The Skeptics Annotated Bible (829 page)

9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

(19.12-27) Jesus says that God is like an unjust king who takes what is not rightly his, reaps what he didn’t sow, and has those who don’t want to be ruled by him slaughtered in front of him.

12 He said therefore,
A certain nobleman went into a far country
to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

(19.12)
“A certain nobleman went into a far country.”

13 And
he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

(19.13)
“He called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”

14
But his citizens hated him
, and sent a message after him,
saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

(19.14)
“But his citizens hated him … saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.”

15 And it came to pass, that
when he
was
returned
, having received the kingdom, then
he commanded these servants to be called unto him
, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

(19.15)
“When he … returned … he commanded these servants to be called unto him.”

16
Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

(19.16)
“Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.”

17 And
he said
unto him,
Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

(19.17)
“He said … Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.”

18 And
the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

(19.18)
“The second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.”

19 And
he said
likewise to him,
Be thou also over five cities
.

(19.19)
“He said … Be thou also over five cities.”

20 And
another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin
:

(19.20)
“Another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin.”

21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee,
thou wicked servant
. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

23
Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

(19.22-23)
“Thou wicked servant … Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?”

24 And he said unto them that stood by,
Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

(19.24) “Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.”

25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

26 For I say unto you, That
unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

(19.26) “Unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.”

27
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

(19.27)
“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.”

28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

(19.30-35)
374 On what did Jesus ride into Jerusalem?

30 Saying,
Go ye into the village
over against you; in the which at your entering ye
shall find a colt tied
, whereon yet never man sat:
loose him, and bring him hither.

(19.30)
“Go ye into the village …. ye shall find a colt tied … loose him, and bring him hither.”

31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

35 And
they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

(19.35)
“They brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.”

(19.36-46)
373 When did Jesus’ temple tantrum occur?

36 And
as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

(19.36)
“As he went, they spread their clothes in the way.”

37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

(19.37)
“When he was … at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude … began to rejoice … with a loud voice.”

38
Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

(19.38)
“Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”

39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

45 And
he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;

(19.45) “He went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought.”

46
Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

(19.46)
“Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

20
And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

3 And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

7 And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

8 And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

(20.9-16) God is like a man who owns a vineyard and rents it to poor farmers. When he sends servants to collect the rent, the tenants beat or kill them. So he sent his son to collect the rent, and they kill him too. Then the owner comes and kills the farmers and rents the vineyard to others.