Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 120[a]
A song of ascents.[b]
120 In my distress I cried out
to the Lord and he answered me.
2 I said,[c] “O Lord, rescue me[d]
from those who lie with their lips[e]
and those who deceive with their tongues.[f]
3 How will he severely punish you,
you deceptive talker?[g]
4 Here’s how![h] With the sharp arrows of warriors,
with arrowheads forged over the hot coals.[i]
5 How miserable I am.[j]
For I have lived temporarily[k] in Meshech;
I have resided among the tents of Kedar.[l]
6 For too long I have had to reside
with those who hate[m] peace.
7 I am committed to peace,[n]
but when I speak, they want to make war.[o]
11 “‘For the Lord has spoken about Shallum son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but was carried off into exile. He has said, “He will never return to this land.[a] 12 For he will die in the country where they took him as a captive. He will never see this land again.”[b]
Judgment on Jehoiakim
13 “‘Sure to be judged[c] is the king who builds his palace using injustice
and treats people unfairly while adding its upper rooms.[d]
He makes his countrymen work for him for nothing.
He does not pay them for their labor.
14 He says, “I will build myself a large palace
with spacious upper rooms.”
He cuts windows in its walls,
panels it[e] with cedar, and paints its rooms red.[f]
15 Does it make you any more of a king
that you outstrip everyone else in[g] building with cedar?
Just think about your father.
He was content that he had food and drink.[h]
He did what was just and right.[i]
So things went well with him.
16 He upheld the cause of the poor and needy.
So things went well for Judah.’[j]
The Lord says,
‘That is a good example of what it means to know me.[k]
17 But you are always thinking and looking
for ways to increase your wealth by dishonest means.
Your eyes and your heart are set
on killing some innocent person
and committing fraud and oppression.’”[l]
Rebuking the Pharisees and Experts in the Law
37 As he spoke,[a] a Pharisee[b] invited Jesus[c] to have a meal with him, so he went in and took his place at the table.[d] 38 The[e] Pharisee was astonished when he saw that Jesus[f] did not first wash his hands[g] before the meal. 39 But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean[h] the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.[i] 40 You fools![j] Didn’t the one who made the outside make the inside as well?[k] 41 But give from your heart to those in need,[l] and[m] then everything will be clean for you.[n]
42 “But woe to you Pharisees![o] You give a tenth[p] of your mint,[q] rue,[r] and every herb, yet you neglect justice[s] and love for God! But you should have done these things without neglecting the others.[t] 43 Woe to you Pharisees! You love the best seats[u] in the synagogues[v] and elaborate greetings[w] in the marketplaces![x] 44 Woe to you![y] You are like unmarked graves, and people[z] walk over them without realizing it!”[aa]
45 One of the experts in religious law[ab] answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult[ac] us too.” 46 But Jesus[ad] replied,[ae] “Woe to you experts in religious law as well![af] You load people[ag] down with burdens difficult to bear, yet you yourselves refuse to touch[ah] the burdens with even one of your fingers! 47 Woe to you! You build[ai] the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors[aj] killed. 48 So you testify that you approve of[ak] the deeds of your ancestors,[al] because they killed the prophets[am] and you build their[an] tombs![ao] 49 For this reason also the wisdom[ap] of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that this generation may be held accountable[aq] for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning[ar] of the world,[as] 51 from the blood of Abel[at] to the blood of Zechariah,[au] who was killed[av] between the altar and the sanctuary.[aw] Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against[ax] this generation. 52 Woe to you experts in religious law! You have taken away[ay] the key to knowledge! You did not go in yourselves, and you hindered[az] those who were going in.”
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