Selections from “The Diatessaron” by Tatian (vegetarian): Sections 34 – 66, Part 2 of 2

Let us continue with selections from Sections 50 – 66 of the book “The Diatessaron” of Tatian, translated and edited by Reverend Samuel Hemphill, which focuses on the teachings and parables of Lord Jesus on faith and gratitude as well as the miracles He performed.

50. BLESSED IS THE WOMB THAT BARE THEE.

“[A woman in the crowd praises Mother Mary:] Blessed is the womb that carried Thee. [Lord Jesus replies:] Blessed are they who hear the Word of God, and keep it.”

56. MUSTARD SEED, LEAVEN, AND SUMMARY.

“Again the kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard, which is the smallest of all seeds, and if it shall germinate it increases and becomes a tree, and becomes the greatest of all herbs, and the birds of the Heaven come and dwell in its branches. ... to leaven.”

63. JESUS DINES WITH A PHARISEE. ON WASHING, AND TRADITIONS GENERALLY. EVERY PLANT WHICH MY HEAVENLY FATHER HAS NOT PLANTED SHALL BE ROOTED UP.

“God said, Honor thy father and thy mother ... he who curses his father or his mother let him die by death. And ye say to each one of your fathers and your mothers, Come now, that where with thou might have been profited by me, is a gift. Every planting which my heavenly Father has not planted shall be plucked up by the roots.”

66. THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.

“[Lord Jesus asks:] Give me a drink of water. The woman says to Him, Behold Thou are a Jew. He says to her, If thou knew Him who said to thee, Give me of this water to drink, thou would have asked of him. The woman says to Him, Thou have no pitcher, and the well is deep. (He says to her, my water comes down from Heaven.) He who drinks of this water, which I shall give him, shall never thirst. The woman says to Him, Lord give me of that water, that I thirst not, nor come another time to this well, to draw water from it. He says to her, Go call me thy husband. Thou have changed five husbands, and he whom thou now have is not thy husband. The woman says to Him, Lord it seems to me that Thou are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain. He answers her, Verily I say to thee, neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall they worship, but the true worshippers shall worship in spirit and in truth. Behold the Christ comes, and when He shall have come, He shall give us all things. He says to her, I who speak with thee am He. They wondered that He was talking with a woman. Not henceforth on account of thy words do we believe in Him, but because we have heard His teaching, and seen His works, that He is God, and we have recognized that He is surely the very Christ.”