Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica

2 For you yourselves know, my dear family, that our visit to you didn’t turn out to be empty. ² On the contrary. We had already undergone awful things and been shamefully treated in Philippi, as you know; but we were open and exuberant in our God in declaring to you the gospel of God, despite a good deal of opposition.

³ When we make our appeal, you see, we are not deceiving people. We don’t have any impure motives; we aren’t playing some kind of trick. ⁴ Rather, we speak as people whom God has validated to be entrusted with the gospel; not with a view to pleasing people, but in order to please God, who validates our hearts.

⁵ For we never used flattering words, as you know. Nor were we saying things insincerely, as a cover-up for greed, as God is our witness. ⁶ We weren’t looking for recognition from anybody, either you or anyone else— ⁷ though we could have imposed on you, as the Messiah’s emissaries. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her own children. ⁸ We were so devoted to you that we gladly intended to share with you not only the gospel of God but our own lives, because you became so dear to us.

The Great Commandment, and David’s Master

³⁴ When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they got together in a group. ³⁵ One of them, a lawyer, put him on the spot with this question.

³⁶ “Teacher,” he said, “which is the most important commandment in the law?”

³⁷ “You must love the Lord your God,” replied Jesus, “with all your heart, with all your life, and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the first commandment, and it’s the one that really matters. ³⁹ The second is similar, and it’s this: You must love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ The entire law hangs on these two commandments—and that goes for the prophets, too.”

⁴¹ While the Pharisees were gathered there, Jesus asked them, ⁴² “What’s your view of the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

“David’s,” they said to him.

⁴³ “Why then,” said Jesus, “does David (speaking by the spirit) call him ‘Master,’ when he says,

⁴⁵ “If David calls him ‘Master,’ how can he be his son?”

⁴⁶ Nobody was able to answer him a single word. From that day on nobody dared ask him anything any more.