Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹⁸ Such idols possess neither knowledge nor understanding, for their eyes are shut so that they cannot see, and their minds are incapable of reasoning. ¹⁹ Yet such a workman does not have the wisdom or the discernment to reflect, “Half of the wood I have burned in the fire, and I also used its embers to bake bread and to roast meat which I ate. Does it make sense to fashion an abomination with the remainder? Am I right to worship a block of wood?” ²⁰ He feeds on ashes. His deluded mind has led him astray, and he cannot save himself. He will not admit to himself, “What I have in my hand is a fraud.”

¹⁵ False Prophets and True Disciples.^[a]“Be on guard against false prophets who come to you disguised in sheep’s clothing, but who inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruits you will know them. Does one pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruits you will know them.