The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 47: Matthew

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11:28. Come to me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will
refresh you.

11:29. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and
humble of heart: And you shall find rest to your souls.

11:30. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.

Matthew Chapter 12

Christ reproves the blindness of the Pharisees, and confutes their
attributing his miracles to Satan.

12:1. At that time Jesus went through the corn on the sabbath: and his
disciples being hungry, began to pluck the ears, and to eat.

12:2. And the Pharisees seeing them, said to him: Behold thy disciples
do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days.

12:3. But he said to them: Have you not read what David did when he was
hungry, and they that were with him:

12:4. How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the loaves of
proposition, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for them that
were with him, but for the priests only?

The loaves of proposition... So were called the twelve loaves which were
placed before the sanctuary in the temple of God.

12:5. Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath days the
priests in the temple break the sabbath, and are without blame?

12:6. But I tell you that there is here a greater than the temple.

12:7. And if you knew what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not
sacrifice: you would never have condemned the innocent.

12:8. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath.

12:9. And when he had passed from thence, he came into their synagogues.

12:10. And behold there was a man who had a withered hand, and they
asked him, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they
might accuse him.

12:11. But he said to them: What man shall there be among you, that hath
one sheep: and if the same fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he
not take hold on it and lift it up?

12:12. How much better is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to
do a good deed on the sabbath days.

12:13. Then he saith to the man: Stretch forth thy hand; and he
stretched it forth, and it was restored to health even as the other.

12:14. And the Pharisees going out made a consultation against him, how
they might destroy him.

12:15. But Jesus knowing it, retired from thence: and many followed him,
and he healed them all.

12:16. And he charged them that they should not make him known.

12:17. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaias the
prophet, saying:

12:18. Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul
hath been well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew
judgment to the Gentiles.

12:19. He shall not contend, nor cry out, neither shall any man hear his
voice in the streets.

12:20. The bruised reed he shall not break: and smoking flax he shall
not extinguish: till he send forth judgment unto victory.

12:21. And in his name the Gentiles shall hope.

12:22. Then was offered to him one possessed with a devil, blind and
dumb: and he healed him, so that he spoke and saw.

12:23. And all the multitudes were amazed, and said: Is not this the son
of David?

12:24. But the Pharisees hearing it, said: This man casteth not out
devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

12:25. And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom
divided against itself shall be made desolate: and every city or house
divided against itself shall not stand.

12:26. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself: how
then shall his kingdom stand?

12:27. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children
cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

12:28. But if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils, then is the
kingdom of God come upon you.

12:29. Or how can any one enter into the house of the strong, and rifle
his goods, unless he first bind the strong? and then he will rifle his
house.

12:30. He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not
with me, scattereth.

12:31. Therefore I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven
men, but the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

The blasphemy of the Spirit... The sin here spoken of is that blasphemy,
by which the Pharisees attributed the miracles of Christ, wrought by the
Spirit of God, to Beelzebub the prince of devils. Now this kind of sin
is usually accompanied with so much obstinacy, and such wilful opposing
the Spirit of God, and the known truth, that men who are guilty of it,
are seldom or never converted: and therefore are never forgiven, because
they will not repent. Otherwise there is no sin, which God cannot or
will not forgive to such as sincerely repent, and have recourse to the
keys of the church.

12:32. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall
be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it
shall not be forgiven him neither in this world, nor in the world to
come.

Nor in the world to come... From these words St. Augustine (De Civ. Dei,
lib. 21, c. 13) and St. Gregory (Dialog., 4, c. 39) gather, that some
sins may be remitted in the world to come; and, consequently, that there
is a purgatory or a middle place.

12:33. Either make the tree good and its fruit good: or make the tree
evil, and its fruit evil. For by the fruit the tree is known.

12:34. O generation of vipers, how can you speak good things, whereas
you are evil? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

12:35. A good man out of a good treasure bringeth forth good things: and
an evil man out of an evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

12:36. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment.

Every idle word... This shews there must be a place of temporal
punishment hereafter where these slighter faults shall be punished.

12:37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou
shalt be condemned.

12:38. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying:
Master, we would see a sign from thee.

A sign... That is, a miracle from heaven. St. Luke 11. 16.

12:39. Who answering said to them: An evil and adulterous generation
seeketh a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas
the prophet.

12:40. For as Jonas was in the whale's belly three days and three
nights: so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days
and three nights.

