Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Laws of Holiness

19 The Lord spoke to Moses: ² “Speak to the entire Israelite community and tell them: Be holy^(A) because I, Yahweh your God, am holy.^(B)

⁹ “When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edge of your field or gather the gleanings^(A) of your harvest. ¹⁰ You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor^(B) and the foreign resident;^(C) I am Yahweh your God.

¹¹ “You must not steal.^(D) You must not act deceptively^(E) or lie^(F) to one another. ¹² You must not swear falsely by My name, profaning the name of your God;^(G) I am Yahweh.

¹³ “You must not oppress^(H) your neighbor or rob^(I) him. The wages due a hired hand^(J) must not remain with you until morning. ¹⁴ You must not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind,^(K) but you are to fear your God;^(L) I am Yahweh.^(M)

¹⁵ “You must not act unjustly^(N) when deciding a case. Do not be partial^(O) to the poor or give preference to the rich;^(P) judge your neighbor fairly. ¹⁶ You must not go about spreading slander^(Q) among your people; you must not jeopardize^[a] your neighbor’s life; I am Yahweh.

¹⁷ “You must not harbor hatred against your brother.^[b](R) Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him.^{(S) 18} Do not take revenge^(T) or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself;^(U) I am Yahweh.

ה He

¹⁰ According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no one can lay any other foundation^(A) than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.

¹⁶ Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary^(A) and that the Spirit of God lives in you?^{(B) 17} If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him;^(C) for God’s sanctuary is holy,^(D) and that is what you are.

The Folly of Human Wisdom

¹⁸ No one should deceive^(E) himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age,^(F) he must become foolish^(G) so that he can become wise.^{(H) 19} For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(I) with God, since it is written:^(J) He catches the wise in their craftiness;^{(K)[a] 20} and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings^(L) of the wise are meaningless.^{(M)[b] 21} So no one should boast in human leaders, for everything is yours^(N)— ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas^(O) or the world or life^(P) or death^(Q) or things present or things to come^(R)—everything is yours, ²³ and you belong to Christ,^(S) and Christ belongs to God.

Go the Second Mile

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.^{(A)[a] 39} But I tell you, don’t resist^[b] an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.^{(B) 40} As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt,^[c] let him have your coat^[d] as well. ⁴¹ And if anyone forces^[e] you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.^(C)

Love Your Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor^(D)[f] and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies^[g] and pray for those who^[h] persecute you,^{(E) 45} so that you may be^[i] sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.^{(F) 46} For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary?^[j](G) Don’t even the Gentiles^[k] do the same? ⁴⁸ Be perfect,^(H) therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.