Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
2 And all the people of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the desert, 3 saying, “We should have died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. For you have brought us out into this desert to kill all of us with hunger.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I will rain bread from heaven for you. The people will go out and gather a day’s share every day, so I may test them to see if they will follow My Law or not. 5 On the sixth day they are to bring in twice as much as they gather each day.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to the people of Israel, “This evening you will know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 And in the morning you will see the greatness of the Lord. For He hears your complaining against the Lord. What are we, that you complain against us?” 8 Moses said, “The Lord is giving you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning. For He hears how you complain against Him. What are we? You complain not against us, but against the Lord.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to all the people of Israel, ‘Come near to the Lord, for He has heard your complaining.’” 10 When Aaron spoke to all the people of Israel, they looked toward the desert. And they saw in the cloud the shining-greatness of the Lord. 11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the complaining of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘In the evening you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”
13 In the evening quails came and covered the place where the people were staying. And in the early morning a little water was around the tents. 14 When the water had gone, there were small white pieces all over the ground of the desert. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.
God’s Work with Israel
105 O give thanks to the Lord. Call on His name. Make His works known among the people. 2 Sing to Him. Sing praises to Him. Tell of all His great works. 3 Honor His holy name. Let the heart of those who look to the Lord be glad. 4 Look for the Lord and His strength. Look for His face all the time. 5 Remember the great and powerful works that He has done. Keep in mind what He has decided and told us, 6 O children of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
37 Then He brought Israel out with silver and gold. And there was not one weak person among their families. 38 Egypt was glad when they left. For they had become afraid of Israel. 39 He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light at night. 40 They asked, and He brought them quails for meat. And He filled them with the bread of heaven. 41 He opened the rock and water flowed out. It flowed in the desert like a river. 42 For He remembered His holy Word with Abraham His servant. 43 And He brought His people out with joy, His chosen ones with singing. 44 He gave them the lands of the nations. They were given what others had worked for, 45 so that they might do what He told them and keep His Law. Praise the Lord!
21 To me, living means having Christ. To die means that I would have more of Him. 22 If I keep on living here in this body, it means that I can lead more people to Christ. I do not know which is better. 23 There is a strong pull from both sides. I have a desire to leave this world to be with Christ, which is much better. 24 But it is more important for you that I stay. 25 I am sure I will live to help you grow and be happy in your faith. 26 This will give you reason to give more thanks to Christ Jesus when I come to visit you again.
Fight for the Faith
27 Live your lives as the Good News of Christ says you should. If I come to you or not, I want to hear that you are standing true as one. I want to hear that you are working together as one, preaching the Good News. 28 Do not be afraid of those who hate you. Their hate for you proves they will be destroyed. It proves you have life from God that lasts forever. 29 You are not only to put your trust in Him, but you are to suffer for Him also. 30 You know what the fight is like. Now it is time for you to have a part in it as I have.
The Picture-Story of the Workmen in the Grape-Field
20 “For the holy nation of heaven is like the owner of a grape-field. He went out early in the morning to hire workmen to work in his grape-field. 2 He promised to give them a day’s pay and then sent them to his grape-field. 3 Later in the morning he went to the center of the town where people gather. He saw men standing there doing nothing. 4 He said to them, ‘You go to my grape-field and work also. Whatever is right, I will pay you.’ And they went. 5 Again he went out about noon and at three o’clock and did the same thing. 6 About five o’clock he went out and still found others doing nothing. He asked them, ‘Why do you stand here all day and do nothing?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said, ‘Go to my grape-field and work. Whatever is right, I will pay you.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the grape-field said to the boss of the workmen, ‘Call the workmen. Give them their pay. Start with the last ones hired and go on to the first ones hired.’ 9 The workmen who had been hired at five o’clock came up. Each one of them got a day’s pay for his work. 10 When the workmen who had been hired the first thing in the morning came, they thought they would get more. But each one got a day’s pay. 11 After they received it, they talked against the owner. 12 They said, ‘The last workmen hired have only worked one hour. You have given to them the same as to us. We have worked hard through the heat of the day.’ 13 But he said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me when I promised to pay you a day’s pay? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the last ones hired the same as I have given you. 15 Do I not have the right to do what I want to do with my own money? Does your eye make you want more because I am good?’ 16 So those who are last will be first and the first will be last.”
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