Book of Common Prayer

¹² All those who do not know the law [of God given to Moses] and did what was wrong, will die. But they will not be judged by the law. All those who know the law and did what was wrong will be judged by the law.

¹³ (God does not say people are good because they have heard the law. But people who obey the law will be called good people.

¹⁴ Some people do not have the law. But they do what the law says because their own hearts tell them to. They have a law of their own, even though they do not know the law.

¹⁵ They show that the law is written in their hearts. They know what is right to do and what is wrong to do. Their own thoughts tell them they have done what is wrong or what is not wrong.)

¹⁶ This will be on the day when God judges the things men have kept secret. Jesus Christ will be the judge. That is part of the good news I tell people.

¹⁷ But you call yourselves Jews. You believe the law. You are proud of your God.

¹⁸ You know what he wants people to do. You know the thoughts that are good because you have been taught the law.

¹⁹ You are sure that you can lead people who are like blind men. You are like a light for people who are in the dark.

²⁰ You are sure that you can tell foolish people what is right. You can teach people who are like children. You know what you need to know and you know what is true because you have the law.

²¹ You teach another person. Do you not teach yourself? You say people must not steal. Do you steal?

²² You say people must not commit adultery. Do you commit adultery? You hate idols. Do you steal things from the houses of idols?

²³ You are proud that you have the law. Do you break the law, and in that way show you do not honour God?

²⁴ The holy writings say, `People who are not Jews say wrong things about the name of God. They do it because of what you Jews do.'

¹⁰ `Do not think badly of these little children. I tell you this. They have angels in heaven. And all the time their angels can see the face of my father who is in heaven.

¹¹ `The Son of Man came to save anyone who is lost.

¹² What do you think about this? A man has a hundred sheep. One of them is lost. Will he not leave the ninety-nine sheep on the hills and go to look for the one that is lost? Yes, he will.

¹³ I tell you the truth. When he finds it, he is more happy to see that one than the ninety-nine that were not lost.

¹⁴ In the same way, my Father in heaven does not want one of these little children to be lost.'

¹⁵ `If your brother does something wrong to you, go to him. Talk alone to him and tell him what he has done. If he listens to you, you have kept your brother as a friend.

¹⁶ But if he does not listen to you, take one or two others with you to talk to him. Then two or three people will hear every word and can prove what was said.

¹⁷ If he does not listen to them, tell the church. If he does not listen to the church, treat him as one who does not believe in God and as bad as a tax collector.'

¹⁸ `I tell you the truth. What you tie on earth will be tied in heaven. What you set free on earth will be set free in heaven.

¹⁹ I tell you another thing. If two of you on earth agree together to ask for something, my Father in heaven will do it for them.

²⁰ Where two or three people meet together in my name, I am there with them.'