Readings for Lent and Easter

Be Subject To Human Institutions For The Lord’s Sake

¹³ Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake— whether to a king as being superior, ¹⁴ or to governors as being sent by him^[a] for the punishment of evil-doers and praise of good-doers. ¹⁵ Because thus is the will of God, that while doing-good you may be silencing the ignorance of foolish people.

Honor Everyone

¹⁶ As^[b] free ones, and not having the freedom as a covering of evilness, but as slaves of God, ¹⁷ honor everyone: be loving the brotherhood^[c], be fearing God, be honoring the king;

Be Subject To Your Masters, Whether Good Or Bad, Following Christ’s Example

¹⁸ ... servants, being subject to your masters with all fear^[d], not only to the good and kind ones, but also to the crooked^[e] ones. ¹⁹ For this finds favor— if for the sake of a consciousness^[f] of God one bears-up^[g] while suffering sorrows unjustly. ²⁰ For what-kind-of credit^[h] is it if while sinning and being beaten, you will endure? But if while doing-good and suffering you will endure, this finds favor with God. ²¹ For you were called to this^[i]. Because Christ also suffered for you, leaving-behind a pattern for you in order that you might follow-after His footsteps—

Christ Suffered Unjustly, Entrusting Himself To God

²² ... Who “did not commit sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth” [Isa 53:9]; ²³ Who while being reviled, was not reviling-in-return; while suffering, was not threatening, but was committing Himself ^[j] to the One judging righteously; ²⁴ Who Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross in order that we, having died^[k] to sins, might live for righteousness; by Whose bruise you were healed. ²⁵ For you were going-astray like sheep, but now you returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.