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The Forgiveness Of Others
Parable Of The Fishes
1. AT the same
time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom
of Heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him and set him in the midst
of them and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become
innocent and teachable as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of Heaven.
2. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same
is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. And whoso shall receive one such
little child in my name receiveth me.
3. Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offences
come, but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh. Wherefore if thy lust,
or thy pleasure do offend others, cut them off and cast them from thee, it
is better for thee to enter into life without, rather than having that which
will be cast into everlasting fire.
4. Take heed that ye neglect not one of these little ones, for I say unto you,
That in heaven their angels do always behold the Face of God. For the Son of
man is come to save that which was lost.
5. How think ye? if a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray,
doth he not leave the ninety and nine and go into the mountains and seek that
which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you,
he rejoiceth more over that sheep than over the ninety and nine which went
not astray.
6. Even so it is not the will of your Parent, Who is in heaven, that one of
these little one should perish.
7. AND there were certain men of doubtful mind, came unto Jesus, and said unto
him: Thou tellest us that our life and being is from God, but we have never
seen God, nor do we know of any God. Canst thou shew us Whom thou callest the
Father-Mother, one God? We know not if there be a God.
8. Jesus answered them, saying, Hear ye this parable of the fishes. The fishes
of a certain river communed with one another, saying, They tell us that our
life and being is from water, but we have never seen water, we know not what
water is. Then some among them, wiser than the rest, said: We have heard there
dwelleth in the sea a wise and learned Fish, who knoweth all things. Let us
journey to him, and ask him to shew us what water is.
9. So several of them set out to find this great and wise Fish and they came
at last to the sea wherein the wise Fish dwelt, and they asked of him.
10. And when he heard them he said unto them, O ye foolish fish that consider
not! Wise are ye, the few, who seek. In the water ye live, and move, and have
your being; from the water ye came, to the water ye return. Ye live in the
water, yet ye know it not. In like manner, ye live in God, and yet ye ask of
me, “Shew us God.” God is in all things, and all things are in God.
11. AGAIN Jesus said unto them, If thy brother or sister shall trespass against
thee, go and declare the fault between thee and thy brother or sister alone;
if they shall hear thee, thou hast gained them. But if they will not hear thee,
then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word may be established.
12. And if they shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church, but if
they neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church, but if they neglect to
hear the church, let them be unto thee as those that are outside the church.
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall justly bind on earth, shall be bound
in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall justly loose in earth, shall be loosed in
heaven.
13. Again I say unto you, That if seven, or even if three of you shall agree
on earth as touching anything that they ask, it shall be done for them of my
Father-Mother Who is in heaven. For where even three are gathered together
in my name there I am in the midst of them, and if there be but one, I am in
the heart of that one.
14. THEN came Peter to him and said, Lord, how oft shalt my brother sin against
me and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto
thee, Until seven times, but until seventy times seven. For in the Prophets
likewise unrighteousness was found, even after they were anointed by the Holy
Spirit.
15. And he spake this parable, saying, There was a certain king who would take
account of his servants, and when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto
him which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay,
his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he
had, and payment to be made.
16. The servant therefore, fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have
patience with me and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was
moved with compassion and loosed him, and forgave him his debt.
17. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants which
owed him a hundred pence, and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat,
saying, Pay me that thou owest.
18. And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet and besought him, saying,
Have patience with me and I will pay thee all. And he would not, but went and
cast him into prison till he should pay the debt.
19. So when his fellow-servants saw what he had done they were very sorry,
and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
20. Then his lord, after he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant,
I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst me; shouldst not thou also
have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee. And
his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay
all that was due unto him.
21. So likewise shall the heavenly Parent judge you, if ye from your hearts
forgive not every one, his brother or sister, their trespasses. Nevertheless,
let every man see that he pay that which he oweth, for God loveth the just.
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