Tatian: Diatessaron — Arabic Witness

Section XXV.

[1] ^{Edition note 1}And in that day this thought presented itself to his disciples, and they said, which [2] haply should be the greatest among them.^{Edition note 2 Edition note 3}And when they came to Capernaum, and entered into the house, Jesus said unto them, What were ye considering in the [3] way among yourselves? ^{Edition note 4}And they were silent because they had considered that matter.

[4] ^{Edition note 5}And when Simon went forth without, those that received two dirhams for the tribute came to Cephas, and said unto him, Doth your master not give his two [5] dirhams? He said unto them, Yea. ^{Edition note 6}And when Cephas entered the house, Jesus anticipated him, and said unto him, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive custom and tribute? from their sons, or from [6] [Arabic, p. 97] strangers? ^{Edition note 7}Simon said unto him, From strangers. Jesus said unto him, Children then are free.

Simon said unto him, Yea. Jesus said unto him, [7] Give thou also unto them, like the stranger. ^{Edition note 8}But, lest it trouble them, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook; and the first fish that cometh up, open its mouth, and thou shalt find a stater: take therefore that, and give for me and thee.

[8] ^{Edition note 9}And in that hour came the disciples to Jesus, and said unto him, Who, thinkest [9] thou, is greater in the kingdom of heaven? ^{Edition note 10}And Jesus knew the thought of their heart, and called a^{Edition note 11} child, and set him in the midst, and took him in his arms, and [10] said unto them, ^{Edition note 12}Verily I say unto you, If ye do not return, and become as children, [11] ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. ^{Edition note 13}Every one that shall receive in my name such as this child hath received me: ^{Edition note 14}and whosoever receiveth me receiveth [12] not me, but him that sent me. ^{Edition note 15}And he who is little in your company,^{Edition note 16} the same [13] shall be great. ^{Edition note 17}But whosoever shall injure one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a great millstone^{Edition note 18} should be hanged about his neck, and he should be drowned in the depths of the sea.

[14] ^{Edition note 19}John answered and said, Our Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; [15] and we prevented him, because he followed not thee with us. ^{Edition note 20}Jesus said unto them, Prevent him not; for no man doeth powers in my name, and can hasten to speak evil [16, 17] of me. ^{Edition note 21}Every one who is not in opposition to you is with you. ^{Edition note 22}Woe unto the world [Arabic, p. 98] because of trials!^{Edition note 23} but woe unto that man by whose hand the trials come! [18] ^{Edition note 24}If thy hand or thy foot injure thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is better for thee to enter into life being halt or maimed, and not that thou shouldest have two hands or two feet, and fall into the hell of fire that burneth^{Edition note 25} for ever; [19, 20] ^{Edition note 26}where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched. ^{Edition note 27}And if thine eye seduce^{Edition note 28} [21] thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; ^{Edition note 29}for it is better for thee to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than that thou shouldest have two eyes, and fall into the [22, 23] fire of Gehenna; ^{Edition note 30}where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched. ^{Edition note 31}Every [24] one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. ^{Edition note 32}How good [25] is salt!

but if the salt also be tasteless, wherewith shall it be salted? ^{Edition note 33}It is fit neither for the land nor for dung, but they cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him [26] hear. ^{Edition note 34}Have ye salt in yourselves, and be in peace one with another.

[27] ^{Edition note 35}And he arose from thence, and came to the borders of Judæa beyond Jordan: and there went unto him thither great multitudes, and he healed them; and he taught [28] them also, according to his custom. ^{Edition note 36}And the Pharisees came unto him, tempting [29] him, and asking him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? ^{Edition note 37}He said, What [30] did Moses command you? ^{Edition note 38}They said, Moses made it allowable for us, saying, Whosoever [31] will, let him write a writing of divorcement, and put away his wife. ^{Edition note 39}Jesus answered and said unto them, ^{Edition note 40}Have ye not read, He that made them from the beginning [32] made them male and female, and said, ^{Edition note 41}For this reason shall the man leave his father [Arabic, p. 99] and his mother, and cleave to his wife; and they both shall be one body?

[33] ^{Edition note 42}So then they are not twain, but one body; the thing, then, which God hath [34] joined together, let no man put asunder. ^{Edition note 43}And those Pharisees said unto him, Why did Moses consent^{Edition note 44} that a man should give a writing of divorcement and put her away? [35] ^{Edition note 45}Jesus said unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts gave you leave [36] to divorce your wives; but in the beginning it was not so. ^{Edition note 46}I say unto you, Whosoever putteth away^{Edition note 47} his wife without fornication, and marrieth another, hath exposed [37] her to adultery. ^{Edition note 48}And his disciples, when he entered the house, asked him again [38] about that. ^{Edition note 49}And he said unto them, Every one who putteth away his wife, and [39] marrieth another, hath exposed her to adultery. ^{Edition note 50}And any woman that leaveth her husband, and becometh another’s, hath committed adultery. ^{Edition note 51}And whosoever marrieth [40] her that is divorced hath committed adultery. ^{Edition note 52}And his disciples said unto him, If there be between the man and the woman such a case^{Edition note 53} as this, it is not good for [41] a man to marry. ^{Edition note 54}He said unto them, Not every man can endure this saying, except [42] him to whom it is given. ^{Edition note 55}There are eunuchs which from their mother’s womb^{Edition note 56} were born so; and there are eunuchs which through men became eunuchs; and there are eunuchs which made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He that is able to be content, let him be content.

[43] ^{Edition note 57}Then they brought to him children, that he should lay his hand upon them, and [44] pray: and his disciples were rebuking those that were bringing them. ^{Edition note 58}And Jesus saw, and it was distressing to him; and he said unto them, Suffer the children to [Arabic, p. 100] come unto me, and prevent them not; for those that are like these have [45] the kingdom of God. ^{Edition note 59}Verily I say unto you, Whosoever receiveth not the [46] kingdom of God as this child, shall not enter it. ^{Edition note 60}And he took them in his arms, and laid his hand upon them, and blessed them.