Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Story Begins

1 There was a man who lived in the land of Uz. His name was Job. He was honest. He did what was right. He had respect for God and avoided evil.

2 On another day angels came to the Lord. Satan also came to him along with them. ² The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered, “From traveling all around the earth. I’ve been going from one end of it to the other.”

³ Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you thought about my servant Job? There isn’t anyone on earth like him. He is honest. He does what is right. He has respect for God and avoids evil. You tried to turn me against him. You wanted me to destroy him without any reason. But he still continues to be faithful.”

⁴ Satan replied, “A man will give everything he has to save himself. So Job is willing to give up the lives of his family to save his own life. ⁵ But now reach out your hand and strike his flesh and bones. Then I’m sure he will speak evil things against you. In fact, he’ll do it right in front of you.”

⁶ The Lord said to Satan, “All right. I am handing him over to you. But you must spare his life.”

⁷ Then Satan left the Lord and went on his way. He sent painful sores on Job. They covered him from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head. ⁸ He got part of a broken pot. He used it to scrape his skin. He did it while he was sitting in ashes.

⁹ His wife said to him, “Are you still continuing to be faithful to the Lord? Speak evil things against him and die!”

¹⁰ Job replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. We accept good things from God. So we should also accept trouble when he sends it.”

In spite of everything, Job didn’t say anything that was sinful.

A psalm of David.

God Speaks His Final Word Through His Son

1 In the past, God spoke to our people through the prophets. He spoke at many times. He spoke in different ways. ² But in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one whom God appointed to receive all things. God also made everything through him. ³ The Son is the shining brightness of God’s glory. He is the exact likeness of God’s being. He uses his powerful word to hold all things together. He provided the way for people to be made pure from sin. Then he sat down at the right hand of the King, the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became higher than the angels. The name he received is more excellent than theirs.

Jesus Was Made Fully Human

⁵ God has not put angels in charge of the world that is going to come. We are talking about that world. ⁶ There is a place where someone has spoken about this. He said,

So God has put everything under his Son. Everything is under his control. We do not now see everything under his control. ⁹ But we do see Jesus already given a crown of glory and honor. He was made lower than the angels for a little while. He suffered death. By the grace of God, he tasted death for everyone. That is why he was given his crown.

¹⁰ God has made everything. He is now bringing his many sons and daughters to share in his glory. It is only right that Jesus is the one to lead them into their salvation. That’s because God made him perfect by his sufferings. ¹¹ And Jesus, who makes people holy, and the people he makes holy belong to the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. ¹² He says,

² Some Pharisees came to test Jesus. They asked, “Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife?”

³ “What did Moses command you?” he replied.

⁴ They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a letter of divorce and send her away.”

⁵ “You were stubborn. That’s why Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. ⁶ “But at the beginning of creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ (Genesis 1:27) ⁷ ‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. ⁸ The two of them will become one.’ (Genesis 2:24) They are no longer two, but one. ⁹ So no one should separate what God has joined together.”

¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. ¹¹ He answered, “What if a man divorces his wife and gets married to another woman? He commits adultery against her. ¹² And what if she divorces her husband and gets married to another man? She commits adultery.”

Little Children Are Brought to Jesus

¹³ People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on them to bless them. But the disciples told them to stop. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to his disciples, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t keep them away. God’s kingdom belongs to people like them. ¹⁵ What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God’s kingdom like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶ Then he took the children in his arms. He placed his hands on them to bless them.