NON-CANONICAL GOSPELS
30
1
[And Jesus said]2 to the lawyers: “[Punish] every wrong-doer and [transgressor], but not me. [For that one does not consider] how he does what he does.” Then he turned to the rulers of the people and spoke this word: “Search the Scriptures, for you think that in them you have life. They are the ones that testify concerning me. Do not think that I came to accuse you to my Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have hoped.” They replied, “We know full well that God spoke to Moses. But we do not know where you have come from.” Jesus answered them, “Now what stands accused is your failure to believe his testimonies. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me. For that one wrote to your fathers concerning me. . . .”
2
. . . to the crowd . . . stones to gether so that they might stone him. And the rulers were trying to lay their hands on him, that they might arrest him and deliver him over to the crowd. And they were unable to arrest him be cause the hour for him to be delivered over had not yet come. But the Lord himself went out through their midst and left them. And behold, a leper approached him and said, “Teacher Jesus, while I was traveling with some lepers and eating with them at the inn, I myself contracted leprosy. If, then, you are willing, I will be made clean.” Then the Lord said to him, I am will-
ing: Be clean.” And immediately the lep rosy left him. And Jesus said to him, “Go, show yourself to the priests and make an offering for your cleansing as Moses commanded; and sin no more. . . .”
3
. . . [they came] to him and began rigorously testing him, saying, “Teacher Jesus, we know that you have come from God. For the things you do give a testimony that is beyond all the prophets. And so, tell us: is it right to pay the kings the things that relate to their rule? Shall we pay them or not?” But when Jesus understood their thought he became incensed and said to them, “Why do you call me teacher with your mouth, when you do not listen to what I say? Well did Isaiah prophecy about you, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far removed from me. In vain do they worship me, commandments. . . . ’ ”3
4
“ . . . hidden away in a secret place . . . placed underneath in secret . . . its weight beyond measure.” . . . And while they were puzzling over his strange question, Jesus walked and stood on the banks of the Jordan river; he reached out his right hand, and filled it. . . . And he sowed it on the . . . And then . . . water . . . and . . . before their eyes; and it brought forth fruit . . . many . . . for joy . . .
2
Less certain restorations of the text are enclosed in square brackets. 3Isa. 29:13.