Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹² Therefore, brethren, we are now debtors – not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. ¹³ For if you live after the flesh, you must die. But if you put to death the deeds of the body by the help of the Spirit, you will live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. ¹⁵ For you have not received the spirit of servanthood to fear again, but you have been given the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father! ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. ¹⁷ If we are children, we are also heirs – the heirs, I mean, of God; and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer together so that we may be glorified together. ¹⁸ For I suppose that the afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory that will be shown upon us.

¹⁹ Also, the fervent desire of the creatures endures, looking for when the sons of God will appear, ²⁰ because the creatures are subdued to vanity against their will, but for the will of him who subjects them in hope. ²¹ For the very creatures will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that every creature groans with us also, and travails in pain, even to this time.

²³ Not only they, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit mourn in ourselves, and await the adoption, and look for the deliverance of our bodies. ²⁴ For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is no hope. For how can a person hope for that which he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for that which we do not see, then with patience we await it.

²⁴ Another similitude he put forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. ²⁶ When the blade had sprung up and had brought forth fruit, then the tares appeared also. ²⁷ Then the servants went to the householder and said to him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where then did the tares come from? ²⁸ He said to them, The envious man has done this. Then the servants said to him, Do you want us then to go and weed them out? ²⁹ But he said, Nay, lest while you go about to weed out the tares, you pluck up also with them the wheat by the roots. ³⁰ Let both grow together till harvest comes. And in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather the tares first, and bind them in sheaves to be burned; but gather the wheat into my barn.

³⁶ Then Jesus sent the people away and went indoors. And his disciples came to him, saying, Explain to us the similitude of the tares of the field. ³⁷ Then he answered and said to them, He who sows the good seed is the Son of man. ³⁸ And the field is the world. And the children of the kingdom, they are the good seed. And the tares are the children of the wicked one: ³⁹ the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. ⁴⁰ For even as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world. ⁴¹ The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all injurious things, and those who do iniquity, ⁴² and will cast them into a furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then shall the just shine as bright as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!