Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Do not lose your freedom by giving in to those who urge circumcision
5 Plant your feet firmly therefore within the freedom that Christ has won for us, and do not let yourselves be caught again in the shackles of slavery.
13a It is to freedom that you have been called, my brothers. Only be careful that freedom does not become mere opportunity for your lower nature.
13b-14 You should be free to serve each other in love. For after all, the whole Law toward others is summed up by this one command, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’.
15 But if freedom means merely that you are free to attack and tear each other to pieces, be careful that it doesn’t mean that between you, you destroy your fellowship altogether!
The way to live in freedom is by the Spirit
16-18 Here is my advice. Live your whole life in the Spirit and you will not satisfy the desires of your lower nature. For the whole energy of the lower nature is set against the Spirit, while the whole power of the Spirit is contrary to the lower nature. Here is the conflict, and that is why you are not free to do what you want to do. But if you follow the leading of the Spirit, you stand clear of the Law.
19-21 The activities of the lower nature are obvious. Here is a list: sexual immorality, impurity of mind, sensuality, worship of false gods, witchcraft, hatred, quarrelling, jealousy, bad temper, rivalry, factions, party-spirit, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like that. I solemnly assure you, as I did before, that those who indulge in such things will never inherit God’s kingdom.
22-25 The Spirit however, produces in human life fruits such as these: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance and self-control—and no law exists against any of them. Those who belong to Christ have crucified their old nature with all that it loved and lusted for. If our lives are centred in the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit.
He sets off for Jerusalem to meet inevitable death
51-54 Now as the days before he should be taken back into Heaven were running out, he resolved to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers in front of him. They set out and entered a Samaritan village to make preparations for him. But the people there refused to welcome him because he was obviously intending to go to Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Master, do you want us to call down fire from heaven and burn them all up?”
55-56 But Jesus turned and reproved them, and they all went on to another village.
57 As the little company made its way along the road, a man said to him, “I’m going to follow you wherever you go.”
58 And Jesus replied, “Foxes have earths, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere that he can call his own.”
59 But he said to another man, “Follow me.” And he replied, “Let me go and bury my father first.”
60 But Jesus told him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. You must come away and preach the kingdom of God.”
61 Another man said to him, “I am going to follow you, Lord, but first let me bid farewell to my people at home.”
62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts his hand to the plough and then looks behind him is useless for the kingdom of God.”
The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by Permission.