Book of Common Prayer

¹⁷ The leaders of the church people who rule well should be given greater honour and reward. At least do this for those who work hard in speaking and teaching.

¹⁸ The holy writings say, `You may not tie the mouth of a cow when it is walking on the grain to beat it out.' And also, `The man who works should be paid for it.'

¹⁹ Do not listen to a complaint against a leader if what he has done has not been seen and proved by two or three people.

²⁰ Talk to those who live a wrong life and tell them to stop it. Talk to them in front of all the church members. Then the others will be afraid to do it.

²¹ I say this before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels of God. Do these things in an honest way. Do not treat one person better than another person.

²² Do not be in a hurry to place your hands on a man as a sign for him to be a leader. Do not take part in the wrong things another man does. Keep yourself clean.

²³ Do not drink water only. But drink a little wine to help your stomach because you are sick so often.

²⁴ The wrong things some men do can be seen clearly and show that they should be punished. But wrong things other people do are not seen until later.

²⁵ So also, the good things are seen clearly. Even when they are not seen at first, they will be seen later.

²⁸ One of the scribes heard them talking. He saw that Jesus gave them a good answer. Then he came and asked, `Which law is the greatest law of all?'

²⁹ Jesus answered, `The greatest one is, "Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God is one Lord.

³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Love him with all your soul. Love him with all your mind. And love him with all your strength."

³¹ The second law is this: "Love your neighbour as you love yourself." No law is greater than these laws.'

³² Then the scribe answered Jesus, `Teacher, what you say is right. There is one God. There are no other gods.

³³ Love God with all your heart. Love him with all your understanding. Love him with all your strength. That is much better than to burn offerings and make sacrifices. Love your neighbour as you love yourself. That is better than any of these offerings and sacrifices.'

³⁴ Jesus saw that the scribe was wise. So he said to him, `You are not far from the kingdom of God.' After that everyone feared to ask him any more questions.