Book of Common Prayer

¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself as having gotten it. But one thing I say: I forget that which is behind and reach for that which is ahead, ¹⁴ and press on to that mark appointed, to obtain the reward of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as are sound in the faith, be so minded. And if you are otherwise minded, I pray God would open this to you.

¹⁶ Nevertheless, in that to which we have come, let us proceed by one rule so that we may be of one accord. ¹⁷ Brethren, be followers of me, and observe those who walk in the same way, since you have us for an example. ¹⁸ For many walk (of whom I have told you often, and now tell you weeping) as enemies of the cross of Christ, ¹⁹ whose end is damnation, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is to their shame – who are worldly-minded. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, from whence we look for a saviour, even the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will change our lowly bodies so that they may be fashioned like his glorious body, by the power with which he is able to subdue all things to himself.

He greets certain of them, exhorts them to live and bear themselves honourably, and thanks them for the provision that they made for him in prison.

4 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, continue in such a way in the Lord, beloveds.

¹³ Woe is to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven before men. You yourselves go not in, neither do you suffer those who come to enter in.

¹⁴ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses, and that under a colour of praying long prayers, for which you shall receive the greater damnation.

¹⁵ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who compass land and sea to bring one person into your belief. And when he is brought in, you make him twofold more the child of hell than you yourselves are.

¹⁶ Woe to you, blind guides, who say that if someone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but whosoever swears by the gold of the temple, he offends. ¹⁷ O fools, and blind! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? ¹⁸ And whosoever swears by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering that lies on the altar, offends – ¹⁹ Ye fools, and blind! Which is greater: the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? ²⁰ Whoever therefore swears by the altar, swears by it and by all that is on it. ²¹ And whoever swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells therein. ²² And he who swears by heaven, swears by the seat of God and by him who sits upon it.

²³ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who tithe mint, anise, and cummin, and leave the weightier matters of the law undone: judgment, mercy, and faith. These you ought to have done, and not to have left the others undone. ²⁴ Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!