Book of Common Prayer
Give Unbiased Church Support And Respect To Elders Leading Well
17 Let the elders having led well be considered-worthy of double[a] honor, especially[b] the ones laboring in word[c] and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says “You shall not muzzle a threshing ox” [Deut 25:4], and “The worker is worthy of his wages” [Lk 10:7]. 19 Do not be accepting an accusation against an elder unless on the basis of two or three witnesses. 20 Be rebuking the ones sinning in the presence of all[d], in order that the rest also may have fear. 21 I solemnly-charge you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels that you keep these things without pre-judgment, doing nothing according-to[e] partiality[f]. 22 Be laying hands[g] on no one hastily, nor sharing[h] in the sins belonging-to-others; be keeping yourself pure. (23 No longer be-a-water-drinker, but be using a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent sicknesses). 24 The sins of some[i] people are clear-beforehand, going ahead-of them to judgment, but indeed for some they follow-after. 25 Similarly also the good works are clear-beforehand, and the ones having it otherwise[j] are not able to be hidden.
The Mustard Seed: God’s Kingdom Will Start Very Small And Grow Very Large
31 He put-before them another parable, saying, “The kingdom of the heavens is like a seed of a mustard-plant, which having taken, a man sowed in his field— 32 which is smaller than all the seeds, but when it grows is larger than the garden-plants. And it becomes a tree[a], so that the birds of the heaven come and are nesting in its branches”.
Like Leaven In Bread, God’s Kingdom Will Permeate The World
33 He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which having taken, a woman concealed[b] into three measures[c] of wheat-flour until which time the whole thing was leavened”.
Jesus Spoke In Parables In Fulfillment of Psalm 78:2
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. And He was speaking nothing to them apart from a parable, 35 so that the thing might be fulfilled having been spoken through the prophet saying “I will open My mouth in parables. I will utter things having been hidden since the foundation of the world” [Ps 78:2].
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing