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Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Daily Bible readings that follow the church liturgical year, with thematically matched Old and New Testament readings.
Duration: 1245 days
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Version
Hosea 5:15-6:6

15 I will go back to my place,
    until the people admit they are guilty,
    until they come looking for me.
Yes, in their trouble they will try very hard to find me.”

The Rewards of Coming Back to the Lord

“Come, let’s go back to the Lord.
    He hurt us, but he will heal us.
    He wounded us, but he will put bandages on us.
After two days he will bring us back to life.
    He will raise us up on the third day.
    Then we can live near him.
Let’s learn about the Lord.
    Let’s try very hard to know him.
We know he is coming,
    just as we know the dawn is coming.
He will come to us like the rain,
    like the spring rain that waters the ground.”

The People Are Not Faithful

“Ephraim, what should I do with you?
    Judah, what should I do with you?
Your faithfulness is like a morning mist.
    Your faithfulness is like the dew that goes away early in the morning.
I used the prophets
    and made laws for the people.
The people were killed at my command,
    but good things will come from those decisions.[a]
This is because I want faithful love,
    not sacrifice.
I want people to know God,
    not to bring burnt offerings.

Psalm 50:7-15

God says, “My people, listen to me!
    People of Israel, I will show my evidence against you.
    I am God, your God.
The problem I have with you is not your sacrifices
    or the burnt offerings you bring to me everyday.
Why would I want more bulls from your barns
    or goats from your pens?
10 I already own all the animals in the forest.
    I own all the animals on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains.
    Everything that moves in the fields is mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not ask you for food.
    I already own the world and everything in it.
13 I don’t eat the meat of bulls or drink the blood of goats.”

14 You made promises to God Most High, so give him what you promised.
    Bring your sacrifices and thank offerings.
15 God says, “Call me when trouble comes.
    I will help you, and you will honor me.”

Romans 4:13-25

God’s Promise Received Through Faith

13 Abraham and his descendants received the promise that they would get the whole world. But Abraham did not receive that promise because he followed the law. He received that promise because he was right with God through his faith. 14 If people could get God’s promise by following the law, then faith is worthless. And God’s promise to Abraham is worthless, 15 because the law can only bring God’s anger on those who disobey it. But if there is no law, then there is nothing to disobey.

16 So people get what God promised by having faith. This happens so that the promise can be a free gift. And if the promise is a free gift, then all of Abraham’s people will get that promise. The promise is not just for those who live under the Law of Moses. It is for all who live with faith as Abraham did. He is the father of us all. 17 As the Scriptures say, “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a] This is true before God, the one Abraham believed—the God who gives life to the dead and speaks of things that don’t yet exist as if they are real.

18 There was no hope that Abraham would have children, but Abraham believed God and continued to hope. And that is why he became the father of many nations. As God told him, “You will have many descendants.”[b] 19 Abraham was almost a hundred years old, so he was past the age for having children. Also, Sarah could not have children. Abraham was well aware of this, but his faith in God never became weak. 20 He never doubted that God would do what he promised. He never stopped believing. In fact, he grew stronger in his faith and just praised God. 21 Abraham felt sure that God was able to do what he promised. 22 So that’s why “he was accepted as one who is right with God.”[c] 23 These words (“he was accepted”) were written not only for Abraham. 24 They were also written for us. God will also accept us because we believe. We believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from death. 25 Jesus was handed over to die for our sins, and he was raised from death to make us right with God.

Matthew 9:9-13

Matthew (Levi) Follows Jesus(A)

When Jesus was leaving, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the place for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” So he got up and followed Jesus.

10 Jesus ate dinner at Matthew’s house. Many tax collectors and others with bad reputations came and ate with him and his followers. 11 The Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with these people. They asked his followers, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other sinners?”

12 Jesus heard them say this. So he said to them, “It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy. 13 You need to go and learn what this Scripture means: ‘I don’t want animal sacrifices; I want you to show kindness to people.’[a] I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners.”

Matthew 9:18-26

Jesus Gives Life to a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman(A)

18 While Jesus was still talking, a leader of the synagogue came to him. The leader bowed down before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But if you will come and touch her with your hand, she will live again.”

19 So Jesus and his followers went with the man.

20 On the way, there was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She came close behind Jesus and touched the bottom of his coat. 21 She was thinking, “If I can touch his coat, I will be healed.”

22 Jesus turned and saw the woman. He said, “Be happy, dear woman. You are made well because you believed.” Then the woman was healed.

23 Jesus continued going with the Jewish leader and went into the leader’s house. He saw people there who make music for funerals. And he saw a crowd of people crying loudly. 24 Jesus said, “Go away. The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping.” But the people laughed at him. 25 After the people were put out of the house, Jesus went into the girl’s room. He held the girl’s hand, and the girl stood up. 26 The news about this spread all around the area.

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International