Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Laws about Right Living
19 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to all the people of Israel, ‘Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
15 ‘Be fair in how you judge. Do not show favor to the poor or to the great. Be fair in how you judge your neighbor. 16 Do not go around saying things that hurt your people. Do not do things against the life of your neighbor. I am the Lord.
17 ‘In your heart do not hate someone from your own country. You may speak sharp words to your neighbor, but do not sin because of him. 18 Do not hurt someone who has hurt you. Do not keep on hating the sons of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
The Difference between Good and Sinful People
1 Happy is the man who does not walk in the way sinful men tell him to, or stand in the path of sinners, or sit with those who laugh at the truth. 2 But he finds joy in the Law of the Lord and thinks about His Law day and night. 3 This man is like a tree planted by rivers of water, which gives its fruit at the right time and its leaf never dries up. Whatever he does will work out well for him.
4 Sinful men are not like this. They are like straw blown away by the wind. 5 So the sinful will not stand. They will be told they are guilty and have to suffer for it. Sinners will not stand with those who are right with God. 6 For the Lord knows the way of those who are right with Him. But the way of the sinful will be lost from God forever.
2 Christian brothers, you know that my visit with you was not wasted. 2 Just before we came to you, we had been in the city of Philippi. You know how they worked against us and made us suffer. But God helped us preach the Good News to you without fear, even while many people hated us and made it hard for us. 3 You remember what we said to you was true. We had no wrong desire in teaching you. We did not try to fool you. 4 God has allowed us to be trusted with the Good News. Because of this, we preach it to please God, not man. God tests and proves our hearts. 5 You know we never used smooth-sounding words. God knows we never tried to get money from you by preaching. 6 We never looked for thanks from men, not from you or from anyone else. But because we were missionaries of Christ, we could have asked you to do much for us. 7 Instead, we were gentle when we came to you. We were like a mother caring for her children. 8 We had such a strong desire to help you that we were happy to give you the Good News. Because we loved you so much, we were ready to give you our own lives also.
The Great Law (A)
34 The proud religious law-keepers got together when they heard that the religious group of people who believe no one will be raised from the dead were not able to talk anymore to Jesus. 35 A proud religious law-keeper who knew the Law tried to trap Jesus. He said, 36 “Teacher, which one is the greatest of the Laws?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest of the Laws. 39 The second is like it, ‘You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ 40 All the Laws and the writings of the early preachers depend on these two most important Laws.”
41 The proud religious law-keepers were gathered together. Then Jesus asked, 42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” 43 Jesus said to them, “Then how is it that David, being led by the Holy Spirit, calls Him ‘Lord’? He said, 44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right side until I make those who hate You a place to rest Your feet.”’ (B) 45 If David calls Him ‘Lord,’ then how can He be the Son of David?” 46 No one could answer a word, and after that day no one asked Him anything.
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