Book of Common Prayer
17 I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that henceforth you must not walk like other Gentiles walk, in vanity of their mind, 18 blinded in their understanding, being alienated from the life that is in God, through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts; 19 who, being past repentance, have given themselves over to wantonness, to work all manner of uncleanness, even with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ – 21 if it so be that you have heard him, and are taught in him, inasmuch as the truth is in Jesus. 22 So then, as concerning the former lifestyle, lay away from you that old man, which is corrupt through deceptive desires and affections, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and put on that new man, which is shapen in the image of God in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Therefore put away lying, and let every person speak truth to his neighbour, seeing as we are members of one another. 26 Be angry, but sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath; 27 neither give place to the backbiter. 28 Let him who stole steal no more, but let him rather do good work with his hands, so that he may have something to give to him who has need.
29 Let no unwholesome talk proceed out of your mouths, but that which is good to edify when needful, so that it may find favour with the hearers. 30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, fierceness, and wrath, shouting and cursing, be put away from you, with all maliciousness. 32 Be kind to one another, and merciful, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake forgave you.
19 and Judas Iscariot, which same also betrayed him.
And they came to a house. 20 And the people assembled together again, so greatly that they had no opportunity so much as to eat bread. 21 And when his family members heard of it, they set out to get him, because they thought he would be beside himself.
22 And the scribes who came from Jerusalem said, He has Beelzebub, and by the power of the chief devil he casts out devils. 23 And Jesus called them to him and spoke to them in similitudes: How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 For if a realm is divided against itself, that realm cannot endure. 25 Or if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot continue. 26 So if Satan makes insurrection against himself and is divided, he cannot continue, but is at an end. 27 No one can enter into a strong man’s house and take away his goods unless he first binds the strong man, and then he plunders his house. 28 Truly I say to you, all sins may be forgiven the children of men, and blasphemies with which they blaspheme. 29 But he who blasphemes the Holy Spirit may never have forgiveness, but is liable to eternal condemnation. 30 (For they said he had an unclean spirit.)
31 Then his mother and his brethren arrived and stood outside, and sent to him and called for him. 32 The people were sitting around him, and they said to Jesus, Your mother and your brethren are asking for you outside. 33 And he answered them, saying, Who are my mother and my brethren? 34 And he looked round about on his disciples, who sat in a circle around him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren. 35 For whosoever does the will of God, he is my brother, my sister, and mother.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.