Prayer for the Lord’s Help.

A Song of Ascents.

The Lord, an Abundant Helper.

²⁰ Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ²¹ “^(A)Separate yourselves from among this congregation, ^(B)so that I may consume them instantly.” ²² But they fell on their faces and said, “God, ^(C)the God of the spirits of ^[a]humanity, ^(D)when one person sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?”

²³ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ²⁴ “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘^(E)Get away from the areas around the ^[b]tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’”

²⁵ Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, ²⁶ and he spoke to the congregation, saying, “^(F)Get away now from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything that belongs to them, ^(G)or you will be swept away in all their sin!” ²⁷ So they moved away from the areas around the ^[c]tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrances of their tents, along with their wives, ^(H)their sons, and their little ones. ²⁸ Then Moses said, “By this you shall know that ^(I)the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds; for it is not ^[d]my doing. ²⁹ If these men die ^[e]the death of all mankind, or ^[f]if they suffer the ^(J)fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. ³⁰ But ^(K)if the Lord ^[g]brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them with everything that is theirs, and they ^(L)descend alive into ^[h]Sheol, then you will know that these men have been disrespectful to the Lord.”

³¹ And as he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; ³² and ^(M)the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, and ^(N)all the people who belonged to Korah with all their possessions. ³³ So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to ^[i]Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. ³⁴ Then all Israel who were around them fled at their ^[j]outcry, for they said, “The earth might swallow us!” ^35 (O)Fire also came out from the Lord and consumed the ^(P)250 men who were offering the incense.

Abraham’s Justification by Faith

4 What then shall we say that Abraham, ^[a]our forefather ^(A)according to the flesh, has found? ² For if Abraham was justified ^[b]by works, he has something to boast about; but ^(B)not ^[c]before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “^(C)Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ⁴ Now to the one who ^(D)works, the wages are not credited as a favor, but as what is due. ⁵ But to the one who does not work, but ^(E)believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

⁹ Is this blessing then on ^[d](I)the circumcised, or on ^[e]the uncircumcised also? For ^(J)we say, “^(K)Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” ¹⁰ How then was it credited? While he was ^[f]circumcised, or ^[g]uncircumcised? Not while ^[h]circumcised, but while ^[i]uncircumcised; ¹¹ and he ^(L)received the sign of circumcision, ^(M)a seal of the righteousness of the faith which ^[j]he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be ^(N)the father of ^(O)all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, ¹² and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which ^[k]he had while uncircumcised.

²³ And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, ^(A)it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ And again I say to you, ^(B)it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁶ And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “^(C)With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The Disciples’ Reward

²⁷ Then Peter responded and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” ²⁸ And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the ^[a]regeneration when ^(D)the Son of Man will sit on ^[b]His glorious throne, ^(E)you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And ^(F)everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother ^[c]or children or farms on account of My name, will receive ^[d]many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. ^30 (G)But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.