Read the Gospels in 40 Days
25 Then the Malchut HaShomayim will be compared to ten alamot (young unmarried virgins), who, having taken their menorahs, went out to meet the Choson (Bridegroom).
2 Now five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3 When the foolish took their menorahs, they neglected to take shemen (oil).
4 But the wise took shemen in containers with their menorahs.
5 Now the Choson, being delayed, here is what happened: all the alamot became drowsy and were sleeping.
6 And at chatsot halailah (midnight) there was a shout, Hinei! The Choson (Bridegroom)! Go out to meet him!
7 Then all the ten alamot awakened and they trimmed their menorahs.
8 But the foolish said to the wise, Give us from your shemen (oil), for our menorahs are going out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Perhaps there might not be enough for us and for you. Instead, you go to the ones selling and buy for yourselves.
10 And as they were going away to buy, the Bias of the Choson (Bridegroom) occurred! The ones prepared entered with him into the Chasunoh (Wedding) feast and the door was shut.
11 And later, here comes also the other alamot, saying, Adoneinu, Adoneinu, open the door for us.
12 But he, in reply, said, Omein, I say to you, I do not know you.
13 Be shomer, be on the alert, therefore, for you do not have daas of the Yom or the Shaah (hour, time).
14 For it is as a man going on a journey, who called to his own avadim (slaves) and handed over to them his possessions.
15 And to this one, he gave five talents, and to this one, two, and to this one, one, each according to his own ability. Then the man went on his journey. Immediately
16 After the man had gone, the one having received the five talents, went to work with them, and gained five others.
17 Likewise, the one having received the two talents, this one gained two others.
18 But the one, having received one, went out and dug a hole in the ground and buried the gelt (money) of his Adon in a hiding place.
19 And after much time, here comes the Adon of those servants. And he conducts a settling of accounts with them.
20 Then the one who had received five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, Adoni, five talents you gave me. Hinei! Five more talents I gained.
21 And his Adon said to him, Shkoyach (well done), eved tov vneeman (good and faithful servant)! A few things you were faithful over, over many things I will ordain you. Enter into the simchah of your Adon.
22 And having come forward, the one having received two talents, said, You bestowed upon me two talents. Hinei! Two more talents I gained.
23 His Adon said to him, Shkoyach (well done), eved tov vneeman! A few things you were faithful over, over many things I will ordain you. Enter into the simcha of your Adon.
24 And also the one who had received one talent stepped forward. He said, Adoni, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering from that which you did not scatter seed.
25 And having been afraid and having gone away, I hid your talent by burying it in the ground. Here, see, you have that which belongs to you.
26 And, in reply, his Adon said to him, You farbissener (mean) eved rah vatzel (wicked and lazy slave), so you had daas that I reap where I did not sow and I gather from which I did not scatter seed?
27 Then why was it not necessary for you to deposit my gelt with the bankers, and having returned, I would have received back that which was mine with interest?
28 Take, therefore, from him the talent and give it to the one having the ten talents.
29 For to every one having, it will be given and he will have abundance; but from the one not having, even what he has will be taken from him.
30 And as for the useless slave, throw him into the outer choshech, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
31 And when the Ben Adam (Daniel 7:13) comes, in his kavod and all his malachim with him, then he will sit upon his Kissei Kavod (Glorious Throne).
32 And there will be assembled all the Goyim, and he will separate them from each other as the Roeh (the Shepherd) separates the Kevasim (Sheep) from the Izzim (Goats).
33 And he will put the Kevasim on the right of him, but the Izzim on his left.
34 Then he will say to the ones on his right, Come! Baruchei Avi (Blessed of my Father), receive the bechorah (inheritance), the Malchut prepared for you from before Hivvased HaOlam (the establishing of the world).
35 For I hungered and you gave me something to eat. I thirsted and you gave drink to me. I was a sojourner, and you extended hachnosas orchim (hospitality) to me.
36 I was naked and you gave me malbish arumim (clothing the naked). I was ill; with bikkur cholim (visiting the sick) you ministered to me. I was in the beit hasohar (prison); you came to me.
37 Then the tzaddikim will answer him, [Moshiach] Adoneinu, when did we see you hungering and we fed you, or thirsting and we gave you drink?
38 And when did we see you a sojourner and we extended hachnosas orchim (hospitality) to you, or naked and we clothed you?
39 And when did we see you ill or in the beit hasohar and we came to you?
40 And in reply, HaMelech [HaMoshiach] will say to them, Omein, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these achim of mine, you did it to me.
41 Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach will say also to the ones on his left, Depart from me, the ones having been cursed, into the Eish Olam having been prepared for HaSatan and his malachim.
42 For I hungered and you did not give me something to eat; I thirsted and you did not give drink to me.
43 I was a sojourner and you did not extend hachnosas orchim to me; I was naked and you did not clothe me; ill and in the beit hasohar and you did not visit me.
44 Then, also they will answer, saying, [Moshiach] Adoneinu, when did we see you hungering or thirsting or a sojourner or naked or sick or in the beit hasohar and we did not minister to you?
