Murder Begins in the Heart

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder,^[a](A) and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.^{(B) 22} But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister^[b] will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults^[c] his brother or sister will be subject to the court.^[d] Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.^{[e](C) 23} So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

Warnings from Jesus

17 He^(A) said to his disciples, “Offenses will certainly come,^[a] but woe^(B) to the one through whom they come!^{(C) 2} It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble.^{(D) 3} Be^(E) on your guard. If your brother sins,^[b] rebuke^(F) him, and if he repents, forgive^(G) him. ⁴ And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

The Dispute over Greatness

²⁴ Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest.^{(A) 25} But he said to them,^(B) “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called^[a] ‘Benefactors.’ ²⁶ It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest,^(C) and whoever leads, like the one serving. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.^(D)

The Law of Liberty

14 Welcome^(A) anyone who is weak in faith,^(B) but don’t argue about disputed matters. ² One person believes he may eat anything,^(C) while one who is weak eats only vegetables. ³ One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat,^(D) and one who does not eat must not judge one who does,^(E) because God has accepted him.^{(F) 4} Who are you to judge^(G) another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able^[a] to make him stand.

⁵ One person judges one day to be more important than another day.^(H) Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.^{(I) 6} Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord.^[b] Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God;^(J) and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God. ⁷ For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself.^{(K) 8} If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.^{(L) 9} Christ died and returned to life^(M) for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.^{(N) 10} But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.^{[c](O) 11} For it is written,

¹² So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.^(R)

The Law of Love

¹³ Therefore, let us no longer judge one another.^(S) Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.^{(T) 14} I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself.^(U) Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.^{(V) 15} For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love.^(W) Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died.^{(X) 16} Therefore, do not let your good be slandered,^{(Y) 17} for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,^(Z) but righteousness, peace, and joy^(AA) in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Whoever serves Christ^(AB) in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.^(AC)

¹⁹ So then, let us pursue what promotes peace^(AD) and what builds up one another.^{(AE) 20} Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats.^{(AF) 21} It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.^{[e] 22} Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.^{(AG) 23} But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats,^(AH) because his eating is not from faith,^[f] and everything that is not from faith is sin.

¹³ For you were called^(A) to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity^[a] for the flesh, but serve one another through love. ¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled^(B) in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.^{[b](C) 15} But if you bite and devour^(D) one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

Carry One Another’s Burdens

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle^(A) spirit,^[a](B) watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.^{(C) 2} Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.^{(D) 3} For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing,^(E) he deceives himself. ⁴ Let each person examine his own work,^(F) and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. ⁵ For each person will have to carry his own load.

⁶ Let the one who is taught the word share^(G) all his good things with the teacher. ⁷ Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, ⁸ because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit^(H) will reap eternal life^(I) from the Spirit. ⁹ Let us not get tired^(J) of doing good,^(K) for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work^(L) for the good^(M) of all, especially for those who belong to the household^(N) of faith.^(O)

²⁵ Therefore, putting away^(A) lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,^[a](B) because we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin.^[b](C) Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and don’t give the devil an opportunity. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share^(D) with anyone in need. ²⁹ No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,^[c] so that it gives grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit.^(E) You were sealed by him^[d] for the day of redemption.^{(F) 31} Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. ³² And be kind^(G) and compassionate^(H) to one another, forgiving^(I) one another, just as God also forgave you^[e] in Christ.

¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.^(A)

Christian Humility

2 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love,^(A) if any fellowship with the Spirit,^(B) if any affection and mercy,^{(C) 2} make my joy complete by thinking the same way,^(D) having the same love,^(E) united in spirit, intent on one^(F) purpose. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition^(G) or conceit,^(H) but in humility^(I) consider others as more important^(J) than yourselves. ⁴ Everyone should look not to his own interests,^(K) but rather to the interests of others.^(L)

Christ’s Humility and Exaltation

⁵ Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

Lights in the World

¹² Therefore, my dear friends,^(X) just as you have always obeyed,^(Y) so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. ¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling^(Z) and arguing,^{(AA) 15} so that you may be blameless^(AB) and pure,^(AC) children of God who are faultless^(AD) in a crooked^(AE) and perverted^(AF) generation,^(AG) among whom you shine like stars in the world, ¹⁶ by holding firm to the word^(AH) of life. Then I can boast^(AI) in the day of Christ^(AJ) that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. ¹⁷ But even if I am poured out^(AK) as a drink offering^(AL) on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸ In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.