Day 21
Matthew 21
21:1 When they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
21:2 saying to them, "Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them, and bring them to me.
21:3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and immediately he will send them."
21:4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,
21:5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."{Zechariah 9:9}
21:6 The disciples went, and did just as Jesus commanded them,
21:7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their clothes on them; and he sat on them.
21:8 A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees, and spread them on the road.
21:9 The multitudes who went before him, and who followed kept shouting, "Hosanna{"Hosanna" means "save us" or "help us, we pray."} to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"{Psalm 118:26}
21:10 When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, "Who is this?"
21:11 The multitudes said, "This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee."
21:12 Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers' tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
21:13 He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,'{Isaiah 56:7} but you have made it a den of robbers!"{Jeremiah 7:11}
21:14 The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.
21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children who were crying in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the son of David!" they were indignant,
21:16 and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes. Did you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing babies you have perfected praise?'"{Psalm 8:2}
21:17 He left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.
21:18 Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry.
21:19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, "Let there be no fruit from you forever!" Immediately the fig tree withered away.
21:20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree immediately wither away?"
21:21 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don't doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it would be done.
21:22 All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
21:23 When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?"
21:24 Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
21:25 The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?" They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
21:26 But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet."
21:27 They answered Jesus, and said, "We don't know." He also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
21:28 But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, 'Son, go work today in my vineyard.'
21:29 He answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind, and went.
21:30 He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, 'I go, sir,' but he didn't go.
21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into the Kingdom of God before you.
21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn't even repent afterward, that you might believe him.
21:33 "Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household, who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country.
21:34 When the season for the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, to receive his fruit.
21:35 The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
21:36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them the same way.
21:37 But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
21:38 But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and seize his inheritance.'
21:39 So they took him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
21:40 When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?"
21:41 They told him, "He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season."
21:42 Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?'{Psalm 118:22-23}
21:43 "Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation bringing forth its fruit.
21:44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whoever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust."
21:45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them.
21:46 When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.
Romans 13
13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
13:2 Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
13:3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,
13:4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
13:5 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake.
13:6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God's service, attending continually on this very thing.
13:7 Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.
13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}
13:10 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
13:11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.
13:12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let's therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let's put on the armor of light.
13:13 Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.
13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.
Romans 14
14:1 Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.
14:2 One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
14:3 Don't let him who eats despise him who doesn't eat. Don't let him who doesn't eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.
14:4 Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.
14:5 One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.
14:6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks. He who doesn't eat, to the Lord he doesn't eat, and gives God thanks.
14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself.
14:8 For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord's.
14:9 For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
14:11 For it is written, "'As I live,' says the Lord, 'to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.'"{Isaiah 45:23}
14:12 So then each one of us will give account of himself to God.
14:13 Therefore let's not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way, or an occasion for falling.
14:14 I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
14:15 Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don't destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
14:16 Then don't let your good be slandered,
14:17 for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
14:18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
14:19 So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up.
14:20 Don't overthrow God's work for food's sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating.
14:21 It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
14:22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves.
14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn't of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.14:24 Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages,
14:25 but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations;
14:26 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
Day 22
Matthew 22
22:1 Jesus answered and spoke again in parables to them, saying,
22:2 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,
22:3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come.
22:4 Again he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "Behold, I have made ready my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast!"'
22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise,
22:6 and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.
22:7 When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
22:8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren't worthy.
22:9 Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.'
22:10 Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.
22:11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn't have on wedding clothing,
22:12 and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?' He was speechless.
22:13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.'
22:14 For many are called, but few chosen."
22:15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.
22:16 They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter who you teach, for you aren't partial to anyone.
22:17 Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
22:19 Show me the tax money." They brought to him a denarius.
22:20 He asked them, "Whose is this image and inscription?"
22:21 They said to him, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
22:22 When they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away.
22:23 On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him,
22:24 saying, "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed for his brother.'
22:25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no seed left his wife to his brother.
22:26 In like manner the second also, and the third, to the seventh.
22:27 After them all, the woman died.
22:28 In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her."
22:29 But Jesus answered them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like God's angels in heaven.
22:31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven't you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,
22:32 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?'{Exodus 3:6} God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
22:33 When the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
22:34 But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together.
