Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹⁴ But you, on the other hand, must stand firm in the things you learned and believed. You know who it was you received them from, ¹⁵ and how from childhood you have known the holy writings which have the power to make you wise for salvation through faith in Messiah Jesus. ¹⁶ All scripture, breathed as it is by God, is useful for teaching, for rebuke, for improvement, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that people who belong to God may be complete, fitted out and ready for every good work.

Judgment is coming—so get on with your work

4 This is my solemn charge to you, in the presence of God and Messiah Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearance and his kingdom: ² announce the word; keep going whether the time is right or wrong; rebuke, warn and encourage with all patience and explanation. ³ The time is coming, you see, when people won’t tolerate healthy teaching. Their ears will start to itch, and they will collect for themselves teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. ⁴ They will turn away from listening to the truth and will go after myths instead. ⁵ But as for you, keep your balance in everything! Put up with suffering; do the work of an evangelist; complete the particular task assigned to you.

The parables of the persistent widow and the tax-collector

18 Jesus told them a parable, about how they should always pray and not give up.

² “There was once a judge in a certain town,” he said, “who didn’t fear God, and didn’t have any respect for people. ³ There was a widow in that town, and she came to him and said, ‘Judge my case! Vindicate me against my enemy!’

⁴ “For a long time he refused. But, in the end, he said to himself, ‘It’s true that I don’t fear God, and don’t have any respect for people. ⁵ But because this widow is causing me a lot of trouble, I will put her case right and vindicate her, so that she doesn’t end up coming and giving me a black eye.’

⁶ “Well,” said the master, “did you hear what this unjust judge says? ⁷ And don’t you think that God will see justice done for his chosen ones, who shout out to him day and night? Do you suppose he is deliberately delaying? ⁸ Let me tell you, he will vindicate them very quickly. But—when the son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”