Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Ahab Murders Naboth
21 After this the following episode took place.[a] Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.[b] 2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard so I can make a vegetable garden out of it, for it is adjacent to my palace. I will give you an even better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer,[c] I will pay you silver for it.”[d] 3 But Naboth replied to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.”[e]
4 So Ahab went into his palace, bitter and angry that Naboth the Jezreelite had said,[f] “I will not sell to you my ancestral inheritance.”[g] He lay down on his bed, pouted,[h] and would not eat. 5 Then his wife Jezebel came in and said to him, “Why do you have a bitter attitude and refuse to eat?” 6 He answered her, “While I was talking to Naboth the Jezreelite, I said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard for silver, or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not sell you my vineyard.’”[i] 7 His wife Jezebel said to him, “You are the king of Israel![j] Get up, eat some food, and have a good time.[k] I will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”
8 She wrote out orders,[l] signed Ahab’s name to them,[m] and sealed them with his seal. She then sent the orders[n] to the leaders[o] and to the nobles who lived in Naboth’s city.[p] 9 This is what she wrote:[q] “Observe a time of fasting and seat Naboth in front of the people. 10 Also seat two villains opposite him and have them testify, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
11 The men of the[a] city, the leaders,[b] and the nobles who lived there[c] followed the written orders Jezebel had sent them.[d] 12 They observed a time of fasting and put Naboth in front of the people. 13 The two villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified against Naboth right before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they dragged him[e] outside the city and stoned him to death.[f] 14 Then they reported to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.”[g]
15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she[a] said to Ahab, “Get up, take possession of the vineyard Naboth the Jezreelite refused to sell you for silver, for Naboth is no longer alive; he’s dead.” 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead,[b] he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
17 The Lord’s message came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 “Get up, go down and meet King Ahab of Israel who lives in Samaria. He is at the vineyard of Naboth; he has gone down there to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord has said: “Haven’t you committed murder and taken possession of the property of the deceased?”’[c] Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord has said: “In the spot where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood they will also lick up your blood—yes, yours!”’”
20 When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him,[d] “So, you have found me, my enemy!” Elijah[e] replied, “I have found you, because you are committed[f] to doing evil in the sight of[g] the Lord. 21 The Lord says,[h] ‘Look, I am ready to bring disaster[i] on you. I will destroy you[j] and cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated.[k]
Psalm 5[a]
For the music director, to be accompanied by wind instruments;[b] a psalm of David.
5 Listen to what I say,[c] Lord!
Carefully consider my complaint![d]
2 Pay attention to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for I am praying to you!
3 Lord, in the morning[e] you will hear[f] me;[g]
in the morning I will present my case to you[h] and then wait expectantly for an answer.[i]
4 Certainly[j] you are not a God who approves of evil;[k]
evil people[l] cannot dwell with you.[m]
5 Arrogant people cannot stand in your presence;[n]
you hate[o] all who behave wickedly.[p]
6 You destroy[q] liars;[r]
the Lord despises[s] violent and deceitful people.[t]
7 But as for me,[u] because of your great faithfulness I will enter your house;[v]
I will bow down toward your holy temple as I worship you.[w]
8 Lord, lead me in your righteousness[x]
because of those who wait to ambush me,[y]
remove the obstacles in the way in which you are guiding me.[z]
The Justification of Jews and Gentiles
15 We are Jews by birth[a] and not Gentile sinners,[b] 16 yet we know[c] that no one[d] is justified by the works of the law[e] but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.[f] And[g] we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ[h] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one[i] will be justified. 17 But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages[j] sin? Absolutely not! 18 But if I build up again those things I once destroyed,[k] I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law.[l] 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ,[m] and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So[n] the life I now live in the body,[o] I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God,[p] who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside[q] God’s grace, because if righteousness[r] could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing![s]
Jesus’ Anointing
36 Now one of the Pharisees[a] asked Jesus[b] to have dinner with him, so[c] he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table.[d] 37 Then[e] when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus[f] was dining[g] at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar[h] of perfumed oil.[i] 38 As[j] she stood[k] behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She[l] wiped them with her hair,[m] kissed[n] them,[o] and anointed[p] them with the perfumed oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this,[q] he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,[r] he would know who and what kind of woman[s] this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” 40 So[t] Jesus answered him,[u] “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied,[v] “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A certain creditor[w] had two debtors; one owed him[x] 500 silver coins,[y] and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled[z] the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered,[aa] “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”[ab] Jesus[ac] said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then,[ad] turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet,[ae] but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss of greeting,[af] but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet[ag] with perfumed oil. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much;[ah] but the one who is forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then[ai] Jesus[aj] said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”[ak] 49 But[al] those who were at the table[am] with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 He[an] said to the woman, “Your faith[ao] has saved you;[ap] go in peace.”
Jesus’ Ministry and the Help of Women
8 Some time[aq] afterward[ar] he went on through towns[as] and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news[at] of the kingdom of God.[au] The[av] twelve were with him, 2 and also some women[aw] who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities:[ax] Mary[ay] (called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Cuza[az] (Herod’s[ba] household manager),[bb] Susanna, and many others who provided for them[bc] out of their own resources.
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