Book of Common Prayer

The unfaithfulness of the Jews. Two kinds of righteousness.

10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. ² For I can attest that they have a fervent heart for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For they are ignorant of the righteousness that is admitted before God, and go about to establish their own righteousness, and therefore give no heed to the righteousness that is of value before God. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law, to justify all who believe.

⁵ Moses describes the righteousness which comes of the law, how the person who does the things of the law will live therein. ⁶ But the righteousness that comes by faith speaks this way: Say not in your heart, who shall ascend into heaven? (which is nothing else than to fetch Christ down), ⁷ or, who shall descend into the deep? (which is nothing else than to fetch Christ up from death). ⁸ But what does the scripture say? The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart. This word is the word of faith that we preach. ⁹ For if you acknowledge with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and believe with your heart that God raised him up from death, you will be safe. ¹⁰ For the belief of the heart justifies, and to acknowledge with the mouth makes a man safe. ¹¹ For the scripture says: Whoever believes on him, will not be ashamed.

¹² There is no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles. For there is one Lord over all, who richly blesses all who call on him. ¹³ For: Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ¹⁴ But how can people call on him on whom they have not believed? How can they believe on him, if they have not heard of him? How can they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how can men preach, unless they be sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

⁴⁴ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field, which a person finds and hides, and for the joy of it goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

⁴⁵ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who seeks good pearls, ⁴⁶ who, when he found one precious pearl, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

⁴⁷ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea, which gathers in all kinds of fishes. ⁴⁸ When it is full, men draw it to land, and sit and gather the good into vessels, and cast the bad away. ⁴⁹ So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels will come out and separate the bad from the good, ⁵⁰ and will cast them into a furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ Jesus asked them, Do you understand all these things? They said, Yes, Lord. ⁵² Then he said to them, Therefore every scribe who is instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings forth out of his treasure things both new and old.