Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 43^[a]

²⁷ A man of God came to Eli and said to him,^(A) “This is what the Lord says: ‘Didn’t I reveal myself to your forefather’s family^[a] when they were in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace?^{(B) 28} Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your house^[b] to be my priests, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence.^(C) I also gave your forefather’s family all the Israelite food offerings. ²⁹ Why, then, do all of you despise my sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship?^(D) You have honored your sons more than me,^(E) by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of my people Israel.’

³⁰ “Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever.^(F) But now,’ this is the Lord’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor,^(G) but those who despise me will be disgraced.^{(H) 31} Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather’s family, so that none in your family will reach old age.^{(I) 32} You will see distress in the place of worship,^(J) in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age.^{(K) 33} Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief^[c] and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently.^{[d][e] 34} This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas:^(L) both of them will die on the same day.^(M)

³⁵ “‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest^(N) for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him,^(O) and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.^{(P) 36} Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’”

Jewish Violation of the Law

¹⁷ Now if^[a] you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law,^(A) and boast in God, ¹⁸ and know his will, and approve the things that are superior,^(B) being instructed from the law, ¹⁹ and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, ²⁰ an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth^(C) in the law— ²¹ you then, who teach another,^(D) don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? ²² You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?^{(E) 23} You who boast in the law,^(F) do you dishonor God by breaking the law?^{[b] 24} For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.^[c](G)

Circumcision of the Heart

²⁵ Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.^{(H) 26} So if an uncircumcised^(I) man keeps the law’s requirements,^(J) will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? ²⁷ A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you^(K) who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. ²⁸ For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly,^(L) and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. ²⁹ On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly,^(M) and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter.^[d](N) That person’s praise is not from people but from God.^(O)