The Lord’s Answer

¹⁹ The Lord replied^[a] to them:

The Promise of Israel’s Return

¹⁴ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁵ “Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have said of your fellow exiles and all the other Israelites, ‘They are far away from the Lord; this land was given to us as our possession.’^(A)

¹⁶ “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary^(B) for them in the countries where they have gone.’

¹⁷ “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’^(C)

¹⁸ “They will return to it and remove all its vile images^(D) and detestable idols.^{(E) 19} I will give them an undivided heart^(F) and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone^(G) and give them a heart of flesh.^{(H) 20} Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.^(I) They will be my people,^(J) and I will be their God.^(K)

Be Holy

¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,^(A) set your hope^(B) on the grace to be brought to you^(C) when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.^{(D) 14} As obedient^(E) children, do not conform^(F) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.^{(G) 15} But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;^{(H) 16} for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”^[a](I)

¹⁷ Since you call on a Father^(J) who judges each person’s work^(K) impartially,^(L) live out your time as foreigners^(M) here in reverent fear.^{(N) 18} For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(O) from the empty way of life^(P) handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood^(Q) of Christ, a lamb^(R) without blemish or defect.^{(S) 20} He was chosen before the creation of the world,^(T) but was revealed in these last times^(U) for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God,^(V) who raised him from the dead^(W) and glorified him,^(X) and so your faith and hope^(Y) are in God.

²² Now that you have purified^(Z) yourselves by obeying^(AA) the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply,^(AB) from the heart.^{[b] 23} For you have been born again,^(AC) not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,^(AD) through the living and enduring word of God.^{(AE) 24} For,

And this is the word that was preached to you.

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman^(A)(B)

³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,^(C) he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[a] and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet,^(D) but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss,^(E) but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head,^(F) but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”^(G)

⁴⁹ The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you;^(H) go in peace.”^(I)

The Parable of the Sower^(J)

8 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.^(K) The Twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene)^(L) from whom seven demons had come out; ³ Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s^(M) household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.