Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁶ “This is what the Lord says, He who is the ^(A)King of Israel and his ^(B)Redeemer, the Lord of armies:

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— ¹³ for ^(A)if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are ^(B)putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are ^(C)being led by the Spirit of God, these are ^(D)sons and daughters of God. ¹⁵ For you ^(E)have not received a spirit of slavery ^[a]leading to fear again, but you ^(F)have received ^[b]a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “^(G)Abba! ^[c]Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself ^(H)testifies with our spirit that we are ^(I)children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, ^(J)heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, ^(K)if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time ^(L)are not worthy to be compared with the ^(M)glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the ^(N)eagerly awaiting creation waits for ^(O)the revealing of the ^(P)sons and daughters of God. ²⁰ For the creation ^(Q)was subjected to ^(R)futility, not willingly, but ^(S)because of Him who subjected it, ^[d]in hope ²¹ that ^(T)the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation ^(U)groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. ^23 (V)And not only that, but also we ourselves, having ^(W)the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves ^(X)groan within ourselves, ^(Y)waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, ^(Z)the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For ^(AA)in hope we have been saved, but ^(AB)hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But ^(AC)if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Weeds among Wheat

²⁴ Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “^(A)The kingdom of heaven ^[a]is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed ^[b]weeds among the wheat, and left. ²⁶ And when the ^[c]wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident. ²⁷ And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? ^[d]How then does it have weeds?’ ²⁸ And he said to them, ‘^[e]An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he *said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but ^(B)gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

The Weeds Explained

³⁶ Then He left the crowds and went into ^(A)the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “^(B)Explain to us the parable of the ^[a]weeds of the field.” ³⁷ And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is ^(C)the Son of Man, ³⁸ and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are ^(D)the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are ^(E)the sons of ^(F)the evil one; ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is ^(G)the ^[b]end of the age; and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at ^(H)the ^[c]end of the age. ^41 (I)The Son of Man ^(J)will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom ^[d]all ^(K)stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, ⁴² and they ^(L)will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place ^(M)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ^43 (N)Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. ^(O)The one who has ears, ^[e]let him hear.