Book of Common Prayer
Elders
17 Elders who are good leaders ought to be paid double, particularly those who work hard in speaking and teaching. 18 The Bible says, you see, “Don’t muzzle an ox when it’s threshing,” and “the worker deserves his pay.”
19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder, unless it is supported “by two or three witnesses.” 20 When people persist in sin, rebuke them openly, so that the rest may be afraid.
21 Before God, Messiah Jesus and the chosen angels, I give you solemn warning to keep these commands without discrimination. Never act out of favoritism. 22 Don’t be too quick to lay hands on anyone; don’t share in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure.
23 You should stop confining yourself to drinking water. Use wine (in moderation!). That will be good for your digestion, and for the physical problems you often have.
24 Some people’s sins are obvious, and walk ahead of them into the courtroom. Other people’s follow them there. 25 In the same way, good works are obvious; but, even when they aren’t, they can’t stay hidden forever.
The most important commandment
28 One of the legal experts came up, and overheard the discussion. Realizing that Jesus had given a splendid answer, he put a question of his own.
“Which commandment,” he asked, “is the first one of all?”
29 “The first one,” replied Jesus, “is this: ‘Listen, Israel: the Lord your God, the Lord is one; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your understanding, and with all your strength.’ 31 And this is the second one: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these ones.”
32 “Well said, Teacher,” answered the lawyer. “You are right in saying that ‘he is one and that there is no other beside him,’ 33 and that ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the intelligence, and with all the strength’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself’ is worth far more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 Jesus saw that his answer came out of deep understanding.
“You are not far from God’s kingdom,” he said to him.
After that, nobody dared put any more questions to him.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.