Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

²⁵ “I have ^(D)heard what the prophets have said who ^(E)prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a ^(F)dream, I had a dream!’ ²⁶ How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the ^(G)deceitfulness of their own heart, ²⁷ who intend to ^(H)make My people forget My name by their dreams which they report to one another, just as their fathers ^(I)forgot My name because of Baal? ²⁸ The prophet who has a dream may report his dream, but let him who has ^(J)My word speak My word truthfully. ^(K)What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord. ²⁹ “Is My word not like ^(L)fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a ^(M)hammer which shatters a rock?

Unjust Judgments Rebuked.

A Psalm of Asaph.

²⁹ By faith they ^(A)passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were ^[a]drowned.

³⁰ By faith ^(B)the walls of Jericho fell down ^[b](C)after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. ³¹ By faith the prostitute ^(D)Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies ^[c]in peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of ^(E)Gideon, ^(F)Barak, ^(G)Samson, ^(H)Jephthah, of ^(I)David and ^(J)Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who by faith ^(K)conquered kingdoms, ^(L)performed acts of righteousness, ^(M)obtained promises, ^(N)shut the mouths of lions, ^34 (O)quenched the power of fire, ^(P)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, ^(Q)became mighty in war, ^(R)put foreign armies to flight. ^35 (S)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their ^[d]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; ³⁶ and others ^[e]experienced mocking and flogging, and further, ^(T)chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were ^(U)stoned, they were sawn in two, ^[f]they were tempted, they were ^(V)put to death with the sword; they went about ^(W)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ^(X)tormented ³⁸ (people of whom the world was not worthy), ^(Y)wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes ^[g]in the ground.

³⁹ And all these, having ^(Z)gained approval through their faith, ^(AA)did not receive ^[h]what was promised, ⁴⁰ because God had ^[i]provided ^(AB)something better for us, so that ^(AC)apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Jesus, the Example

12 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s ^(AD)rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s ^(AE)run with ^(AF)endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking only at Jesus, the ^[j](AG)originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him ^(AH)endured the cross, ^(AI)despising the shame, and has ^(AJ)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Christ Divides People

⁴⁹ “I ^[a]have come to cast fire upon the earth; and ^[b]how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ But I have a ^(A)baptism ^[c]to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! ^51 (B)Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; ⁵² for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, ^(C)father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

⁵⁴ And He was also saying to the crowds, “^(D)Whenever you see a cloud rising ^[d]in the west, you immediately say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. ⁵⁵ And whenever you feel a ^[e]south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a ^(E)hot day,’ and it turns out that way. ⁵⁶ You hypocrites! ^(F)You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you do not know how to analyze this present time?