Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Paul complains upon the hard hearts of the Jews who would not receive Christ. How the heathen are chosen in their stead.

9 I speak the truth in Christ, and do not speak falsely, regarding that of which my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit. ² I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. ³ For I have wished myself to be cursed from Christ for my brethren and my kinsmen according to the flesh, ⁴ who are the Israelites. To them pertain the adoption and the glory, and the covenants, and the law that was given, and the service of God, and the promises. ⁵ Theirs also are the fathers, and those from whom (as to the flesh) Christ came, who is God over all things blessed forever. Amen.

¹³ When Jesus heard about this, he withdrew from there by boat into an isolated place out of the way. But when the people heard of it, they followed him by foot out of their towns. ¹⁴ And Jesus went forth and saw the crowds of people, and his heart did melt upon them. And he healed among them those that were sick.

¹⁵ When evening was come, his disciples went to him, saying, This is an isolated place, and the day is spent. Let the people depart so that they can go into the towns and buy themselves some food. ¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go away; you give them to eat. ¹⁷ Then they said to him, We have here only five loaves and two fishes. ¹⁸ And he said, Bring them here.

¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass, took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ And they did all eat, and were satisfied. And of the pieces that remained, they gathered twelve baskets full. ²¹ And the men that had eaten were in number about 5,000, as well as women and children.