Book of Common Prayer

But God Did Not Reject His People

11 Therefore I say, God did not reject^[a] His people, did He? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, from the seed of Abraham, the tribe of Benjamin. ² God did not reject His people whom He foreknew!

There Is Still a Remnant Chosen By God

Or do you not know what the Scripture says in-connection-with^[b] Elijah [in 1 Kings 19:14], how he appeals to God against Israel?— ³ “Lord, they killed Your prophets, they tore-down Your altars, and I alone was left, and they are seeking my life”. ⁴ But what does the divine-response say to him [in 1 Kings 19:18]?— “I left-remaining for Myself seven-thousand men^[c] who did not bow a knee to Baal”. ⁵ In this manner then, there has come-to-be a remnant^[d] also at the present time, according-to the choosing of grace. ⁶ And if it ^[e] is by grace, it is no longer by works. Otherwise the grace becomes grace no longer.

But The Rest Were Hardened By God

⁷ Therefore what? This^[f] which Israel is seeking-for, it did not obtain. But the chosen^[g] obtained it, and the rest were hardened, ⁸ just as it has been written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor [Isa 29:10], eyes that they may not see and ears that they may not hear, until this very day” [Deut 29:4]. ⁹ And David says [in Ps 69:22-23], “Let their table become a snare and a trap and a cause-of-falling and a retribution to them. ¹⁰ Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see. And bend^[h] their back continually”.

And Israel Did Not Stumble So As To Fall

¹¹ Therefore I say, they did not stumble in order that they might fall^[i], did they? May it never be! On-the-contrary, by their trespass^[j] salvation came to the Gentiles, so as to provoke them to jealousy. ¹² But if their trespass is riches for the world and their defeat^[k] is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness be!

Wise Bridesmaids Will Keep Watch And Stay Prepared For The Coming of The Groom

25 “At-that-time^[a], the kingdom of the heavens will be-like ten virgins, who, having taken their lamps^[b], went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Now five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ For the foolish ones, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them. ⁴ But the wise ones took oil in jars with their lamps. ⁵ And while the bridegroom was delaying, they all became drowsy and were sleeping. ⁶ And in the middle of the night, a shout has come— ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ ⁷ Then all those virgins arose and put their lamps in-order. ⁸ And the foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us from your oil, because our lamps are going-out^[c]’. ⁹ But the wise ones responded, saying, ‘There will not by any means ever^[d] be enough for us and for you. Go instead to the ones selling and buy for yourselves’. ¹⁰ And while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came. And the prepared ones entered with him into the wedding-celebrations. And the door was shut. ¹¹ And later, the other virgins also come, saying, ‘Sir, sir, open for us’. ¹² But the one, having responded, said, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know^[e] you’. ¹³ Therefore, keep-watching, because you do not know the day nor the hour.