⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:^(A)

The Parable of the Great Banquet^(A)

¹⁵ When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast^(B) in the kingdom of God.”^(C)

¹⁶ Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

¹⁸ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

²⁰ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

²¹ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’^(D)

²² “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

²³ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”^(E)

² Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal^(A) of the living God.^(B) He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:^{(C) 3} “Do not harm^(D) the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads^(E) of the servants of our God.” ⁴ Then I heard the number^(F) of those who were sealed: 144,000^(G) from all the tribes of Israel.

The Great Multitude in White Robes

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,^(A) standing before the throne^(B) and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes^(C) and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders^(F) and the four living creatures.^(G) They fell down on their faces^(H) before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying:

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes^(J)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes^(K) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.^{(L) 15} Therefore,

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes^(A)

He said:

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you,^(M) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.^{(N) 12} Rejoice and be glad,^(O) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(P)

Psalm 149

¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[a] having been predestined^(A) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose^(B) of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.^{(C) 13} And you also were included in Christ^(D) when you heard the message of truth,^(E) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^(F) the promised Holy Spirit,^{(G) 14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^(H) until the redemption^(I) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.^(J)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus^(K) and your love for all God’s people,^{(L) 16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you,^(M) remembering you in my prayers.^{(N) 17} I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^(O) may give you the Spirit^[b] of wisdom^(P) and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened^(Q) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called^(R) you, the riches^(S) of his glorious inheritance^(T) in his holy people,^{(U) 19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power^(V) is the same as the mighty strength^{(W) 20} he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead^(X) and seated him at his right hand^(Y) in the heavenly realms,^{(Z) 21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,^(AA) and every name^(AB) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.^{(AC) 22} And God placed all things under his feet^(AD) and appointed him to be head^(AE) over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body,^(AF) the fullness of him^(AG) who fills everything in every way.^(AH)