Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
15 I will go away and return to My place until they know they are guilty and look for Me. In their suffering they will try to find Me.”
The People Are toTurn from Their Sin
6 “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has hurt us but He will heal us. He has cut us but He will cover the sore. 2 After two days He will give us new life. He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him. 3 So keep on trying to know the Lord. His coming to us is as sure as the rising of the sun. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain giving water to the earth.”
4 “What should I do with you, Ephraim? What should I do with you, Judah? Your loving-kindness is like a morning cloud, and like the water on the grass in the early morning. 5 So I have cut them in pieces by the men who speak for Me. I have killed them by the words of My mouth. My punishments come upon you like lightning. 6 I want loving-kindness and not a gift to be given in worship. I want people to know God instead of giving burnt gifts.
7 “Listen, O My people, and I will speak. O Israel, I will speak against you. I am God, your God. 8 I do not speak sharp words to you for your gifts given on an altar. And your burnt gifts are always before Me. 9 I will not take a young bull out of your house, or male goats out of your fields. 10 For every animal among the trees is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know every bird of the mountains. And all things that move in the field are Mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you. For the world is Mine, and all that is in it. 13 Should I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of male goats? 14 Give a gift of thanks on the altar to God. And pay your promises to the Most High. 15 Call on Me in the day of trouble. I will take you out of trouble, and you will honor Me.”
13 God promised to give the world to him and to all his family after him. He did not make this promise because Abraham obeyed the Law. He promised to give the world to Abraham because he put his trust in God. This made him right with God. 14 If those who obey the Law are to get the world, then a person putting his trust in God means nothing. God’s promise to Abraham would be worth nothing. 15 God’s anger comes on a man when he does not obey the Law. But if there were no Law, then no one could break it.
16 So God’s promise is given to us because we put our trust in Him. We can be sure of it. It is because of His loving-favor to us. It is for all the family of Abraham. It is for those who obey the Law. It is for those who put their trust in God as Abraham did. In this way, he is the father of all Christians. 17 The Holy Writings say, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This promise is good because of Who God is. He makes the dead live again. He speaks, and something is made out of nothing. 18 Abraham believed he would be the father of many nations. He had no reason to hope for this, but he had been told, “Your children will become many nations.” (A) 19 Abraham was about one hundred years old. His body was about dead, but his faith in God was not weak when he thought of his body. His faith was not weak when he thought of his wife Sarah being past the age of having children. 20 Abraham did not doubt God’s promise. His faith in God was strong, and he gave thanks to God. 21 He was sure God was able to do what He had promised. 22 Abraham put his trust in God and was made right with Him. 23 The words, “He was made right with God,” were not for Abraham only. 24 They were for us also. God will make us right with Himself the same way He did Abraham, if we put our trust in God Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 Jesus died for our sins. He was raised from the dead to make us right with God.
Jesus Calls Matthew (A)
9 As Jesus went from there, He saw a man called Matthew. Matthew was sitting at his work gathering taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Matthew got up and followed Jesus. 10 Jesus ate in Matthew’s house. Many men who gathered taxes and many who were sinners came to Matthew’s house and sat down with Jesus and His followers. 11 The proud religious law-keepers saw this. They said to the followers of Jesus, “Why does your Teacher eat with men who gather taxes and with sinners?” 12 Jesus heard them and said, “People who are well do not need a doctor. 13 But go and understand these words, ‘I want loving-kindness and not a gift to be given.’ (B) For I have not come to call good people. I have come to call those who are sinners.”
Two Healed Through Faith (A)
18 While Jesus talked to them, a leader of the people came and got down before Him, and worshiped Him. He said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay Your hand on her and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and followed him. His followers went also. 20 Just then a woman who had been sick with a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind. She touched the bottom of His coat. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch the bottom of His coat, I will be healed.” 22 Then Jesus turned around. He saw her and said, “Daughter, take hope! Your faith has healed you.” At once the woman was healed.
23 Jesus came into the leader’s house. He saw the people playing music and making much noise. 24 He said to them, “Go now! For the girl is not dead, but is sleeping.” But they laughed at Him. 25 He sent the people outside. Then He went in and took the girl’s hand. She was raised up. 26 News of this went out into all the country.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.