

runt, et attulerunt fructum, quaedam triginta, quaedam sexaginta, et alia centum.

Luc. VIII, 8b. Haec dicens clamabat: Qui habet aures audiendi, audiat.

Marc. IV, 10. Et cum essent singulares, accesserunt discipuli eius, et interrogantes eum, dixerunt ei: Quid est haec parabola, et cur loqueris illis in parabolis?

11 . Respondens ipse, ait illis: Vobis data est scientia mysteriorum regni Dei: non autem data est illis, qui foris sunt.

Matth. XIII, 12. Qui habet, dabitur ei, et abundabit: qui autem non habet, et quod habet, auferetur ab eo.

13. Ideo in parabolis loquor eis, quia videntes non vident, et audientes non audiunt, neque intelligunt.

14. Et adimpletur in eis prophetia Isaiae dicentis: Auditu audient et non intelligent: et videntes videbunt, et non perdiscent.

15. Incrassatum est enim cor populi huius, et in auribus suis gravis factus est auditus eorum, et oculos suos clauserunt, ne quando videant oculis suis, et auribus audiant, et corde intelligant, et convertantur, et sanem eos.

16. Vos autem, beati oculi vestri, qui vident, et aures vestrae, quae audiunt.

Luc. X, 23b. Beati oculi, qui vident, quae vos videtis.

Matth. XIII, 17. Amen, dico vobis: Multi prophetae, et iusti cupierunt videre, quae videtis, et non viderunt: et audire, quae auditis, et non audierunt.

Marc. IV, 13b. Si nescitis parabolam hanc, quomodo omnes parabolas cognoscetis?

Matth. XIII, 18. Audite parabolam seminantis.

Marc. IV, 14. Seminans, qui seminat, verbum Dei seminat.

Matth. XIII, 19. Omnis, qui audit verbum regni, et non intelligit, venit malus, et rapit verbum seminatum in corde eius: hic est, qui secus viam seminatus est.

20. Qui autem super petram seminatus est, hic est, qui verbum audit, et continuo cum gaudio accipit illud:

2a. attamen cum non habeat in se radicem,

Luc. VIII, 13b. sed eius fides in illud est ad tempus,

Matth. XIII, 21b. facta tribulatione, aut persecutione propter verbum, continuo scandalizatur.

22a. Qui autem seminatus est in spinis, hic est, qui verbum audit, et solicitudo saeculi istius, et fallacia divitiarum,

Marc. IV, 19b. et reliquae concupiscentiae ingrediuntur, et suffocant verbum, et sine fructu efficitur.

Luc. VIII, 15. Quod autem in bonam terram seminatum est, ille est, qui in corde puro et optimo audit verbum meum, et |

intelligit ac retinet, et fructum affert in patientia,

Matth. XIII, 23b. et facit aut centesimum, aut sexagesimum, aut trigesimum.

Marc. IV, 26. Et dicebat: Sic est regnum Dei, sicut homo, qui iaciat sementem in terram,

27. et dormiat, et exurgat nocte et die, et semen germinet et increscat, dum nescit ille.

28. Terra enim perducit illud ad fructum: primum erit herba, deinde spica, et tandem plenum frumentum in spica.

29. Et cum produxerit fructus, statim affert falcem, quoniam adest messis.