Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Personal Responsibility for Sin
18 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel:
3 As I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.(C) 4 Look, every life belongs to me.(D) The life of the father is like the life of the son—both belong to me. The person who sins is the one who will die.(E)
25 “But you say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’(A) Now listen, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair? 26 When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, he will die for this. He will die because of the injustice he has committed. 27 But if a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life. 28 He will certainly live because he thought it over and turned from all the transgressions he had committed; he will not die. 29 But the house of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ Is it my ways that are unfair, house of Israel? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair?
30 “Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways.”(B) This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Repent and turn from all your rebellious acts, so they will not become a sinful stumbling block to you. 31 Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.(C) Why should you die, house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live!
Psalm 25
Dependence on the Lord
Of David.
1 Lord, I appeal to you.[a](A)
2 My God, I trust in you.
Do not let me be disgraced;(B)
do not let my enemies gloat over me.(C)
3 No one who waits for you
will be disgraced;(D)
those who act treacherously without cause
will be disgraced.(E)
4 Make your ways known to me, Lord;
teach me your paths.(F)
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,(G)
for you are the God of my salvation;(H)
I wait for you all day long.(I)
6 Remember, Lord, your compassion
and your faithful love,
for they have existed from antiquity.[b](J)
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth(K)
or my acts of rebellion;(L)
in keeping with your faithful love, remember me
because of your goodness, Lord.(M)
Christian Humility
2 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love,(A) if any fellowship with the Spirit,(B) if any affection and mercy,(C) 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way,(D) having the same love,(E) united in spirit, intent on one(F) purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition(G) or conceit,(H) but in humility(I) consider others as more important(J) than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests,(K) but rather to the interests of others.(L)
Christ’s Humility and Exaltation
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God(M)
as something to be exploited.[a]
7 Instead he emptied himself(N)
by assuming the form of a servant,(O)
taking on the likeness of humanity.(P)
And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.(Q)
9 For this reason God highly exalted him(R)
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow(S)—
in heaven(T) and on earth
and under the earth(U)—
11 and every tongue(V) will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory(W) of God the Father.
Lights in the World
12 Therefore, my dear friends,(X) just as you have always obeyed,(Y) so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
23 When he entered the temple,(A) the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?” (B)
24 Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Did John’s baptism come from heaven, or was it of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ (C) 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we’re afraid of the crowd,(D) because everyone considers John to be a prophet.”(E) 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
The Parable of the Two Sons
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’(F)
29 “He answered, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he answered, but he didn’t go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They said, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness,(G) and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.
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