Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 101^[a]

Norm of Life for a Good Ruler

¹ A psalm of David.

¹⁹ The commander said to them, “Say this to Hezekiah: ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: What is the source of your hope in which you trust? ²⁰ You say (but they are only empty words), “I have counsel and strength for war!” Now, on whom do you rely that makes you willing to rebel against me? ²¹ Behold, you have placed your confidence upon the staff of this bruised reed, you trust in Egypt, which, if someone were to lean on it, it would pierce his hand, going through it. That is what Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is to all who trust in him. ²² But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord, our God,” is he not the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has eliminated, for he said to Judah and Jerusalem, “You will worship before this altar in Jerusalem.” ’

²³ “Therefore, give your pledge to my lord, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to put riders on them. ²⁴ How could you repulse the least important of my master’s servants even though you are trusting Egypt for chariots and horsemen? ²⁵ Was it apart from the Lord I have now come up to destroy this place? The Lord said to me, ‘Go up to attack this land and destroy it.’ ”

Chapter 19

Hezekiah and Isaiah. ¹ When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went into the temple of the Lord.

² He sent Eliakim, the major-domo, Shebna, the scribe, and all of the elders of the priests, all wearing sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. ³ They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to term but there is not enough strength to deliver them. ⁴ Perhaps the Lord, your God, will hear the words of the commander whom the king of Assyria, his master, has sent to taunt the living God. Perhaps he will rebuke him for the words which the Lord, your God, has heard. Therefore, raise up a prayer for the survivors who still remain.”

⁵ When King Hezekiah’s servants came to Isaiah, ⁶ Isaiah said to them, “This is what you are to tell your master: Thus says the Lord: Do not let the words you have heard, the words by which the king of Assyria blasphemed me, do not let them frighten you. ⁷ Behold, I will send a spirit into him so that when he hears a certain rumor, he will return to his own land. I will have him cut down by the sword in his own land.”

¹⁸ The Rich Young Man.^[a]A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁹ Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

²¹ The man replied, “I have kept all these since I was a child.” ²² On hearing this, Jesus said to him, “You need to do one further thing. Sell everything you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²³ But when he heard this, he became sad, because he was very rich.

²⁴ Danger of Riches. Jesus looked at him and said, “How difficult it is for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ He replied, “What is impossible for men is possible for God.”

²⁸ The Reward of Renunciation. Peter said to him, “We have given up our homes to follow you.” ²⁹ Jesus replied, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God ³⁰ who will not receive many times as much in this age, and eternal life in the age to come.”