Three days, etc... Not complete days and nights; but part of three days,
and three nights taken according to the way that the Hebrews counted
their days and nights, viz., from evening to evening.

12:41. The men of Ninive shall rise in judgment with this generation,
and shall condemn it: because they did penance at the preaching of
Jonas. And behold a greater than Jonas here.

12:42. The queen of the south shall rise in judgment with this
generation, and shall condemn it: because she came from the ends of the
earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold a greater than Solomon
here.

12:43. And when an unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh
through dry places seeking rest, and findeth none.

12:44. Then he saith: I will return into my house from whence I came
out. And coming he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

12:45. Then he goeth, and taketh with him seven other spirits more
wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last
state of that man is made worse than the first. So shall it be also to
this wicked generation.

12:46. As he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold his mother and
his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him.

12:47. And one said unto him: Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand
without, seeking thee.

12:48. But he answering him that told him, said: Who is my mother, and
who are my brethren?

Who is my mother?... This was not spoken by way of slighting his mother,
but to shew that we are never to suffer ourselves to be taken from the
service of God, by any inordinate affection to our earthly parents: and
that which our Lord chiefly regarded in his mother, was her doing the
will of his Father in heaven. It may also further allude to the
reprobation of the Jews, his carnal kindred, and the election of the
Gentiles.

12:49. And stretching forth his hand towards his disciples, he said:
Behold my mother and my brethren.

12:50. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, that is in heaven,
he is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Matthew Chapter 13

The parables of the sower and the cockle: of the mustardseed, etc.

13:1. The same day Jesus going out of the house, sat by the sea side.

13:2. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he
went up into a boat and sat: and all the multitude stood on the shore.

13:3. And he spoke to them many things in parables, saying: Behold the
sower went forth to sow.

13:4. And whilst he soweth some fell by the way side, and the birds of
the air came and ate them up.

13:5. And other some fell upon stony ground, where they had not much
earth: and they sprung up immediately, because they had no deepness of
earth.

13:6. And when the sun was up they were scorched: and because they had
not root, they withered away.

13:7. And others fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked
them.

13:8. And others fell upon good ground: and they brought forth fruit,
some an hundred fold, some sixty fold, and some thirty fold.

13:9. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

13:10. And his disciples came and said to him: Why speakest thou to them
in parables?

13:11. Who answered and said to them: Because to you it is given to know
the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: but to them it is not given.

13:12. For he that hath, to him shall be given, and he shall abound: but
he that hath not, from him shall be taken away that also which he hath.

13:13. Therefore do I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see
not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

13:14. And the prophecy of Isaias is fulfilled in them, who saith: By
hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing you shall
see, and shall not perceive.

13:15. For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears
they have been dull of hearing, and their eyes they have shut: lest at
any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and
understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

13:16. But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears,
because they hear.

13:17. For, amen, I say to you, many prophets and just men have desired
to see the things that you see, and have not seen them: and to hear the
things that you hear and have not heard them.

13:18. Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.

13:19. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth
it not, there cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was
sown in his heart: this is he that received the seed by the way side.

13:20. And he that received the seed upon stony ground, is he that
heareth the word, and immediately receiveth it with joy.

13:21. Yet hath he not root in himself, but is only for a time: and when
there ariseth tribulation and persecution because of the word, he is
presently scandalized.

13:22. And he that received the seed among thorns, is he that heareth
the word, and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches
choketh up the word, and he becometh fruitless.

13:23. But he that received the seed upon good ground, is he that
heareth the word, and understandeth, and beareth fruit, and yieldeth the
one an hundredfold, and another sixty, and another thirty.

13:24. Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of
heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field.

13:25. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle
among the wheat and went his way.

13:26. And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit,
then appeared also the cockle.

13:27. And the servants of the good man of the house coming said to him.
Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? Whence then hath it
cockle?

13:28. And he said to them: An enemy hath done this. And the servants
said to him: Wilt thou that we go and gather it up?

13:29. And he said: No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root
up the wheat also together with it.

13:30. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the
harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind
it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn.

13:31. Another parable he proposed unto them, saying: The kingdom of
heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in
his field.

13:32. Which is the least indeed of all seeds; but when it is grown up,
it is greater than all herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of
the air come, and dwell in the branches thereof.

13:33. Another parable he spoke to them: The kingdom of heaven is like
to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until
the whole was leavened.

