Not Peace, but Division

^49 (A)“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! ^50 (B)I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how ^(C)great is my distress until it is accomplished! ^51 (D)Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? ^(E)No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵² For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, ^(F)father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Interpreting the Time

⁵⁴ He also said to the crowds, ^(G)“When you see ^(H)a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. ⁵⁵ And ^(I)when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be ^(J)scorching heat,’ and it happens. ⁵⁶ You hypocrites! ^(K)You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

¹⁷ By faith ^(A)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, ¹⁸ of whom it was said, ^(B)“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” ^19 (C)He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. ²⁰ By faith ^(D)Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. ²¹ By faith ^(E)Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, ^(F)bowing in worship over the head of his staff. ²² By faith ^(G)Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

²³ By faith ^(H)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of ^(I)the king's edict. ²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was grown up, ^(J)refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ^25 (K)choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy ^(L)the fleeting pleasures of sin. ^26 (M)He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to ^(N)the reward. ²⁷ By faith he ^(O)left Egypt, ^(P)not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured ^(Q)as seeing him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith ^(R)he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

²⁹ By faith ^(S)the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. ³⁰ By faith ^(T)the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. ³¹ By faith ^(U)Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she ^(V)had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and ^(A)sin which clings so closely, and ^(B)let us run ^(C)with endurance the race that is ^(D)set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, ^(E)who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising ^(F)the shame, and ^(G)is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

^3 (H)Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or ^(I)fainthearted.