The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 129
Humility Before God and Simon the Leper
'Shall the axe, perchance, boast itself at having cut down the forest where a man hath made a garden? Nay, assuredly, for the man hath done all, yea and [made] the axe, with his hands.'
'And thou, O man, shalt thou boast thyself of having done aught that is good, seeing our God created thee of clay and worketh in thee all good that is wrought?'
'And wherefore despisest thou thy neighbour? Knowest thou not that if God had not preserved thee from Satan thou wouldst be worse than Satan?'
'Now knowest thou not that one single sin changed the fairest angel into the most repulsive demon? And that the most perfect man that hath come into the world, which was Adam, it changed into a wretched being, subjecting him to what we suffer, together with all his offspring? What decree, then, hast thou, in virtue whereof thou mayest live at thine own pleasure without any fear: Woe unto thee, O clay, for because thou hast exalted thyself above God who created thee thou shalt be abased beneath the feet of Satan who layeth wait for thee.'
And having said this, Jesus prayed, lifting up his hands to the Lord, and the people said: 'So be it! So be it!' When he had finished his prayer he descended from the pinnacle. Whereupon there were brought unto him many sick folk whom he made whole, and he departed from the temple. Thereupon Simon, a leper whom Jesus had cleansed, invited him to eat bread.
The priests and scribes, who hated Jesus, reported to the Roman soldiers that which Jesus had said against their gods. For indeed they were seeking how to kill him, but found it not, because they feared the people.
Jesus, having entered the house of Simon, sat down to the table. And while he was eating, behold a woman named Mary, a public sinner, entered into the house, and flung herself upon the ground behind Jesus' feet, and washed them with her tears, anointed them with precious ointment, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Simon was scandalized, with all that sat at meat, and they said in their hearts: 'If this man were a prophet he would know who and of what sort is this woman, and would not suffer her to touch him.'
Then said Jesus: 'Simon, I have a thing to say to thee.'
Simon answered: 'Speak, O Master, for I desire thy word.'
'Will an axe perhaps boast that it cut down the forest where a man has made a garden? Certainly not, for the man did everything—even making the axe with his own hands.'
'And will you, O man, boast of having done anything good, when our God created you from clay and works within you every good thing that is done?'
'Why, then, do you despise your neighbor? Do you not know that if God had not preserved you from Satan you would be worse than Satan?'
'Do you not know that a single sin changed the most beautiful angel into the most repulsive demon? And that sin changed Adam, the most perfect man ever to enter the world, into a wretched being and subjected him and all his descendants to everything we suffer? What grounds, then, do you have for living as you please without fear? Woe to you, O clay! Because you have exalted yourself above God who created you, you will be brought low beneath the feet of Satan, who lies in wait for you.'
After saying this, Jesus raised his hands to the Lord and prayed, and the people said, 'Amen! Amen!' When he had finished praying, he came down from the high place. Many sick people were then brought to him, and he healed them before leaving the temple. Simon, a leper whom Jesus had cleansed, invited him to eat bread.
The priests and scribes, who hated Jesus, reported to the Roman soldiers what Jesus had said against their gods. They were indeed seeking a way to kill him, but could not find one because they feared the people.
Jesus entered Simon's house and sat at the table. While he was eating, a woman named Mary, known publicly as a sinner, entered the house. She threw herself on the ground behind Jesus' feet, washed them with her tears, anointed them with precious ointment, and wiped them with her hair. Simon and all who sat at the meal were scandalized and said in their hearts, 'If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman is touching him, and would not allow her to do so.'
Then Jesus said: 'Simon, I have a thing to say to you.'
Simon answered: 'Speak, O Master, for I desire your word.'
'Shall the axe, perchance, boast itself at having cut down the forest where a man hath made a garden? Nay, assuredly, for the man hath done all, yea and [made] the axe, with his hands.'
'And thou, O man, shalt thou boast thyself of having done aught that is good, seeing our God created thee of clay and worketh in thee all good that is wrought?'
'And wherefore despisest thou thy neighbour? Knowest thou not that if God had not preserved thee from Satan thou wouldst be worse than Satan?'
'Now knowest thou not that one single sin changed the fairest angel into the most repulsive demon? And that the most perfect man that hath come into the world, which was Adam, it changed into a wretched being, subjecting him to what we suffer, together with all his offspring? What decree, then, hast thou, in virtue whereof thou mayest live at thine own pleasure without any fear: Woe unto thee, O clay, for because thou hast exalted thyself above God who created thee thou shalt be abased beneath the feet of Satan who layeth wait for thee.'
And having said this, Jesus prayed, lifting up his hands to the Lord, and the people said: 'So be it! So be it!' When he had finished his prayer he descended from the pinnacle. Whereupon there were brought unto him many sick folk whom he made whole, and he departed from the temple. Thereupon Simon, a leper whom Jesus had cleansed, invited him to eat bread.
The priests and scribes, who hated Jesus, reported to the Roman soldiers that which Jesus had said against their gods. For indeed they were seeking how to kill him, but found it not, because they feared the people.
Jesus, having entered the house of Simon, sat down to the table. And while he was eating, behold a woman named Mary, a public sinner, entered into the house, and flung herself upon the ground behind Jesus' feet, and washed them with her tears, anointed them with precious ointment, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Simon was scandalized, with all that sat at meat, and they said in their hearts: 'If this man were a prophet he would know who and of what sort is this woman, and would not suffer her to touch him.'
Then said Jesus: 'Simon, I have a thing to say to thee.'
Simon answered: 'Speak, O Master, for I desire thy word.'