45 Then he will answer them, saying, Omein, I say to you, in as much as you did not do it for one of these least ones, neither did you do it for me.
46 And these will go away into Onesh Olam (Eternal Punishment), but the tzaddikim into Chayyei Olam (Eternal Life). YESHAYAYAH 66:24; DANIEL 12:2]
26 And it came about when Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach completed all these divrei torah, he said to his talmidim,
2 You know, that after two days, there is Pesach, and the Ben HaAdam is handed over for talui al HaEtz (DEVARIM 21:23; DANIEL 7:13).
3 Then the Rashei Hakohanim and the Ziknei haAm (Elders of the People) were assembled in the courtyard of the residence of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), the one being called Caiapha.
4 And they planned to arrest Yeshoshua by a trap and kill him.
5 But they were saying, Not during the Chag (Feast), lest a riot break out among the am haaretz. [T.N. A careful reading of this book shows that the Moshiach pointed to the One in Ps 110:1, Dan 7:13, and Isa 53 and Ps 118:22 and declared that the same person is being referred to in all these Scriptures: Moshiach Adoneinu.]
6 And, while Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was in Beit-Anyah in the bais of Shimon the leper,
7 An isha approached him with an alabaster flask of costly perfume, and she poured it out on Moshiach’s rosh, as he sat bimesibba (reclining at tish [table]).
8 And having seen this, Moshiach’s talmidim were angry, saying, For what is this waste?
9 For it would have been possible to sell this for a generous sum and give to the aniyim (poor ones).
10 Aware of this, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, Why are you bringing about difficulty for the isha for the ma’aseh tov (good deed) she does to me.
11 For the aniyim you have with you always, but you do not always have me.
12 For this isha (woman) has poured this ointment on my basar (body) in order to prepare me for kevurah (burial). [Isa 53:9 Ps 16:9-10]
13 Omein, I say to you, wherever this Besuras HaGeulah is preached bchol HaOlam (in all the world), in her memory it will be spoken also what was done by her.
14 Then, one of the Shneym Asar (Twelve), Yehudah from Kriot, went to the Rashei Hakohanim
15 and said, What are you willing to give me? And I will hand him over to you. And they weighed out for him sheloshim shiklei kesef (thirty pieces of silver).
16 And from then on he was seeking an opportunity that he might hand Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach over.
17 But at the onset of Chag HaMatzot, Moshiach’s talmidim approached him, saying, Where do you wish we should prepare for you your Seder?
18 And he said, Go into the city to such and such person and say to him, Our Rebbe says, My time is at hand. With you I am observing Pesach with my talmidim.
19 And the talmidim did as Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach commanded them, and they prepared the Seder.
20 When erev came, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was sitting bimesibba (reclining) at tish with the Shneym Asar Talmidim.
21 And as they were eating with their Rebbe, he said, Omein, I say to you that one of you will be my betrayer.
22 And much distressed, each one began to say to him, Surely I am not the one, Adoni?
23 But, in reply, he said, The one having dipped the hand into the bowl [SHEMOT 12:8] with me, this one is my betrayer.
24 Indeed the Ben Adam [Moshiach] goes as it was written concerning him, but oy to that man through whom the Ben HaAdam is betrayed. It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.
25 And, in reply, Yehudah the betrayer of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, said, Surely I am not the one, Rabbi? Moshiach says to Yehudah, You have said it.
26 And at the Seudah, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, having taken matzah, having made HaMotzi, he broke the [middle] matzah, giving the afikoman to the talmidim, and said, Take and eat, this is my basar.
27 And having taken the Cup of Redemption and having made the bracha, he gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you.
28 For this is my [Moshiach’s, see Isa 53:7-8] Dahm HaBrit HaChadasha [Isa 42:6; Jer 31:31-34], which is poured out LARABBIM (for many YESHAYAH 53:11-12) for the selicha (forgiveness) of chattaim (sins).
29 And I say to you, I will by no means drink from now on of this pri hagefen (fruit of the vine) until that Day when I drink it with you chadash (new) in the Malchut Avi.
30 And having sung the Hallel, they went out to the Har HaZeytim.
31 Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, All of you will be offended at me [Moshiach] during this night, for it has been written, HACH ES HAROEH UTEFUTSEN HATSON (Strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered ZECHARYAH 13:7).
32 But after I undergo Techiyas HaMoshiach I will go ahead of you to the Galil. [Mt 28:7]
33 And, in reply, Kefa said to him, If everyone will be offended at you, I never will be offended.
34 He said to him, Omein, I say to you that balailah hazeh (during this night), before a tarnegol (cock) crows, you will make hakhchashah (denial) of me [as Moshiach] shalosh paamim (three times).
35 Kefa says to him, Even if it is necessary for me to die al kiddush ha-Shem with you, by no means will I deny you. Likewise all the talmidim spoke also.
36 Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach comes with them to a place being called Gat-Shmanim, and Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to the talmidim, Sit here until I go over there and daven.
37 And having taken Kefa and the two sons of Zavdai, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach began to be sorrowful and distressed with agmat nefesh (grief).
