On the Sabbath, after this, Jesus and his disciples went together to the synagogue, and spoke to the people.  They listened to him and were surprised at his teaching; for while the scribes always repeated what other scribes had said before, Jesus never spoke of what the men of old time had taught, but spoke in his own name, and by his own power, saying, “I say unto you,” as one who had the right to speak.  Men felt that Jesus was speaking to them as the voice of God.

On one Sabbath, while Jesus was preaching, a man came into the synagogue who had in him an evil spirit; for sometimes evil spirits came into men, and lived in them and spoke out from them.  The evil spirit in this man cried out, saying: 

“Let us alone, thou Jesus of Nazareth!  What have we to do with thee?  Hast thou come to destroy us?  I know thee; and I know who thou art, the Holy one of God!”

Then Jesus spoke to the evil spirit in the man: 

“Be still; and come out of this man!”

Then the evil spirit threw the man down, and seemed as if he would tear him apart; but he left the man lying on the ground, without harm.

Then wonder fell upon all the people.  They were filled with fear, and said:  “What mighty word is this?  This man speaks even to the evil spirits, and they obey him!”

After the meeting in the synagogue, Jesus went into the house where Simon Peter lived.  There he saw lying upon a bed the mother of Simon’s wife, who was very ill with a burning fever.  He stood over her, and touched her hand.  At once the fever left her; she rose up from her bed and waited upon them.

At sunset, the Sabbath day was over; and then they brought to Jesus from all parts of the city those that were sick, and some that had evil spirits in them.  Jesus laid his hands upon the sick, and they became well; he drove out the evil spirits by a word, and would not allow them to speak.

THE STORY OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Among the Jews there was one class of men hated and despised by the people more than any other.  That was “the publicans.”  These were the men who took from the people the tax which the Roman rulers had laid upon the land.  Many of these publicans were selfish, grasping, and cruel.  They robbed the people, taking more than was right.  Some of them were honest men, dealing fairly, and taking no more for the tax than was needful; but because so many were wicked, all the publicans were hated alike; and they were called “sinners” by the people.

One day, when Jesus was going out of Capernaum, to the seaside, followed by a great crowd of people, he passed a publican, or tax-gatherer, who was seated at his table taking money from the people who came to pay their taxes.  This man was named Matthew, or Levi; for many Jews had two names.  Jesus could look into the hearts of men, and he saw that Matthew was one who might help him as one of his disciples.  He looked upon Matthew, and said: