Book of Common Prayer

Circumcision Will Not Help Transgressors

²⁵ For circumcision profits if you practice the Law— but if you are a transgressor of the Law your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ²⁶ So if the uncircumcised one keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? ²⁷ And the uncircumcised one by nature who is fulfilling the Law will judge you, the transgressor of the Law with the letter^[a] and circumcision! ²⁸ For the Jew in the visible thing is not a Jew, nor is the circumcision in the visible^[b] thing in the flesh circumcision, ²⁹ but the Jew in the hidden thing is a Jew, and circumcision is of the heart, by^[c] the Spirit not the letter— whose praise is not from people, but from God.

So Then What Is The Advantage of The Jew?

3 What then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the profit of circumcision? ² Much in every way. For first— that they were entrusted the oracles^[d] of God!

God Will Be Faithful To His Promises To The Jews Even If Some Reject Him

³ What indeed if some^[e] were faithless^[f]? Their faithlessness^[g] will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? ⁴ May it never be! But let God be [seen to be] true and every person a liar, just as it has been written [in Ps 51:4]: “So that You might be declared-righteous^[h] in Your words and prevail in Your being judged^[i]”.

But God Is Not Unrighteous To Inflict Wrath On Jews Who Sin

⁵ But if our^[j] unrighteousness demonstrates^[k] the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God, the One inflicting the wrath, is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in accordance with human thinking^[l]). ⁶ May it never be! Otherwise how will God judge the world?

God Holds Jews Accountable For Their Sin Too

⁷ But if the truth of God abounded in my lie^[m] to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? ⁸ Indeed, why not say “Let us do evil things that good things may come”, as we are blasphemed, and as some affirm us to say— whose condemnation is just^[n]!

Always Forgive One Another From The Heart, As God Has Forgiven You

²¹ Then having come to Him, Peter said to Him, “Lord, how often^[a] will my brother sin against me and I will forgive him? Up to seven-times?” ²² Jesus says to him, “I do not say to you up to seven-times, but up to seventy-times^[b] [and]^[c] seven. ²³ For this reason, the kingdom of the heavens became-like^[d] a man who was a king, who wished to settle the account with his slaves. ²⁴ And he having begun to settle it, one debtor of ten-thousand talents^[e] was brought to him. ²⁵ But he not having the means to pay, the master ordered that he be sold— and his wife and his children and all that he has— and that it be paid. ²⁶ Then the slave, having fallen, was prostrating-himself before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me and I will pay everything to you’. ²⁷ And having felt-deep feelings [of compassion], the master of that slave released him and forgave him the loan. ²⁸ But having gone out, that slave found one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii. And having seized him, he was choking him, saying, ‘Pay me, since you are owing me something’. ²⁹ Then his fellow slave, having fallen, was begging him, saying, ‘Be patient with me and I will pay it to you’. ³⁰ And the one was not willing, but having gone, he threw him into prison until he should pay the amount being owed. ³¹ Then his fellow slaves, having seen the things having taken place, were extremely grieved. And having come, they made-clear to their master all the things having taken place. ³² Then, having summoned him, his master says to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ³³ Should not you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I also had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And having become angry^[f], his master handed him over to the tormenters^[g] until^[h] which time he should pay all the amount being owed. ³⁵ So also My heavenly Father will do to you if you do not forgive— each one his brother— from your hearts”.