Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Jacob Wrestles with God

²² That night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. ²³ And he took them and sent them across the stream. Then he sent across all his possessions. ²⁴ And Jacob remained alone, and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the dawn. ²⁵ And when he^[a] saw that he could not prevail against him, he struck his hip socket, so that Jacob’s hip socket was sprained as he wrestled with him. ²⁶ Then he^[b] said, “Let me go, for dawn is breaking.” But he answered, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” ²⁷ Then he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” ²⁸ And he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,^[c] for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.” ²⁹ Then Jacob asked and said, “Please tell me your name.” And he said, “Why do you ask this—for my name?” And he blessed him there. ³⁰ Then Jacob called the name of the place Peniel which means “I have seen God face to face and my life was spared.” ³¹ Then the sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Trust in God’s Protection

A song for the ascents.^[a]

¹⁴ But you continue in the things which you have learned and are convinced of, because you^[a] know from whom you learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the holy writings that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ in order that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Paul’s Charge to Timothy

4 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom, ² preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and instruction. ³ For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound teaching, but in accordance with their own desires, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, because they have an insatiable curiosity^[b], ⁴ and they will turn away from the hearing of the truth, but will turn to myths. ⁵ But you, be self-controlled in all things, bear hardship patiently, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The Parable of the Unjust Judge

18 And he told them a parable to show that they must always pray and not be discouraged, ² saying, “There was a certain judge in a certain town who did not fear God and did not respect people. ³ And there was a widow in that town, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary!’ ⁴ And he was not willing for a time, but after these things he said to himself, ‘Even if I do not fear God or respect people, ⁵ yet because this widow is causing trouble for me, I will grant her justice, so that she does not wear me down in the end by her^[a] coming back!’” ⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge is saying! ⁷ And will not God surely see to it that justice is done^[b] to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, and will he delay toward them? ⁸ I tell you that he will see to it that justice is done^[c] for them soon! Nevertheless, when^[d] the Son of Man comes, then will he find faith on earth?”