24 If he can free the country of the plague, and drive the unclean spirits out, he is a man of such transcendent power that he can devastate our land at will. 25 And then they came and prayed that he would not remain in Gadara. 26 And Jesus did not tarry longer there, and with the other masters and the twelve, he went aboard the boats to go away. 27 The man who had been rescued from the unclean legion stood upon the shore and said, Lord, let me go with you. 28 But Jesus said, It is not well; go forth unto your home and tell the news that men may know what man can do when he is tuned with God. 29 And then the man went forth through all Decapolis and told the news. 30 The Christines sailed away, re-crossed the sea and came again into Capernaum. CHAPTER 119. _The people of Capernaum welcome Jesus. Matthew gives a feast. The Pharisees rebuke Jesus for eating with sinners. He tells them that he is sent to save sinners. He gives lessons on fasting and on the philosophy of good and evil._ The news soon spread through all the land that Jesus was at home and then the people came in throngs to welcome him. 2 And Matthew, one of the twelve, a man of wealth, whose home was in Capernaum, spread forth a sumptuous feast, and Jesus and the foreign masters and the twelve, and people of all shades of thought, were guests. 3 And when the Pharisees observed that Jesus sat and ate with publicans and those of ill repute they said, 4 For shame! This man who claims to be a man of God, consorts with publicans and courtesans and with the common herd of men, For shame! 5 When Jesus knew their thoughts he said, They who are well cannot be healed; the pure need not be saved. 6 They who are well are whole; they who are pure are saved. 7 They who love justice and do right need not repent; I came not unto them, but to the sinner I am come. 8 A band of John’s disciples who had heard that John was dead were wearing badges for their dead; 9 Were fasting and were praying in their hearts, which when the Pharisees observed they came to Jesus and they said, 10 Why fast the followers of John and your disciples do not fast? 11 And Jesus said, Lo, you are masters of the law; you ought to know; perhaps you will make known your knowledge to these men. 12 What are the benefits derived from fasts? The Pharisees were mute; they answered not. 13 Then Jesus said, The vital force of men depends on what they eat and drink. 14 Is spirit-life the stronger when the vital force is weak? Is sainthood reached by starving, self imposed? 15 A glutton is a sinner in the sight of God, and he is not a saint who makes himself a weakling and unfitted for the heavy tasks of life by scorning to make use of God’s own means of strength. 16 Lo, John is dead, and his devoted followers are fasting in their grief.