Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Spirit Groans To Help Us In Our Present Weakness
26 And similarly also[a] the Spirit helps our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray as we ought-to, but the Spirit Himself intercedes-for us with inexpressible[b] groanings. 27 And the One searching our hearts knows[c] what the mind of the Spirit is, because He is interceding for the saints in accordance with God.
This Means God Is Working All Things Together Toward Our Glorification
28 And we know that all things are[d] working-together[e] for good for the ones loving God, the ones being called ones according to His purpose[f]. 29 Because whom He foreknew[g], He also predestined[h] to be similar-to-the-form of the image[i] of His Son, so that He might be firstborn[j] among many brothers. 30 And whom He predestined, these He also called[k]. And whom He called, these He also declared-righteous. And whom He declared righteous, these He also glorified[l].
So What Shall We Say To All This? If God Is For Us, Who Will Condemn Us?
31 Therefore, what shall we say to these things? If [m] God is for us, who is against us? 32 He Who indeed did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely-give[n] us all things? 33 Who will bring-a-charge against the chosen[o] ones of God? God is the One declaring-righteous! 34 Who is the one who will condemn[p]? Christ Jesus is the One having died, but more, having been raised, Who also is at the right hand of God, Who also intercedes[q] for us!
Nothing Can Separate Us From Christ’s Love; We Are Conquerors Through Him
35 What[r] shall separate us from the love of Christ? Affliction, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 Just as it has been written [in Ps 44:22] that “For your sake we are being put-to-death the whole day. We were considered as sheep for slaughter”. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly-conquer[s] through the One having loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present[t] nor things coming, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other creation[u] will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Mustard Seed: God’s Kingdom Will Start Very Small And Grow Very Large
31 He put-before them another parable, saying, “The kingdom of the heavens is like a seed of a mustard-plant, which having taken, a man sowed in his field— 32 which is smaller than all the seeds, but when it grows is larger than the garden-plants. And it becomes a tree[a], so that the birds of the heaven come and are nesting in its branches”.
Like Leaven In Bread, God’s Kingdom Will Permeate The World
33 He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which having taken, a woman concealed[b] into three measures[c] of wheat-flour until which time the whole thing was leavened”.
God’s Kingdom Is Like a Hidden Treasure Worth Selling All You Have To Obtain
44 “The kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure having been hidden in the field, which having found, a man hid. And from his joy[a], he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls. 46 And having found one very-valuable pearl, having gone, he has sold all that he was having, and he bought it.
God’s Kingdom Is Like a Net Catching Every Kind of Fish. The Bad Are Thrown Out
47 “Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a drag-net[b] having been cast into the sea and having gathered fish of every kind— 48 which, when it was filled, having pulled it up on the shore, and having sat-down, they collected the good ones into containers and threw the bad[c] ones outside. 49 So it will be at the conclusion of the age. The angels will go forth and separate the evil ones out of the midst of the righteous ones. 50 And they will throw them into the furnace of fire. In that place, there will be the weeping and the grinding of teeth.
Teachers in My Kingdom Will Expound From a Treasure of Old And New Things
51 “Did you understand all these things?” They say to Him, “Yes”. 52 And the One said to them, “For this reason[d], every scribe[e] having become-a-disciple[f] in[g] the kingdom of the heavens is like a man who is a house-master, who brings out new things and old[h] things from his treasure”.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing