Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

13 ¶ Let every soul submit itself to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God, and the powers that be are ordained of God.

² Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God, and those that resist shall receive condemnation to themselves.

³ For the magistrates are not a terror unto those who do good, but to the doer of evil. Is thy desire therefore to not fear the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same;

⁴ for he is a minister of God for thy good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain, for he is a minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.

⁵ Therefore it is necessary that ye be subject, not only for punishment, but also for conscience sake.

⁶ For this cause ye also pay them tribute, for they are God’s ministers, attending continually to this very thing.

⁷ ¶ Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

⁸ Owe no one anything, but love one unto another; for he that loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law.

⁹ For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet, and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

¹⁰ Charity works no evil to a neighbour; therefore, charity is the fulfillment of the law.

¹¹ ¶ And this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awaken ourselves out of sleep, for now is our saving health nearer than when we believed.

¹² The night is past, and the day is come; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us clothe ourselves with the weapons of light.

¹³ Let us walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

¹⁴ But be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not listen to the flesh, to fulfil its desires.

14 ¶ Bear with the one who is sick in the faith, but not unto doubtful discernment.

² For one believes that he may eat all things; another, who is sick, eats vegetables.

³ Let not him that eats despise him that does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him that eats; for God has raised him up.

⁴ Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? By his own master he stands or falls; and if he falls, he shall be made to stand, for God is powerful to make him stand.

⁵ Also, some make a difference between one day and another; others esteem every day alike. Let each one be fully persuaded in his own soul.

⁶ He that observes the day, let him observe it unto the Lord; and he that does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He that eats, eats unto the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he that does not eat, unto the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

⁷ For none of us live for ourselves, and no one dies for himself.

⁸ For if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

⁹ For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived: to thus exercise lordship over the dead as well as over the living.

¹⁰ But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou belittle thy brother? for we shall all stand before the tribunal of the Christ.

¹¹ For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

¹² So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.

¹³ Let us, therefore, not judge one another any more, but judge this rather: that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

¹⁴ I know and trust in the Lord Jesus that for his sake there is nothing unclean, but to him that esteems any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

¹⁵ But if thy brother is grieved because of thy food, now thou dost not walk in charity. Do not destroy him with thy food, for whom Christ died.

¹⁶ Let not then your good be evil spoken of;

¹⁷ for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ For he that in these things serves the Christ is well pleasing unto God and approved of men.

¹⁹ Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace and the edification of each one to the others.

²⁰ Because of food, do not destroy the work of God. All things indeed are clean, but it is evil for that man who eats with offense.

²¹ It is good neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine nor do any thing by which thy brother stumbles or is offended or is sick.

²² Thou hast faith; have it to thyself before God. Blessed is he that does not condemn himself with that thing which he allows.

²³ And he that makes a difference is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat by faith; and whatsoever is not out of faith is sin.