Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Paul rebukes the sects, and authors of sects. Christ is the foundation of his church. We must take heed how we build on this foundation. No one ought to glory in men, but in God.

3 And I could not speak to you brethren as to spiritual people, but as to carnal; even, as it were, to babes in Christ. ² I gave you milk to drink, and not meat. For you were not strong then, no, neither are you yet. ³ For you are yet carnal. For as long as there is among you envying, strife, and dissension, are you not carnal, and walking after the manner of men? ⁴ As long as one says, I hold to Paul, and another, I’m for Apollos, are you not carnal? ⁵ What is Paul? What is Apollos? Only ministers they are, by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave grace to each one. ⁶ I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then, neither is he who plants anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. ⁸ He who plants and he who waters are neither better than the other. Each will receive his reward according to his labours.

⁹ We are God’s labourers. You are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building.

²¹ You have heard how it was said to the people of the old time, You shall not kill. For whosoever kills will be liable to judgment. ²² But I say to you, whosoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. Whosoever says to his brother, Racha! will be liable to a council. But whosoever says, You fool! will be liable to hell fire.

²³ Therefore, when you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has anything against you, ²⁴ leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way first and be reconciled to your brother; and then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ Reconcile with your adversary quickly while you are in the way with him, lest the adversary commit you to the judge, and the judge commit you to the officer, and then you be cast into prison. ²⁶ Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there till you have paid the last penny.

²⁷ You have heard how it was said to the people of the old time, You shall not commit adultery. ²⁸ But I say to you that whosoever looks on a wife, lusting after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart. ²⁹ Therefore, if your right eye causes you to offend, tear it out and cast it from you. It is better for you that one of your members perish than that your whole body should be cast into hell. ³⁰ Also, if your right hand causes you to offend, cut it off and cast it from you. Better it is that one of your members perish, than that all your body should be cast into hell.

³¹ It is said, Whosoever puts away his wife, let him give her a testimonial also of the divorce. ³² But I say to you, whosoever puts away his wife (unless it be for fornication), causes her to break matrimony. And whoever marries her who is divorced, breaks wedlock.

³³ Again, you have heard how it was said to the people of old time, Do not forswear yourself, but perform your oath to God. ³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all – neither by heaven, for it is God’s seat, ³⁵ nor yet by the earth, for it his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of that great king. ³⁶ Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your communication be yes, yes, and no, no. For whatever is more than that, comes of evil.