Thomas Jefferson

“ To the corruptions of christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian in the only sense in which he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing to himself every human excellence, and believing he never claimed any other. ”

“ Why go ye about to kill me?
17 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
18 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
19 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
20 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? ”

“ I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
21 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
22 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
23 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. ”

“ But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
14 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
15 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
16 ¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
17 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ”

“ And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely; for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. ”

“ His moral doctrines, relating to kindred and friends, were more pure and perfect than those of the most correct of the philosophers, and greatly more so than those of the Jews; and they went far beyond both in inculcating universal philanthrophy, not only to kindred and friends, to neighbors and countrymen, but to all mankind, gathering all into one family, under the bonds of love, charity, peace, common wants and common aids. A development of this head will evince the peculiar superiority of the system of Jesus over all others. ”

“ In a comparative view of the ethics of the enlightened nations of antiquity, of the Jews, and of Jesus, no notice should be taken of the corruptions of reason among the ancients, to wit, the idolatry and superstition of the vulgar, nor of the corruptions of Christianity by the learned among its professors. Let a just view be taken of the moral principles inculcated by the most esteemed of the sects of ancient philosophy, or of their individuals; particularly Pythagoras, Socrates, Epicurus, Cicero, Epictetus, Seneca, Antoninus. ”

“ Precepts, Pride, Hypocrisy, Swearing.
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. ”

“ Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard.
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them: Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. ”

“ A Prophet Hath no Honor in his Own Country.
And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
2 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
3 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
4 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? ”

“ Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
16 ¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. ”

“ For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
67 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
68 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
69 ¶ Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. ”

“ What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
12 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
13 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
14 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. ”

“ I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
16 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
17 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
18 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
19 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. ”

“ And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
30 ¶ Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
31 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
32 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ”

“ And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son;
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding; and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Beheld, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. ”

“ It is known to my God and myself alone. Its evidence before the world is to be sought in my life; if that has been honest and dutiful to society, the religion which has regulated it cannot be a bad one. ”

“ And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 ¶ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
36 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
37 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
38 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ”

“ And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
8 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will lie not lay hold on if, and lift it out?
9 How much then is a man better than a sheep? ”

“ And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.
6 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
7 ¶ And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
8 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. ”

“ A Woman Annointeth Him.
And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.
2 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
3 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. ”

“ Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
XXXIV.
Form of Prayer.
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. ”

“ The Feast of the Tabernacles.
Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
2 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
3 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
4 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
5 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
6 The world cannot hate you ”

“ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day:
2 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
3 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
4 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; the rich man also died, and was buried;
5 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. ”

“ Judas Conducts the Officers to Jesus.
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. ”

“ Parables of the Widow and Judge, the Pharisee and Publican.
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. ”

“ Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
2 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. ”

“ Notwithstanding these disadvantages, a system of morals is presented to us which, if filled up in the true style and spirit of the rich fragments he left us, would be the most perfect and sublime that has ever been taught by man. ”

“ It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself to resist invasions of it in the case of others, or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own. It behooves him, too, in his own case, to give no example of concession, betraying the right of independent opinion by answering questions of faith, which the laws have left between God and himself. ”

“ But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
2 ¶ And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
3 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
4 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ”

“ It is a document in proof that I am a Real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus, very different from the Platonists, who call me infidel and themselves Christians and preachers of the Gospel, while they draw all their characteristic dogmas from what its author never said nor saw. They have compounded from the heathen mysteries a system beyond the comprehension of man, of which the great reformer of the vicious ethics and deism of the Jews, were he to return on earth, would not recognize one feature.—Jefferson to Mr. ”

“ Goes to Jerusalem and Bethany.
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. ”