Book of Common Prayer

So Walk Wisely, Redeeming The Time. Be Filled With The Spirit, And Subject To One Another

¹⁵ Therefore be watching carefully how you walk— not as unwise, but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming^[a] the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ For this reason, do not be foolish ones, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get-drunk with wine, in^[b] which is wild-living, but be filled with^[c] the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to each other with^[d] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making-melody with your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving-thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father, ²¹ being-subject^[e] to one another in the fear^[f] of Christ—

Wives, Be Subject To Your Husbands As The Church Is Subject To Christ

²² ... wives— to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ Because a husband is the head of his wife as also Christ is the head of the church, He being the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Nevertheless^[g], as the church is subject to Christ, in this manner also let the wives be to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, Love Your Wives As Christ Loved The Church

²⁵ Husbands, be loving your wives just-as Christ also loved the church and handed Himself over for her ²⁶ in order that He might sanctify^[h] her, having cleansed^[i] her with^[j] the washing^[k] of water by^[l] the word, ²⁷ in order that He might present the church to Himself as glorious— not having spot or wrinkle or any of such things, but that she might be holy and without-blemish. ²⁸ In this manner^[m], husbands ought also to be loving their wives as their own bodies. The one loving his wife is loving himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ because we are body-parts of His body. ³¹ “For this cause a man shall leave-behind his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two will be one flesh” [Gen 2:24]. ³² This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and with reference to the church. ³³ Nevertheless, you also individually, let each in this manner be loving his wife as himself. And let the wife see that she be respecting her husband.

The Lamp Comes To Shine, Not To Be Hidden

²¹ And He was saying to them, “The lamp does not come in order that it may be put under the basket or under the bed, does it? Is it not in order that it may be put on the lampstand? ²² For it is not hidden, except in order that it may be made-visible^[a]. Nor did it become hidden-away, but in order that it may come into visibility. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear”.

With The Measure You Use It Will Be Measured To You

²⁴ And He was saying to them, “Be watching what you listen-to^[b]. With what measure you measure^[c], it will be measured to you— and it will be added to you. ²⁵ For he who has— it will be given to him. And he who does not have— even what he has will be taken-away from him”.

The Kingdom of God Is Like Seed That Grows From Within Itself To Maturity

²⁶ And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like this: as-if a person would throw the seed upon the soil, ²⁷ and would be sleeping and arising night and day, and the seed would be budding and growing-long— how, he does not^[d] know. ²⁸ The soil bears-fruit by-itself ^[e]— first grass, then a head, then a full grain in the head. ²⁹ And whenever the fruit permits^[f], immediately he^[g] sends-forth the sickle because the harvest has come^[h]”.

The Kingdom of God Is Like a Mustard Seed. It Starts Small And Grows Large

³⁰ And He was saying, “How should we liken the kingdom of God, or with what parable may we present it?— ³¹ as a seed of a mustard-plant, which when it is sown upon the soil is being smaller than all^[i] the seeds upon the soil. ³² And when it is sown, it goes-up and becomes larger than all the garden-plants. And it makes large branches so that the birds of the heaven are able to be nesting under the shade of it”.

Jesus Spoke To The Crowd In Parables And Explained Everything To His Disciples

³³ And with many such parables He was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear it. ³⁴ And He was not speaking to them apart from a parable. But He was explaining^[j] everything privately to His own disciples.