38 Then he says to them, My nefesh is deadly grieved, even to the point of mavet. Remain here and stay awake with me.
39 And having gone forward a short distance, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach fell upon his face, davening and saying, Avi, if it is possible, let this Kos pass from me. But not as I will, but as you will (Mt 6:10; 12:50).
40 Then he comes to the talmidim and finds them sleeping, and he says to Kefa, So were you not strong enough to be awake for one hour with me?
41 Stay awake and offer tefillos, lest you enter lidey nisayon (Mt 6:13). Indeed the ruach is willing but the basar is weak.
42 Again, for a second time, having left, he davened, saying, Avi, if it is not possible for this to pass by except I drink it, let yeaseh rtzonechah (your will be done). [Mt 6:10]
43 And having come again, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach found the talmidim sleeping, for their eyes were too heavy to stay open.
44 And having left them again and having gone away, he was davening for the shlishit (third) time, saying the same words.
45 Then he comes to the talmidim and says to them, Sleep on now and take your rest. Hinei! The hour is at hand, and the Ben HaAdam Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach is being betrayed into the hands of choteim (sinners).
46 Arise, and let us go. Hinei! My betrayer has drawn near.
47 And while he was still speaking hinei! Yehudah, one of the Shneym Asar, came and with him came a great multitude with swords and clubs from the Rashei Hakohanim (Chief Priests) and the Ziknei HaAm (the Elders of the People).
48 Now the betrayer had given them a signal, saying, Whomever I may give the neshikah (kiss), he is the one. Chap (grab) him!
49 And immediately, he approached Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, and said, Shalom, Rebbe. And he gave him the neshikah.
50 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to him, Chaver, do what you came for. Then, having approached, they laid hands on Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and arrested him.
51 And hinei! One of the ones with him stretched out his hand, drew his cherev, and struck the servant of the Kohen Gadol, cutting off his ear.
52 Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, Return your cherev into its place; for all who take the sword will die by the sword.
53 Or do you think that I am not able to call upon Avi, and He will provide me now more than Shneym Asar legions of malachim?
54 But how then may the Kitvei Hakodesh be fulfilled that say it must happen thus?
55 At that moment, he said to the crowd, Do you have the chutzpah (nerve) to come out, as against a revolutionary, with swords and clubs to arrest me? Daily in the Beis Hamikdash I was sitting saying my shiurim and you did not arrest me.
56 But this all happened that the Kitvei Hakodesh of the Neviim might be fulfilled. Then the talmidim deserted Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and fled.
57 But the ones having arrested Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach led him away to Caiapha the Kohen Gadol, where the Sofrim and the Zekenim (Elders) were gathered together.
58 And Kefa was following Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach from far away. He followed him as far as the courtyard of the Kohen Gadol and, having gone inside it, Kefa was sitting down with the servants to see the maskana (outcome).
59 And the Rashei Hakohanim and the Sanhedrin all were seeking edut sheker (false testimony of false witnesses) against Yehoshua so that they might put him to death.
60 And they found none, though many shakranim (liars) came forward. At last, two came forward
61 and said, This one said, I am able to bring about a churban (destruction) of the Beis Hamikdash of Hashem and within shloshah yamim to rebuild it.
62 And having got up, the Kohen Gadol said to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Do you answer nothing? For what do these men give edut (testimony) against you?
63 But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was silent. And the Kohen Gadol said to him, I adjure you by Hashem, Elohim Chayyim, to tell us if you are the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Ben HaElohim.
64 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, You said it. But I say to you, From now on you will see the Ben HaAdam [Moshiach] sitting at the right hand of Gevurah (Power) and his Bias (Coming) will be with ANENEI HASHOMAYIM (clouds of Heaven, DANIEL 7:13-14).
65 Then the Kohen Gadol made the keriah (rending, tearing of his garments), saying, He has committed Chillul Hashem. What further need do we have of edut? Hinei! Now you have heard the Chillul Hashem.
66 What does it seem to you? And, in reply, they said, He is deserving of mishpat mavet, the death penalty.
67 Then they spat into his face and they struck him and they slapped him,
68 saying, Give us a dvar nevuah, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach. Who is the one who hit you?
69 Now Kefa was sitting outside in the courtyard. And one maid approached Kefa, saying, And you were with Yehoshua of the Galil!
70 But Kefa denied it before everyone, saying, I do not have daas of what you are saying.
71 And having gone out to the gate, another saw Kefa and says to the bystanders, There! This one was with Yehoshua of Natzeret!
72 And again Kefa denied it with a shevuah (oath), I do not know the man!
73 And after a little while the bystanders came and said to Kefa, Truly also you are one of them, for even your accent gives you away!
74 Then Kefa began to curse and swear, I do not know the man! And immediately a tarnegol (cock) crowed.
75 And Kefa remembered the word which Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach had said: Before a tarnegol (cock) crows you will deny me shalosh paamim (three times). And Kefa went out and wept bitterly. [T.N. Read the letters of this Kefa on p. 1104-1112, both attested by early Kehillah tradition or manuscript evidence.]
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