Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 145^[a]

A song of praise by David.

A Call to Rebuild the Lord’s House

1 On the first day of the sixth month in Darius’ second year as king, Yahweh spoke his word through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel and was governor of Judah) and to the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak). He said, ² “This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: These people say it’s not the right time to rebuild the house of Yahweh.”

³ Then Yahweh spoke his word through the prophet Haggai. He said, ⁴ “Is it time for you to live in your paneled houses while this house lies in ruins? ⁵ Now, this is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Carefully consider your ways! ⁶ You planted a lot, but you harvested little. You eat, but you’re never full. You drink, but you’re still thirsty.^[a] You wear clothing, but you never have enough to keep you warm. You spend money as fast as you earn it. ⁷ This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: Carefully consider your ways!

⁸ “Go to the mountains, get lumber, and build the house. I will be pleased with it, and I will be honored,” declares Yahweh.

⁹ “You expected a lot, but you received a little. When you bring something home, I blow it away. Why?” declares Yahweh Tsebaoth. “It’s because my house lies in ruins while each of you is busy working on your own house. ¹⁰ It is because of you that the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. ¹¹ I called for a drought on the land, the hills, and on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and whatever the ground produces, on humans and animals, and on all your hard work.”

The Work on the House Resumes

¹² Then Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel), the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon obeyed Yahweh their Elohim. They also obeyed the words of the prophet Haggai because Yahweh their Elohim had sent him and because the people feared Yahweh.

¹³ Then Haggai, the messenger of Yahweh who had received Yahweh’s message, said to the people, “I am with you, declares Yahweh.”

¹⁴ Yahweh inspired them to rebuild his house. So Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel and was governor of Judah), the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon began working on the house of Yahweh Tsebaoth, their Elohim. ¹⁵ They began on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in Darius’ second year as king.

Jesus’ Authority Challenged^(A)

20 One day Yeshua was teaching the people in the temple courtyard and telling them the Good News. The chief priests, the experts in Moses’ Teachings, and the leaders came up to him. ² They asked him, “Tell us, what gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?”

³ Yeshua answered them, “I, too, have a question for you. Tell me, ⁴ did John’s right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?”

⁵ They talked about this among themselves. They said, “If we say, ‘from heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ ⁶ But if we say, ‘from humans,’ everyone will stone us to death. They’re convinced that John was a prophet.” ⁷ So they answered that they didn’t know who gave John the right to baptize.

⁸ Yeshua told them, “Then I won’t tell you why I have the right to do these things.”