Paul’s Use of His Freedom

¹⁹ Though I am free^(A) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,^(B) to win as many as possible.^{(C) 20} To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.^(D) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),^(E) so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law^(F) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),^(G) so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.^(H) I have become all things to all people^(I) so that by all possible means I might save some.^(J)

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes^(A)

He said:

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you,^(M) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.^{(N) 12} Rejoice and be glad,^(O) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(P)

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel,^(A) because it is the power of God^(B) that brings salvation to everyone who believes:^(C) first to the Jew,^(D) then to the Gentile.^(E)

¹³ I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,^(A) I take pride in my ministry ¹⁴ in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy^(B) and save^(C) some of them.