Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Sin of Israel’s Early Families

⁴ Hear the Word of the Lord, O family of Jacob, and all the families of the people of Israel. ⁵ The Lord says, “What wrong did your fathers find in Me, that they turned so far from Me and followed false gods? ⁶ They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord Who brought us up from the land of Egypt? Where is He Who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and deep holes, through a land without water and with much trouble, through a land that no one traveled and where no man lived?’ ⁷ And I brought you into a rich land to eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and made My land unclean. You made the land I gave you sinful and hated. ⁸ The religious leaders did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who worked with the Law did not know Me. The rulers sinned against Me. And the men of God spoke by the false god of Baal, and went after things that did not help.

The Lord Speaks against His People

⁹ “So I will still fight with you,” says the Lord. “And I will fight your children’s children. ¹⁰ Go over to the land of Cyprus and see. Or send men to Kedar to watch with care. And see if there has been such a thing as this! ¹¹ Has a nation changed its gods, even when they are not gods? But My people have changed their greatness for that which does not help them. ¹² Be full of wonder at this, O heavens. Shake with fear and waste away,” says the Lord. ¹³ “For My people have done two sinful things: They have turned away from Me, the well of living waters. And they have cut out of the rock wells for water for themselves. They are broken wells that cannot hold water.

A Song to God’s Care

81 Sing for joy to God our strength! Call out for joy to the God of Jacob!

¹⁰ I, the Lord, am your God. I brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

¹¹ “But My people did not listen to My voice. And Israel did not obey Me. ¹² So I let them follow the desires of their sinful hearts. They followed their own plans. ¹³ If only My people would listen to Me! If only Israel would follow My ways! ¹⁴ I would hurry to crush those who fight against them. I would turn My hand against those who hate them. ¹⁵ Those who hate the Lord would pretend to obey Him. And their punishment would last forever. ¹⁶ But I would feed you with the best of grain. And I would fill you with honey from the rock.”

Christian Living

13 Keep on loving each other as Christian brothers. ² Do not forget to be kind to strangers and let them stay in your home. Some people have had angels in their homes without knowing it. ³ Remember those in prison. Think of them as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are suffering because of what others have done to them. You may suffer in the same way.

⁴ Marriage should be respected by everyone. God will punish those who do sex sins and are not faithful in marriage.

⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money. Be happy with what you have. God has said, “I will never leave you or let you be alone.” ^{(A) 6} So we can say for sure, “The Lord is my Helper. I am not afraid of anything man can do to me.” ^(B)

⁷ Remember your leaders who first spoke God’s Word to you. Think of how they lived, and trust God as they did. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

¹⁵ Let us give thanks all the time to God through Jesus Christ. Our gift to Him is to give thanks. Our lips should always give thanks to His name. ¹⁶ Remember to do good and help each other. Gifts like this please God.

Another Man Healed on the Day of Rest

14 On the Day of Rest Jesus went into the house of one of the leaders of the proud religious law-keepers to eat. They all watched Jesus to see what He would do.

Jesus Teaches about How to Live with Others

⁷ Jesus had been watching those who were asked to come to supper. They were all trying to get the important seats. He told them a picture-story, saying, ⁸ “When you are asked by someone to a wedding supper, do not take the important seat. Someone more important than you may have been asked to come also. ⁹ The one who asked both of you to come may say to you, ‘The important seat is for this man.’ Then you will be ashamed as you take the last place. ¹⁰ But when you are asked to come to the table, sit down on the last seat. Then the one who asked you may come and say to you, ‘Friend, go to a more important place.’ Then you will be shown respect in front of all who are at the table with you. ¹¹ Whoever makes himself look more important than he is will find out how little he is worth. Whoever does not try to honor himself will be made important.”

¹² Then Jesus said to the man who asked Him to eat in his house, “When you have a supper, do not ask your friends or your brothers or your family or your rich neighbors. They will ask you to come to their place for a supper. That way you will be paid back for what you have done. ¹³ When you have a supper, ask poor people. Ask those who cannot walk and those who are blind. ¹⁴ You will be happy if you do this. They cannot pay you back. You will get your pay when the people who are right with God are raised from the dead.”