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42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

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42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”(A)

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10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers,[a] as you still do.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:10 Greek for God’s holy people.

10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.(A)

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40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[a] you were doing it to me!’

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Footnotes

  1. 25:40 Greek my brothers.

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’(A)

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41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.

42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.

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41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.(A)

Causing to Stumble

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,(B) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.(C)

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10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 18:10 Some manuscripts add verse 11, And the Son of Man came to save those who are lost. Compare Luke 19:10.

The Parable of the Wandering Sheep(A)

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels(B) in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

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Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”[a] And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,

“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
    Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”[b]

10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity[c] in you.

11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem[d] will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.

13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift[e] too wonderful for words!

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Footnotes

  1. 9:7 See footnote on Prov 22:8.
  2. 9:9 Ps 112:9.
  3. 9:10 Greek righteousness.
  4. 9:12 Greek of God’s holy people.
  5. 9:15 Greek his gift.

Generosity Encouraged

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.(A) Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,(B) not reluctantly or under compulsion,(C) for God loves a cheerful giver.(D) And God is able(E) to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,(F) you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts(G) to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”[a](H)

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food(I) will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.(J) 11 You will be enriched(K) in every way so that you can be generous(L) on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.(M)

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs(N) of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.(O) 13 Because of the service(P) by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God(Q) for the obedience that accompanies your confession(R) of the gospel of Christ,(S) and for your generosity(T) in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God(U) for his indescribable gift!(V)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9

15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

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15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days(A) of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,(B) not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;(C) 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica,(D) you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.(E) 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.(F) 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus(G) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant(H) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs(I) according to the riches of his glory(J) in Christ Jesus.

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12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

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12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,(A) not according to what one does not have.

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You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time.

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The poor you will always have with you,[a] and you can help them any time you want.(A) But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:7 See Deut. 15:11.

10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer[a] for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers[b] by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.

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Footnotes

  1. 8:11 Greek brother; also in 8:13.
  2. 8:12 Greek brothers.

10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?(A) 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed(B) by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them(C) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.(D) 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.(E)

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35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

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35 But love your enemies, do good to them,(A) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children(B) of the Most High,(C) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

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42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.[a]

43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:42 Greek two lepta, which is a kodrantes [i.e., a quadrans].

42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

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The Scattering of the Sheep

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
    the man who is my partner,”
    says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“Strike down the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered,
    and I will turn against the lambs.

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The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered

“Awake, sword,(A) against my shepherd,(B)
    against the man who is close to me!”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“Strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered,(C)
    and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

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