13:34. All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes: and
without parables he did not speak to them.

13:35. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,
saying: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden
from the foundation of the world.

13:36. Then having sent away the multitudes, he came into the house, and
his disciples came to him, saying: Expound to us the parable of the
cockle of the field.

13:37. Who made answer and said to them: He that soweth the good seed is
the Son of man.

13:38. And the field is the world. And the good seed are the children of
the kingdom. And the cockle are the children of the wicked one.

13:39. And the enemy that sowed them, is the devil. But the harvest is
the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels.

13:40. Even as cockle therefore is gathered up, and burnt with fire: so
shall it be at the end of the world.

13:41. The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out
of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity.

13:42. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13:43. Then shall the just shine as the sun, in the kingdom of their
Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

13:44. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field.
Which a man having found, hid it, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth
all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

13:45. Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good
pearls.

13:46. Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went his way, and
sold all that he had, and bought it.

13:47. Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea,
and gathering together of all kinds of fishes.

13:48. Which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the
shore, they chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast
forth.

13:49. So shall it be at the end of the world. The angels shall go out,
and shall separate the wicked from among the just.

13:50. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13:51. Have ye understood all these things? They say to him: Yes.

13:52. He said unto them: Therefore every scribe instructed in the
kingdom of heaven, is like to a man that is a householder, who bringeth
forth out of his treasure new things and old.

13:53. And it came to pass: when Jesus had finished these parables, he
passed from thence.

13:54. And coming into his own country, he taught them in their
synagogues, so that they wondered and said: How came this man by this
wisdom and miracles?

13:55. Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary,
and his brethren James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude:

His brethren... These were the children of Mary the wife of Cleophas,
sister to our Blessed Lady, (St. Matt. 27. 56; St. John 19. 25,) and
therefore, according to the usual style of the Scripture, they were
called brethren, that is, near relations to our Saviour.

13:56. And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence therefore hath
he all these things?

13:57. And they were scandalized in his regard. But Jesus said to them:
A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own
house.

13:58. And he wrought not many miracles there, because of their
unbelief.

Matthew Chapter 14

Herod puts John to death. Christ feeds five thousand in the desert. He
walks upon the sea, and heals all the diseased with the touch of his
garment.

14:1. At that time Herod the Tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus.

Tetrarch... This word, derived from the Greek, signifies one that rules
over the fourth part of a kingdom: as Herod then ruled over Galilee,
which was but the fourth part of the kingdom of his father.

14:2. And he said to his servants: This is John the Baptist: he is risen
from the dead, and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves in him.

14:3. For Herod had apprehended John and bound him, and put him into
prison, because of Herodias, his brother's wife.

14:4. For John said to him: It is not lawful for thee to have her.

14:5. And having a mind to put him to death, he feared the people:
because they esteemed him as a prophet.

14:6. But on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before
them: and pleased Herod.

14:7. Whereupon he promised with an oath, to give her whatsoever she
would ask of him.

14:8. But she being instructed before by her mother, said: Give me here
in a dish the head of John the Baptist.

14:9. And the king was struck sad: yet because of his oath, and for them
that sat with him at table, he commanded it to be given.

14:10. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

14:11. And his head was brought in a dish: and it was given to the
damsel, and she brought it to her mother.

14:12. And his disciples came and took the body, and buried it, and came
and told Jesus.

14:13. Which when Jesus had heard, he retired from thence by a boat,
into a desert place apart, and the multitudes having heard of it,
followed him on foot out of the cities.

14:14. And he coming forth saw a great multitude, and had compassion on
them, and healed their sick.

14:15. And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying: This
is a desert place, and the hour is now passed: send away the multitudes,
that going into the towns, they may buy themselves victuals.

14:16. But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give you them to
eat.

14:17. They answered him: We have not here, but five loaves, and two
fishes.

14:18. Who said to them: Bring them hither to me.

14:19. And when he had commanded the multitude to sit down upon the
grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to
heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and
the disciples to the multitudes.

14:20. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up what
remained, twelve full baskets of fragments.

14:21. And the number of them that did eat, was five thousand men,
besides women and children.

14:22. And forthwith Jesus obliged his disciples to go up into the boat,
and to go before him over the water, till he dismissed the people.

14:23. And having dismissed the multitude, he went into a mountain alone
to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone.

