Sennacherib Boasts Against the Lord^(A)

¹⁷ Then the king of Assyria sent the ^[a]Tartan, the ^[b]Rabsaris, and the ^[c]Rabshakeh from Lachish, with a great army against Jerusalem, to King Hezekiah. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they went and stood by the ^(B)aqueduct from the upper pool, ^(C)which was on the highway to the Fuller’s Field. ¹⁸ And when they had called to the king, ^(D)Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the ^[d]scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them. ¹⁹ Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: ^(E)“What confidence is this in which you trust? ²⁰ You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are ^[e]mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me? ^21 (F)Now look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. ²² But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ is it not He ^(G)whose ^[f]high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?” ’

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth^(A)

¹⁶ So He came to ^(B)Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, ^(C)He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. ¹⁷ And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

²⁰ Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. ²¹ And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is ^(F)fulfilled in your hearing.” ²² So all bore witness to Him, and ^(G)marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, ^(H)“Is this not Joseph’s son?”

²³ He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in ^(I)Capernaum,^[c] do also here in ^(J)Your country.’ ” ²⁴ Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no ^(K)prophet is accepted in his own country. ²⁵ But I tell you truly, ^(L)many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; ²⁶ but to none of them was Elijah sent except to ^[d]Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. ^27 (M)And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

²⁸ So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were ^(N)filled with ^[e]wrath, ^29 (O)and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. ³⁰ Then ^(P)passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Bear and Share Burdens

6 Brethren, if a man is ^[a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of ^(A)gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ^2 (B)Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill ^(C)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(D)if anyone thinks himself to be something, when ^(E)he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But ^(F)let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and ^(G)not in another. ⁵ For ^(H)each one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

^6 (I)Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for ^(J)whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap ^(K)everlasting life. ⁹ And ^(L)let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap ^(M)if we do not lose heart. ^10 (N)Therefore, as we have opportunity, ^(O)let us do good to all, ^(P)especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Glory Only in the Cross

¹¹ See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! ¹² As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, ^(Q)only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But God forbid that I should boast except in the ^(R)cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by ^[b]whom the world has been crucified to me, and ^(S)I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(T)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Blessing and a Plea

¹⁶ And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁸ Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.