22:35 One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him.
22:36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"
22:37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'{Deuteronomy 6:5}
22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
22:39 A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'{Leviticus 19:18}
22:40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
22:41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,
22:42 saying, "What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "Of David."
22:43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,
22:44 'The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?'{Psalm 110:1}
22:45 "If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?"
22:46 No one was able to answer him a word, neither did any man dare ask him any more questions from that day forth.
Romans 15
15:1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
15:2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.
15:3 For even Christ didn't please himself. But, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."{Psalm 69:9}
15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
15:5 Now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus,
15:6 that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15:7 Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you,{TR reads "us" instead of "you"} to the glory of God.
15:8 Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,
15:9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore will I give praise to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."{2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49}
15:10 Again he says, "Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people."{Deuteronomy 32:43}
15:11 Again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Let all the peoples praise him."{Psalm 117:1}
15:12 Again, Isaiah says, "There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope."{Isaiah 11:10}
15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
15:14 I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others.
15:15 But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God,
15:16 that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
15:17 I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.
15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
15:19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God's Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ;
15:20 yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another's foundation.
15:21 But, as it is written, "They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who haven't heard will understand."{Isaiah 52:15}
15:22 Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you,
15:23 but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you,
15:24 whenever I journey to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
15:25 But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints.
15:26 For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.
15:27 Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things.
15:28 When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain.
15:29 I know that, when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.
15:30 Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,
15:31 that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints;
15:32 that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest.
15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Romans 16
16:1 I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant{or, deacon} of the assembly that is at Cenchreae,
16:2 that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self.
16:3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
16:4 who for my life, laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles.
16:5 Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ.
16:6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us.
16:7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
16:8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.
16:9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
16:10 Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
16:11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.
16:12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
16:13 Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
16:14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} who are with them.
16:15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you.
16:17 Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them.
16:18 For those who are such don't serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.
16:19 For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil.
16:20 And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
16:21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives.
16:22 I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord.
16:23 Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother.
16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen.
Day 23
Matthew 23
23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,
23:2 saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses' seat.
23:3 All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don't do their works; for they say, and don't do.
23:4 For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.
23:5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries{phylacteries (tefillin in Hebrew) are small leather pouches that some Jewish men wear on their forehead and arm in prayer. They are used to carry a small scroll with some Scripture in it. See Deuteronomy 6:8.} broad, enlarge the fringes{or, tassels} of their garments,
23:6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
23:7 the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi, Rabbi' by men.
23:8 But don't you be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.
23:9 Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.
23:10 Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.
23:11 But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.
23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
23:13 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
23:14 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don't enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter.{Some Greek manuscripts reverse the order of verses 13 and 14, and some omit verse 13, numbering verse 14 as 13.}
23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna{or, Hell} as yourselves.
23:16 "Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.'
23:17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
23:18 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?'
23:19 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
23:20 He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.
23:21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who was living in it.
23:22 He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.
23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin,{ cumin is an aromatic seed from Cuminum cyminum, resembling caraway in flavor and appearance. It is used as a spice.} and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.
23:24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!
23:25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness.{TR reads "self-indulgence" instead of "unrighteousness"}
23:26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.
23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
23:28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
23:29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous,
23:30 and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn't have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'
23:31 Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets.
23:32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.
23:33 You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna{or, Hell}?
23:34 Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;
23:35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.
23:36 Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.
23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
23:38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"{Psalm 118:26}
1 Corinthians 1
1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
1:2 to the assembly of God which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:
1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4 I always thank my God concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus;
1:5 that in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge;
1:6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1:7 so that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ;
1:8 who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
1:10 Now I beg you, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1:11 For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you.
1:12 Now I mean this, that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos," "I follow Cephas," and, "I follow Christ."
1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?
1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius,
1:15 so that no one should say that I had baptized you into my own name.
1:16 (I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I don't know whether I baptized any other.)
1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News--not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn't be made void.
1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.
1:19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing."{Isaiah 29:14}
1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1:21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn't know God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.
1:22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
1:23 but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,
1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1:26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;
1:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
1:28 and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are:
1:29 that no flesh should boast before God.
1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}
1 Corinthians 2
2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
2:3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
2:4 My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
2:5 that your faith wouldn't stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
2:6 We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.
