Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Final Admonition

4 “^[a]For behold, the day is coming, ^(A)burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be ^(B)chaff; and the day that is coming will ^(C)set them ablaze,” says the Lord of armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branches. ² But for you who ^[b]fear My name, the ^(D)sun of righteousness will rise with ^(E)healing in its wings; and you will go forth and ^(F)frolic like calves from the stall.

A Call to Praise the Lord for His Righteousness.

A Psalm.

⁶ Now we command you, brothers and sisters, ^(A)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you ^[a](B)keep away from every brother or sister who ^[b]leads a ^[c](C)disorderly life and not one in accordance with ^(D)the tradition which ^[d]you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to ^[e](E)follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you, ⁸ nor did we ^(F)eat ^[f]anyone’s bread ^[g]without paying for it, but with ^(G)labor and hardship we kept ^(H)working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; ⁹ not because we do not have ^(I)the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves ^(J)as a role model for you, so that you would ^[h]follow our example. ¹⁰ For even ^(K)when we were with you, we used to give you this order: ^(L)if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you are ^(M)leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like ^(N)busybodies. ¹² Now we command and ^(O)exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to ^(P)work ^[i]peacefully and eat their own bread. ¹³ But as for you, ^(Q)brothers and sisters, ^(R)do not grow weary of doing good.

^5 (A)And while some were talking about the temple, that it was decorated with beautiful stones and ^[a]vowed gifts, He said, ⁶ “As for these things which you are observing, the days will come when ^(B)there will not be left one stone upon ^[b]another, which will not be torn down.”

⁷ They asked Him questions, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the ^[c]sign when these things are about to take place?” ⁸ And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘^(C)I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ ^(D)Do not go after them. ⁹ And when you hear of wars and revolts, do not be alarmed; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.”

Things to Come

¹⁰ Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, ¹¹ and there will be ^[d]massive earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrible sights and great ^[e]signs from heaven.

¹² “But before all these things, ^(E)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, ^[f]bringing you before kings and governors on account of My name. ^13 (F)It will lead to ^[g]an opportunity for your testimony. ^14 (G)So ^[h]make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; ¹⁵ for ^(H)I will provide you ^[i]eloquence and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to oppose or refute. ¹⁶ But you will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, other relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death, ¹⁷ and you will be hated by all people because of My name. ¹⁸ And yet ^(I)not a hair of your head will perish. ^19 (J)By your endurance you will gain your ^[j]lives.