The Skeptics Annotated Bible (811 page)

19 And
John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

(7.19) “John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” John the Baptist, who is about to die, is still unsure about Jesus. He sends his disciples to Jesus asking: “Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” Well, if he’s not sure, how can anyone else be?

20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

21 And
in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

(7.21)
“In that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.”
Within a single hour, Jesus cured people of various plagues, evil spirits, and blindness.

22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.

26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

28 For I say unto you,
Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist
: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

(7.28) “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.”
160 Who was the greatest prophet?

29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

30 But
the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him
.

(7.30) “The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.”
334 Were the Pharisees baptized by John?

31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

8
And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

2 And
certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils
,

(8.2)
“Certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.”
Jesus was accompanied by several women that he had healed of evil spirits, among whom was Mary Magdalene, from whom he cast seven devils.

3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

10 And he said,
Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

(8.10)
“Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: But to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”
Jesus speaks in parables so that people won’t understand him.