Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Man Who Speaks for God

¹⁵ “The Lord your God will give you a man who speaks for God like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. ¹⁶ This is what you asked of the Lord your God at Sinai on the day of the meeting, when you said, ‘Do not let me hear the voice of the Lord my God again. Do not let me see this fire any more, or I will die.’ ¹⁷ And the Lord said to me, ‘They have spoken well. ¹⁸ I will give them a man who speaks for God like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth. And he will make known to them all that I tell him. ¹⁹ He will speak in My name. And I will punish whoever will not listen to him. ²⁰ But that man of God will die who is not careful and speaks in My name what I did not tell him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods.’

The Lord Be Praised

111 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart where those who are right with God gather together and in the meeting of the people. ² The works of the Lord are great. All who find joy in them try to understand them. ³ His work is great and powerful. And He is right and good forever. ⁴ He has made His great works to be remembered. The Lord shows loving-favor and pity. ⁵ He gives food to those who fear Him. He will remember His agreement forever. ⁶ He has shown His people the power of His works by giving them the land of other nations.

⁷ The works of His hands are faithful and right. All His Laws are true. ⁸ They stand strong forever and ever. They are done by what is true and right. ⁹ He has made a way for His people to be free. He has set up His agreement forever. His holy name is to be honored with fear. ¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All who obey His Laws have good understanding. His praise lasts forever.

Food Given to False Gods

8 I want to write about food that has been given as a gift in worship to a false god. We all know something about it. Knowing about it makes one feel important. But love makes one strong. ² The person who thinks he knows all the answers still has a lot to learn. ³ But if he loves God, he is known by God also.

⁴ What about food that has been given as a gift to a false god in worship? Is it right? We know that a false god is not a god at all. There is only one God! There is no other. ⁵ Men have thought there are many such gods and lords in the sky and on the earth. ⁶ But we know there is only one God. He is the Father. All things are from Him. He made us for Himself. There is one Lord. He is Jesus Christ. He made all things. He keeps us alive.

⁷ Not all men know this. They have given food as a gift in worship to a god as if the god were alive. Some men have done this all their lives. If they eat such food, their hearts tell them it is wrong. ⁸ Food will not bring us near to God. We are no worse if we do not eat it, or we are no better if we eat it. ⁹ Since you are free to do as you please, be careful that this does not hurt a weak Christian. ¹⁰ A Christian who is weak may see you eat food in a place where it has been given as a gift to false gods in worship. Since he sees you eat it, he will eat it also. ¹¹ You may make the weak Christian fall into sin by what you have done. Remember, he is a Christian brother for whom Christ died. ¹² When you sin against a weak Christian by making him do what is wrong, you sin against Christ. ¹³ So then, if eating meat makes my Christian brother trip and fall, I will never eat it again. I do not want to make my Christian brother sin.

Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon ^(A)

²¹ Jesus and His followers went to the city of Capernaum on the Day of Rest. They went to the Jewish place of worship where Jesus taught the people. ²² The people were surprised and wondered about His teaching. He taught them as One Who had the right and the power to teach and not as the teachers of the Law.

²³ There was a man in the Jewish place of worship who had a demon. The demon cried out, ²⁴ “What do You want of us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know Who You are. You are the Holy One of God.” ²⁵ Jesus spoke sharp words to the demon and said, “Do not talk! Come out of the man!” ²⁶ The demon threw the man down and gave a loud cry. Then he came out of him. ²⁷ The people were all surprised and wondered. They asked each other, “What is this? Is this a new teaching? He speaks with power even to the demons and they obey Him!” ²⁸ At once the news about Jesus went through all the country around Galilee.