Jeremiah’s Complaint

Psalm 91

¹² Therefore do not let sin reign^(A) in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,^(B) but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.^{(C) 14} For sin shall no longer be your master,^(D) because you are not under the law,^(E) but under grace.^(F)

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?^(G) By no means! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey^(H)—whether you are slaves to sin,^(I) which leads to death,^(J) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God^(K) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,^(L) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching^(M) that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin^(N) and have become slaves to righteousness.^(O)

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life^(P) because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness^(Q) leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin,^(R) you were free from the control of righteousness.^{(S) 21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!^{(T) 22} But now that you have been set free from sin^(U) and have become slaves of God,^(V) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^{(W) 23} For the wages of sin is death,^(X) but the gift of God is eternal life^(Y) in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.^(A)

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents^(A) and have them put to death.^{(B) 22} You will be hated by everyone because of me,^(C) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.^{(D) 23} When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.^(E)

²⁴ “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.^{(F) 25} It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul,^(G) how much more the members of his household!

²⁶ “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.^{(H) 27} What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. ²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One^(I) who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.^{[a] 30} And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.^{(J) 31} So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.^(K)

³² “Whoever acknowledges me before others,^(L) I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.^(M)