Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Jerusalem the Site of God’s Presence

A song of ascents. Of David.^[a]

The Jews Destroy Their Enemies

9 In the twelfth month, that is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, on which the edict of the king arrived and his law was enacted, on the day in which the enemies of the Jews had hoped to gain power over them but was overturned, and the Jews gained power against their enemies, ² the Jews gathered in their cities in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to strike against^[a] those who sought their destruction, and no one could withstand them,^[b] as the fear of them fell on all the people. ³ All the officials of the provinces, the satraps, governors, and those who did the work of the king^[c] were supporting the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. ⁴ For Mordecai was high-ranking in the king’s palace^[d] and his fame spread throughout all the provinces as Mordecai grew more and more powerful.^{[e] 5} The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword,^[f] killing and destroying them; and they did as they pleased with those that hated them.

¹⁸ But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth day, and rested on the fifteenth day. And they made it a day of feasting and joy. ¹⁹ Therefore the Jews in the rural areas, living in the rural towns, made the fourteenth month of Adar a day of joy and feasting, a festive day of giving gifts to each other.

The Feast of Purim

²⁰ Mordecai wrote down these things and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all of the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, ²¹ to impose on them to keep the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and the fifteenth day, every year,^{[a] 22} as the day that the Jews found relief^[b] from their enemies, and the month which changed for them from sorrow to joy, and from a mourning ceremony to a festive day;^[c] to make them days of feasting and joy, and giving gifts to each other and to the poor. ²³ And the Jews adopted what they had begun to do and what Mordecai had written to them.

Fear God Rather Than People

⁴ “And I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after these things do not have anything more to do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: fear the one who has authority, after the killing, to throw you^[a] into hell! Yes, I tell you, fear this one! ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. ⁷ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered! Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Acknowledgement of Christ and Persecution of Disciples

⁸ “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man also will acknowledge him before the angels of God, ⁹ but the one who denies me before people will be denied before the angels of God. ¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but to the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. ¹¹ But when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you should speak in your own defense or what you should say, ¹² for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what it is necessary to say.”