Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁶ Therefore we are always of good cheer. And we know well that as long as we are at home in the body, we are away from God. ⁷ For we walk in faith, and see not. ⁸ Nevertheless, we are of good comfort – and yet would rather be away from the body, and be present with the Lord.

⁹ And so whether we are at home or away from home, we endeavour to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that every person may receive the works of his body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad.

¹¹ Seeing then that we know how the Lord is to be feared, we fare fair with men. For we are known well enough to God.

I trust also that we are known in your consciences. ¹² We are not praising ourselves again to you, but give you reason to have confidence in us, so that you may have something to answer to those who put confidence in the face, and not in the heart. ¹³ For if we are too fervent, it is for God that we are too fervent. If we are restrained, it is for your sakes that we show restraint.

¹⁴ For the love of Christ constrains us, because we judge this way: if one is dead for all, then all are dead; ¹⁵ and that he died for all so that those who live should henceforth live not for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again. ¹⁶ And so henceforth we know no man after the flesh, insomuch that even if we have known Christ after the flesh, now henceforth we know him this way no more. ¹⁷ Therefore if any person is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away: behold, all things are become new.

²⁶ And he said, The kingdom of God is like this: it is as if a man sows seed in the ground, ²⁷ and sleeps, and rises up night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows up, he knows not how. ²⁸ For the earth brings forth fruit of herself: first the blade, then the ears, after that the full grain in the ears. ²⁹ And as soon as the fruit is brought forth, immediately the man thrusts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.

³⁰ And he said, To what may we liken the kingdom of God? or what comparison can we use? ³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is the least of all seeds that are in the earth. ³² But after it is sown, it grows up and is greatest of all shrubs, and bears great branches, so that the birds of the air may dwell under the cover of it.

³³ And with many such similitudes he preached the word to the people, as they were able to hear it. ³⁴ And without similitude he spoke nothing to them. But when they were apart, he expounded all things to his disciples.