¹⁴ Now we ^[a]exhort you, brethren, ^(A)warn those who are ^[b]unruly, ^(B)comfort the fainthearted, ^(C)uphold the weak, ^(D)be patient with all. ^15 (E)See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always ^(F)pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

^16 (G)Rejoice always, ^17 (H)pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

^19 (I)Do not quench the Spirit. ^20 (J)Do not despise prophecies. ^21 (K)Test all things; ^(L)hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

Blessing and Admonition

²³ Now may ^(M)the God of peace Himself ^(N)sanctify^[c] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body ^(O)be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew the Tax Collector^(A)

^9 (B)As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

^10 (C)Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. ¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with ^(D)tax collectors and ^(E)sinners?”

¹² When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ^(F)‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, ^(G)but sinners, ^[a]to repentance.”