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.
Jesus and the Pharisee
14 One sabbath, Jesus went to a meal in the house of a leading Pharisee. They were keeping a close eye on him.
2 There was a man there in front of Jesus who suffered from dropsy. 3 So Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath or not?” 4 They remained silent. He took the man, healed him, and dismissed him.
5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a son—or an ox!—that falls into a well. Are you going to tell me you won’t pull him out straight away on the sabbath day?” 6 They had no answer for that.
7 He noticed how the guests chose the best seats, and told them this parable.
8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast,” he said, “don’t go and sit in the best seat, in case some other guest more important is invited, 9 and the person who invited you both comes and says to you, ‘Please move down for this man,’ and you will go to the end of the line covered with embarrassment. 10 Instead, when someone invites you, go and sit down at the lowest place. Then, when your host arrives, he will say to you, ‘My dear fellow! Come on higher up!’ Then all your fellow guests will show you respect. 11 All who push themselves forward, you see, will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be honored.”
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.