14:24. But the boat in the midst of the sea was tossed with the waves:
for the wind was contrary.

14:25. And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking
upon the sea.

14:26. And they seeing him walking upon the sea, were troubled, saying:
It is an apparition. And they cried out for fear.

14:27. And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good heart: it
is I, fear ye not.

14:28. And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come
to thee upon the waters.

14:29. And he said: Come. And Peter going down out of the boat walked
upon the water to come to Jesus.

14:30. But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid: and when he began to
sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me.

14:31. And immediately Jesus stretching forth his hand took hold of him,
and said to him: O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?

14:32. And when they were come up into the boat, the wind ceased.

14:33. And they that were in the boat came and adored him, saying:
Indeed thou art the Son of God.

14:34. And having passed the water, they came into the country of
Genesar.

14:35. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent
into all that country, and brought to him all that were diseased.

14:36. And they besought him that they might touch but the hem of his
garment. And as many as touched, were made whole.

Matthew Chapter 15

Christ reproves the Scribes. He cures the daughter of the woman of
Canaan: and many others: and feeds four thousand with seven loaves.

15:1. Then came to him from Jerusalem scribes and Pharisees, saying:

15:2. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the ancients? For
they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

15:3. But he answering, said to them: Why do you also transgress the
commandment of God for your tradition? For God said:

15:4. Honour thy father and mother: And: He that shall curse father or
mother, let him die the death.

15:5. But you say: Whosoever shall say to father or mother, The gift
whatsoever proceedeth from me, shall profit thee.

The gift, etc... That is, the offering that I shall make to God, shall
be instead of that which should be expended for thy profit. This
tradition of the Pharisees was calculated to enrich themselves; by
exempting children from giving any further assistance to their parents,
if they once offered to the temple and the priests, that which should
have been the support of their parents. But this was a violation of the
law of God, and of nature, which our Saviour here condemns.

15:6. And he shall not honour his father or his mother: and you have
made void the commandment of God for your tradition.

15:7. Hypocrites, well hath Isaias prophesied of you, saying:

15:8. This people honoureth me with their lips: but their heart is far
from me.

15:9. And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and
commandments of men.

Commandments of men... The doctrines and commandments here reprehended
are such as are either contrary to the law of God, (as that of
neglecting parents, under pretence of giving to God,) or at least are
frivolous, unprofitable, and no ways conducing to true piety, as that of
often washing hands, etc., without regard to the purity of the heart.
But as to the rules and ordinances of the holy church, touching fasts,
festivals, etc., these are no ways repugnant to, but highly agreeable to
God's holy word, and all Christian piety: neither are they to be counted
among the doctrines and commandments of men; because they proceed not
from mere human authority; but from that which Christ has established in
his church; whose pastors he has commanded us to hear and obey, even as
himself. St. Luke 10. 16; St. Matt. 18. 17.

15:10. And having called together the multitudes unto him, he said to
them: Hear ye and understand.

15:11. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man: but what
cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Not that which goeth into, etc... No uncleanness in meat, nor any dirt
contracted by eating it with unwashed hands, can defile the soul: but
sin alone; or a disobedience of the heart to the ordinance and will of
God. And thus when Adam took the forbidden fruit, it was not the apple,
which entered into the mouth, but the disobedience to the law of God
which defiled him. The same is to be said if a Jew, in the time of the
old law, had eaten swine's flesh; or a Christian convert, in the days of
the apostles, contrary to their ordinance, had eaten blood; or if any of
the faithful at present should transgress the ordinance of God's church,
by breaking the fasts: for in all these cases the soul would be defiled;
not indeed by that which goeth into the mouth; but by the disobedience
of the heart, in wilfully transgressing the ordinance of God, or of
those who have their authority from him.

15:12. Then came his disciples, and said to him: Dost thou know that the
Pharisees, when they heard this word, were scandalized?

15:13. But he answering, said: Every plant which my heavenly Father hath
not planted, shall be rooted up.

15:14. Let them alone: they are blind, and leaders of the blind. And if
the blind lead the blind, both fall into the pit.

15:15. And Peter answering, said to him: Expound to us this parable.

15:16. But he said: Are you also yet without understanding?

15:17. Do you not understand, that whatsoever entereth into the mouth,
goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the privy?

15:18. But the things which proceed out of the mouth, come forth from
the heart, and those things defile a man.

15:19. For from the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.

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