Psalm 26

Prayer for Vindication

Of David.

Take Up Your Cross

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.^{(A) 25} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.^{(B) 26} For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?^{(C) 27} For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father,^(D) and then he will reward each according to what he has done. ²⁸ Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”^(E)

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

⁸ But in the past, since you didn’t know God,^(A) you were enslaved to things^[a] that by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now, since you know God,^(B) or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless^(C) elements?^(D) Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? ¹⁰ You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years.^{(E) 11} I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.

¹² I beg you, brothers and sisters: Become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have not wronged me; ¹³ you know^[b] that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a weakness of the flesh. ¹⁴ You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you.^[c] On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.

¹⁵ Where, then, is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ So then, have I become your enemy because I told you the truth?^{(F) 17} They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them. ¹⁸ But it is always good to be pursued^[d] in a good manner—and not just when I am with you. ¹⁹ My children,^(G) I am again suffering labor pains^(H) for you until Christ is formed in you. ²⁰ I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.

Sarah and Hagar: Two Covenants

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham^(I) had two sons, one by a slave^(J) and the other by a free woman. ²³ But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴ These things are being taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai^(K) and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar.^{(L) 25} Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia^(M) and corresponds to the present Jerusalem,^(N) for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem above^(O) is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,^(P)

²⁸ Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac,^(S) are children of promise.^{(T) 29} But just as then the child born as a result of the flesh persecuted the one born as a result of the Spirit,^(U) so also now.^{(V) 30} But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.”^{[f](W) 31} Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave but of the free woman.^(X)