Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

ט Tet

The Judicial Procedure for Idolatry

² “If^(A) a man or woman among you in one of your towns that the Lord your God will give you is discovered doing evil in the sight of the Lord your God and violating His covenant^{(B) 3} and has gone to worship other gods by bowing down to the sun, moon, or all the stars in the sky—which I have forbidden— ⁴ and if you are told or hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly. If the report turns out to be true that this detestable thing has happened in Israel, ⁵ you must bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing and stone them to death. ⁶ The one condemned to die is to be executed on the testimony of two or three witnesses. No one is to be executed on the testimony of a single witness. ⁷ The witnesses’ hands are to be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people.^(C) You must purge the evil from you.^(D)

Difficult Cases

⁸ “If a case is too difficult for you—concerning bloodshed,^(E) lawsuits,^(F) or assaults^(G)—cases disputed at your gates,^(H) you must go up to the place the Lord your God chooses. ⁹ You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Ask, and they will give you a verdict in the case. ¹⁰ You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the Lord chooses. Be careful to do exactly as they instruct you. ¹¹ You must abide by the instruction they give you and the verdict they announce to you. Do not turn to the right or the left from the decision they declare to you. ¹² The person who acts arrogantly, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there serving the Lord your God or to the judge, must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. ¹³ Then all the people will hear about it, be afraid, and no longer behave arrogantly.

A Christian’s Duties to the State

13 Everyone must submit to the governing authorities,^(A) for there is no authority except from God,^(B) and those that exist are instituted by God. ² So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers are not a terror^(C) to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. ⁴ For government is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger^(D) that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. ⁵ Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience.^{(E) 6} And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks.^{[a] 7} Pay your obligations^(F) to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes,^(G) tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect,^(H) and honor to those you owe honor.