Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

First and Last

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we do not owe anything to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Ruach you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Ruach Elohim, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall again into fear; rather, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Ruach Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. ^{[a] 17} And if children, also heirs—heirs of God and joint-heirs with Messiah—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

The Coming Glory

¹⁸ For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility^[b]—not willingly but because of the One who subjected it^[c]—in hope ²¹ that the creation itself also will be set free from bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation groans together and suffers birth pains until now— ²³ and not only creation, but even ourselves. We ourselves, who have the firstfruits^[d] of the Ruach, groan inwardly as we eagerly wait for adoption—the redemption of our body.

²⁴ For in hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Yeshua Tells More Parables

²⁴ He presented to them another parable, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. ²⁶ Now when the stalk sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. ²⁷ So the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’ ²⁸ But he replied, ‘An enemy did this.’ Now the slaves say to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go out and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he says, ‘No, for while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time, I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the weeds and tie them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

³⁶ Then He sent the crowds away and went into the house. His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”

³⁷ He answered, “The one sowing the good seed is the Son of Man, ³⁸ and the field is the world. And the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one. ³⁹ The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ Therefore just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks^[a] and those who practice lawlessness. ⁴² They will throw them into the fiery furnace^[b]; in that place will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun^[c] in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear!