Book of Common Prayer

¹⁴ For the natural man does not perceive the things of the Spirit of God. For they are but foolishness to him. Nor can he perceive them, because they are spiritually examined. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual evaluates all things. Yet he himself is judged by no man. ¹⁶ For who knows the mind of the Lord, or who shall inform him? But we understand the mind of Christ.

Paul rebukes the sects, and authors of sects. Christ is the foundation of his church. We must take heed how we build on this foundation. No one ought to glory in men, but in God.

3 And I could not speak to you brethren as to spiritual people, but as to carnal; even, as it were, to babes in Christ. ² I gave you milk to drink, and not meat. For you were not strong then, no, neither are you yet. ³ For you are yet carnal. For as long as there is among you envying, strife, and dissension, are you not carnal, and walking after the manner of men? ⁴ As long as one says, I hold to Paul, and another, I’m for Apollos, are you not carnal? ⁵ What is Paul? What is Apollos? Only ministers they are, by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave grace to each one. ⁶ I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then, neither is he who plants anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. ⁸ He who plants and he who waters are neither better than the other. Each will receive his reward according to his labours.

⁹ We are God’s labourers. You are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building. ¹⁰ By the grace of God given to me, as a wise builder I have laid the foundation, and another built on it. But let everyone take heed how he builds upon it. ¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² And whether anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble, ¹³ his work will be seen for what it is. For the day will reveal it, and it will be shown in fire. And the fire shall try every person’s work, what it is. ¹⁴ If what someone has built remains, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work burns, he will suffer loss; but he will be saved himself, nevertheless yet as it were through fire.

Jesus heals the paralytic, calls Levi, the customs officer, eats with open sinners, and defends his disciples.

2 After a few days he entered into Capernaum again, and it was rumoured that he was in a house. ² And soon many gathered together, insomuch that now there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door. And he preached the word to them. ³ And there came to him people bringing a paralytic, borne by four men. ⁴ And because they could not come near to him, for the press of people, they uncovered the roof of the house where he was. And when they had broken it open, they let down the bed that the paralytic lay in. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven you.

⁶ And certain of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts, ⁷ How does this fellow so blaspheme? Who can forgive sins, but God only? ⁸ And immediately, when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so questioned in themselves, he said to them, Why do you think such things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier to say to the paralytic: Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Arise, take up your bed and walk? ¹⁰ But so that you may know that the Son of man has power in earth to forgive sins– He spoke to the paralytic: ¹¹ I say to you, arise, and take up your bed, and go your way into your own house. ¹² And at once he arose, took up the bed, and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, We have never seen anything like this!