Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

What faith is, and a commendation of the same. The steadfast belief of the fathers in old time.

11 Faith is a sure confidence of things that are hoped for, and a certainty of things that are not seen. ² By it the elders were well reported of.

  ³ Through faith we understand that the world and all the things which are seen were made of nothing by the word of God.

⁸ By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed, to go out into a place that he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he should go. ⁹ By faith he moved into the land that was promised him as into a strange country, and dwelt in tents; and so did Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he looked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.

¹¹ Through faith Sarah also received strength to be with child, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. ¹² And therefore there came from one (and from one who was as good as dead) as many descendants as the stars of the sky, and as the sand of the seashore, which is innumerable.

¹³ And they all died in faith, and did not obtain the promises, but saw them afar off, and believed them, and hailed them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are seeking a country. ¹⁵ Also, if they had been mindful of that country that they came from, they were free to have returned again. ¹⁶ But now they desire a better country; that is to say, a heavenly one. And so God is not ashamed of them, even to be called their God. For he has prepared for them a city.

³² Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s pleasure to give you a kingdom. ³³ Sell what you have and give alms, and make yourselves pouches that won’t wear out, and treasure that won’t fail in heaven, where no thief comes or moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also.

³⁵ Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning, ³⁶ and you yourselves like men waiting for their master, for when he will return from a wedding, so that as soon as he comes and knocks, they can open to him. ³⁷ Happy are those servants whom the Lord, when he comes, finds watching. Truly I say to you, he will gird himself about and make them sit down to food, and walk by and minister to them. ³⁸ And if he comes in the second watch, yea if he comes in the third watch, and finds them so, happy are those servants. ³⁹ This understand: if the householder knew what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and not allow his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰ Be prepared therefore, for the Son of man will come at an hour when you think not.