Psalm 51^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.^(A)

True Fasting

¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”^(A)

¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[a](B) For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”^(C)

Jesus Questioned About Fasting^(D)

¹⁴ Then John’s^(E) disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often,^(F) but your disciples do not fast?”

¹⁵ Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?^(G) The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.^(H)

¹⁶ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. ¹⁷ Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

¹⁵ In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) ¹⁶ and said, “Brothers and sisters,^[a](A) the Scripture had to be fulfilled^(B) in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas,^(C) who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ He was one of our number^(D) and shared in our ministry.”^(E)

¹⁸ (With the payment^(F) he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field;^(G) there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. ¹⁹ Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language^(H) Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

²⁰ “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

and,

²¹ Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, ²² beginning from John’s baptism^(K) to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness^(L) with us of his resurrection.”

²³ So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴ Then they prayed,^(M) “Lord, you know everyone’s heart.^(N) Show us^(O) which of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” ²⁶ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.^(P)

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(A) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on^(B) toward the goal to win the prize^(C) for which God has called^(D) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature^(E) should take such a view of things.^(F) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.^{(G) 16} Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

¹⁷ Join together in following my example,^(H) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.^{(I) 18} For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,^(J) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.^{(K) 19} Their destiny^(L) is destruction, their god is their stomach,^(M) and their glory is in their shame.^(N) Their mind is set on earthly things.^{(O) 20} But our citizenship^(P) is in heaven.^(Q) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,^{(R) 21} who, by the power^(S) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies^(T) so that they will be like his glorious body.^(U)

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(A) the true vine,^(B) and my Father is the gardener.

⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.^{(A) 7} If you remain in me^(B) and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.^{(C) 8} This is to my Father’s glory,^(D) that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.^(E)

⁹ “As the Father has loved me,^(F) so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands,^(G) you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.^{(H) 12} My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.^{(I) 13} Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.^{(J) 14} You are my friends^(K) if you do what I command.^{(L) 15} I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.^{(M) 16} You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you^(N) so that you might go and bear fruit^(O)—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.^(P)