XXII. Precepts

The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth (the Jefferson Bible), by Thomas Jefferson, [1902], at sacred-texts.com

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XXII.

Precepts.

AND he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

2 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

3 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

4 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

5 ¶ And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

6 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

7 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

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8 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

9 But without a parable spake he not unto them; and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

10 ¶ 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.

11 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.

12 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

13 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

14 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

15 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

16 ¶ And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.

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17 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

18 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house; and it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

19 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

20 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.