Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The dangers of idleness

⁶ Here is a command we have for you, my dear family, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. Keep away from any member of the family who is stepping out of line, and not behaving according to the tradition that you received from us.

⁷ You yourselves know, after all, how you should copy us. We didn’t step out of line, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. We worked night and day, with labor and struggle, so as not to place a burden on any of you. ⁹ It wasn’t that we don’t have the right; it was so that we could give you an example, for you to copy us. ¹⁰ And, indeed, when we were with you, we gave you this command: those who won’t work shouldn’t eat!

¹¹ You see, we hear that there are some among you who are stepping out of line, behaving in an unruly fashion, not being busy with real work, but just busybodies. ¹² To people like that we give this commandment and exhortation in the Lord Jesus the Messiah: do your own work in peace, and eat your own bread. ¹³ As for you, my dear family, don’t get tired of doing what is right!

Signs of the end

⁵ Some people were talking about the Temple, saying how wonderfully it was decorated, with its beautiful stones and dedicated gifts.

“Yes,” said Jesus; ⁶ “but the days will come when everything you see will be torn down. Not one stone will be left standing on another.”

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked him, “when will these things happen? What will be the sign that it’s all about to take place?”

⁸ “Watch out that nobody deceives you,” said Jesus. “Yes: lots of people will come using my name, saying ‘I’m the one!’ and ‘The time has come!’ Don’t go following them. ⁹ When you hear about wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. These things have to happen first, but the end won’t come at once.

¹⁰ “One nation will rise against another,” he went on, “and one kingdom against another. ¹¹ There will be huge earthquakes, famines and plagues in various places, terrifying omens, and great signs from heaven.

¹² “Before all this happens they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons. They will drag you before kings and governors because of my name. ¹³ That will become an opportunity for you to tell your story. ¹⁴ So settle it in your hearts not to work out beforehand what tale to tell. ¹⁵ I’ll give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.

¹⁶ “You will be betrayed by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will kill some of you. ¹⁷ You will be hated by everyone because of my name. ¹⁸ But no hair of your head will be lost. ¹⁹ The way to keep your lives is to be patient.”