Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Come to the Lord

Psalm 63

Praise God Who Satisfies

A Davidic psalm. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.^(A)

Warnings from Israel’s Past

10 Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers^(A) were all under the cloud,^(B) all passed through the sea,^{(C) 2} and all were baptized^(D) into Moses^(E) in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food,^{(F) 4} and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock^(G) that followed them, and that rock was Christ.^{(H) 5} But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.^(I)

⁶ Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire^(J) evil things as they did.^{[a](K) 7} Don’t become idolaters^(L) as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.^{[b](M)[c] 8} Let us not commit sexual immorality^(N) as some of them did,^[d] and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.^{(O) 9} Let us not test Christ as some of them did^[e] and were destroyed by snakes.^{(P) 10} Nor should we complain^(Q) as some of them did,^[f](R) and were killed by the destroyer.^{[g](S) 11} Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us,^(T) on whom the ends of the ages^(U) have come.^{(V) 12} So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.^{(W) 13} No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful,^(X) and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape^(Y) so that you are able to bear it.

Repent or Perish

13 At that time,^(A) some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans^(B) whose blood Pilate^(C) had mixed with their sacrifices. ² And He^[a] responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things?^{(D) 3} No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well! ⁴ Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam^(E) fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

⁶ And He told this parable:^(F) “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none.^{(G) 7} He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!^(H) Why should it even waste the soil?’^(I)

⁸ “But he replied to him, ‘Sir,^[b] leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.^{(J) 9} Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’”