Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IX/The Diatessaron of Tatian/The Diatessaron/Section XXVIII

Section XXVIII.

[1, 2] [Arabic, p. 107] And at that time the feast of tabernacles of the Jews drew near.&#160; So the brethren of Jesus said unto him, Remove now hence, and go to Jud&#230;a, that [3] thy disciples may see the deeds that thou doest.&#160; For no man doeth a thing secretly [4] and wisheth to be apparent.&#160; If thou doest this, shew thyself to the world.&#160; For [5] up to this time not even the brethren of Jesus believed on him.&#160; Jesus said unto them, My time till now has not arrived; but as for you, your time is alway ready.&#160; [6] It is not possible for the world to hate you; but me it hateth, for I bear witness [7] against it, that its deeds are evil.&#160; As for you, go ye up unto this feast:&#160; but I go [8] not up now to this feast; for my time has not yet been completed.&#160; He said this, and remained behind in Galilee.

[9] But when his brethren went up unto the feast, he journeyed from Galilee, and [10] came to the borders of Jud&#230;a, to the country beyond Jordan; and there came after [11] him great multitudes, and he healed them all there.&#160; And he went out, and proceeded [12] to the feast, not openly, but as one that conceals himself.&#160; And the Jews sought him [13] at the feast, and said, In what place is this man?&#160; And there occurred much murmuring there in the great multitude that came to the feast, on his account.&#160; For [14] some said, He is good:&#160; and others said, Nay, but he leadeth the people astray.&#160; But no man spake of him openly for fear of the Jews.

[15] [Arabic, p. 108] But when the days of the feast of tabernacles were half over, Jesus went [16] up to the temple, and taught.&#160; And the Jews wondered, and said, How doth [17] this man know writing, seeing he hath not learned?&#160; Jesus answered and said, My doctrine [18] is not mine, but his that sent me.&#160; Whoever wisheth to do his will understandeth my doctrine, whether it be from God, or whether I speak of mine own accord.&#160; [19] Whosoever speaketh of his own accord seeketh praise for himself; but whosoever seeketh praise for him that sent him, he is true, and unrighteousness in his heart [20] there is none.&#160; Did not Moses give you the law, and no man of you keepeth the [21] law?&#160; Why seek ye to kill me?&#160; The multitude answered and said unto him, Thou [22] hast demons: &#160; who seeketh to kill thee?&#160; Jesus answered and said unto them, I did [23] one deed, and ye all marvel because of this.&#160; Moses hath given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but it is from the fathers); and ye on the sabbath [24] circumcise a man.&#160; And if a man is circumcised on the sabbath day, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I healed on the sabbath [25] day the whole man?&#160; Judge not with hypocrisy, but judge righteous judgement.

[26] And some people from Jerusalem said, Is not this he whom they seek to slay?&#160; [27] And lo, he discourseth with them openly, and they say nothing unto him.&#160; Think [28] you that our elders have learned that this is the Messiah indeed?&#160; But this man is known whence he is; and the Messiah, when he cometh, no man knoweth whence [29] he is.&#160; So Jesus lifted up his voice as he taught in the temple, and said, Ye both know me, and know whence I am; and of my own accord am I not come, but he [30] [Arabic, p. 109] that sent me is true, he whom ye know not:&#160; but I know him; for I am [31] from him, and he sent me.&#160; And they sought to seize him:&#160; and no man [32] laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.&#160; But many of the multitude believed on him; and they said, The Messiah, when he cometh, can it be that he will do more than these signs that this man doeth?

[33] And a man of that multitude said unto our Lord, Teacher, say to my brother [34] that he divide with me the inheritance.&#160; Jesus said unto him, Man, who is it that [35] appointed me over you as a judge and divider?&#160; And he said unto his disciples, Take heed within yourselves of all inordinate desire; for it is not in abundance of [36] possessions that life shall be.&#160; And he gave them this parable:&#160; The ground of a [37] rich man brought forth abundant produce:&#160; and he pondered within himself, and [38] said, What shall I do, since I have no place to store my produce?&#160; And he said, I will do this:&#160; I will pull down the buildings of my barns, and build them, and make [39] them greater; and store there all my wheat and my goods.&#160; And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid by for many years; take thine ease, eat, [40] drink, enjoy thyself.&#160; God said unto him, O thou of little intelligence, this night shall thy soul be taken from thee; and this that thou hast prepared, whose shall it [41] be?&#160; So is he that layeth up treasures for himself, and is not rich in God.

[42] And while Jesus was going in the way, there came near to him a young man of the rulers, and fell on his knees, and asked him, and said, Good Teacher, what is [43] it that I must do that I may have eternal life?&#160; Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou [44] me good, while there is none good but the one, even God? &#160; Thou knowest the commandments. &#160; [45] If thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments. &#160; The young [Arabic, p. 110] man said unto him, Which of the commandments? &#160; Jesus said unto him, [46] Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not do injury, Honour thy father [47] and thy mother:&#160; and, Love thy neighbour as thyself.&#160; That young man said unto [48] him, All these have I kept from my youth:&#160; what then is it that I lack?&#160; And Jesus [49] looked intently at him, and loved him, and said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, what thou lackest is one thing: &#160; go away and sell everything that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:&#160; and take thy [50] cross, and follow me.&#160; And that young man frowned at this word, and went away [51] feeling sad; for he was very rich. &#160; And when Jesus saw his sadness, he looked towards his disciples, and said unto them, How hard it is for them that have possessions to enter the kingdom of God!