²⁸ “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.^{(A) 29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,^(B) because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.^{(C) 30} For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Take Up Your Cross

²³ Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after^[a] me, let him deny himself,^(A) take up his cross daily,^[b] and follow me.^(B)

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(A) the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes,^(B) and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. ³ You are already clean^(C) because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.^{(D) 5} I am the vine; ^(E) you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit,^(F) because you can do nothing without me. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside^(G) like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire,^(H) and they are burned.^{(I) 7} If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.^{(J) 8} My Father is glorified^(K) by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be^[a] my disciples.

Christlike Love

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.^{(L) 10} If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.^(M)

¹¹ “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.^(N)

Living the New Life

¹⁷ Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because^[a] of the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity^(A) with a desire for more and more.^[b]

²⁰ But that is not how you came to know Christ, ²¹ assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth^(B) is in Jesus, ²² to take off^[c](C) your former way of life,^(D) the old self^(E) that is corrupted by deceitful desires, ²³ to be renewed^[d] in the spirit^(F) of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on^[e](G) the new self, the one created^(H) according to God’s likeness^(I) in righteousness and purity of the truth.

Prayer for Spiritual Growth

⁹ For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking^(A) that you may be filled with the knowledge^(B) of his will^(C) in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,^{[a] 10} so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work^(D) and growing in the knowledge of God,^{(E) 11} being strengthened^(F) with all power,^(G) according to his glorious^(H) might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you^[b] to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.^{(I) 13} He has rescued^(J) us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom^(K) of the Son^(L) he loves.^{(M) 14} In him we have redemption,^[c] the forgiveness of sins.

⁴ For everything created by God is good,^(A) and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,^{(B) 5} since it is sanctified by the word of God^(C) and by prayer.

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ

⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith^(D) and the good teaching that you have followed.^{(E) 7} But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths.^(F) Rather, train yourself in godliness.^{(G) 8} For the training of the body has limited benefit,^(H) but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.^{(I) 9} This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.^{(J) 10} For this reason we labor and strive,^[a] because we have put our hope in the living God,^(K) who is the Savior^(L) of all people,^(M) especially of those who believe.

Instructions for Ministry

¹¹ Command and teach these things. ¹² Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech,^(N) in conduct,^(O) in love,^[b](P) in faith, and in purity.^{(Q) 13} Until I come,^(R) give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. ¹⁴ Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy,^(S) with the laying on of hands^(T) by the council of elders. ¹⁵ Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. ¹⁶ Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save^(U) both yourself and your hearers.^(V)