2:7 But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory,
2:8 which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory.
2:9 But as it is written, "Things which an eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear, which didn't enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him."{Isaiah 64:4}
2:10 But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
2:11 For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God's Spirit.
2:12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.
2:13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.
2:14 Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2:15 But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.
2:16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?" But we have Christ's mind.
Day 24
Matthew 24
24:1 Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.
24:2 But he answered them, "Don't you see all of these things? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down."
24:3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"
24:4 Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.
24:5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray.
24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet.
24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.
24:8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.
24:9 Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name's sake.
24:10 Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.
24:11 Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.
24:12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.
24:13 But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.
24:14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
24:15 "When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation,{Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11} which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
24:16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
24:17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house.
24:18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes.
24:19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days!
24:20 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath,
24:21 for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.
24:22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
24:23 "Then if any man tells you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it.
24:24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
24:25 "Behold, I have told you beforehand.
24:26 If therefore they tell you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' don't go out; 'Behold, he is in the inner chambers,' don't believe it.
24:27 For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
24:28 For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures{or, eagles} gather together.
24:29 But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;{Isaiah 13:10; 34:4}
24:30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
24:31 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
24:32 "Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near.
24:33 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
24:34 Most certainly I tell you, this generation{The word for "generation" (genea) can also be translated as "race."} will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished.
24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
24:36 But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
24:37 "As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
24:38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,
24:39 and they didn't know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
24:40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left;
24:41 two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left.
24:42 Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes.
24:43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
24:44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come.
24:45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
24:46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes.
24:47 Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.
24:48 But if that evil servant should say in his heart, 'My lord is delaying his coming,'
24:49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,
24:50 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn't expect it, and in an hour when he doesn't know it,
24:51 and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
1 Corinthians 3
3:1 Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.
3:2 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren't yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready,
3:3 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men?
3:4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren't you fleshly?
3:5 Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him?
3:6 I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.
3:7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
3:9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's farming, God's building.
3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
3:11 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.
3:12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble;
3:13 each man's work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man's work is.
3:14 If any man's work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.
3:15 If any man's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
3:16 Don't you know that you are a temple of God, and that God's Spirit lives in you?
3:17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, which you are.
3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.
3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He has taken the wise in their craftiness."{Job 5:13}
3:20 And again, "The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless."{Psalm 94:11}
3:21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,
3:22 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours,
3:23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
1 Corinthians 4
4:1 So let a man think of us as Christ's servants, and stewards of God's mysteries.
4:2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.
4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I don't judge my own self.
4:4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.
4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
4:6 Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.
4:7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
4:8 You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you.
4:9 For, I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.
4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.
4:11 Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
4:12 We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
4:13 Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.
4:14 I don't write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
4:15 For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.
4:16 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.
4:17 Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.
4:18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.
4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
4:20 For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
4:21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
Day 25
Matthew 25
25:1 "Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
25:2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
25:3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
25:4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
25:5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
25:6 But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!'
25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.{The end of the wick of an oil lamp needs to be cut off periodically to avoid having it become clogged with carbon deposits. The wick height is also adjusted so that the flame burns evenly and gives good light without producing a lot of smoke.}
25:8 The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
25:9 But the wise answered, saying, 'What if there isn't enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
25:10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
25:11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.'
25:12 But he answered, 'Most certainly I tell you, I don't know you.'
25:13 Watch therefore, for you don't know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
25:14 "For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.
25:15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
25:16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
25:17 In like manner he also who got the two gained another two.
25:18 But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
25:19 "Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.
25:20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.'
25:21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
25:22 "He also who got the two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.'
25:23 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
25:24 "He also who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
25:25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.'
25:26 "But his lord answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn't sow, and gather where I didn't scatter.
25:27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
25:28 Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
25:29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn't have, even that which he has will be taken away.
25:30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
25:31 "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
25:32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
25:33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
25:34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
25:35 for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.
25:36 I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.'
25:37 "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
25:38 When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?
25:39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'
25:40 "The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers{The word for "brothers" here may be also correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}, you did it to me.'
25:41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;
25:42 for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
25:43 I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'
25:44 "Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?'
25:45 "Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.'
25:46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
1 Corinthians 5
5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father's wife.
5:2 You are puffed up, and didn't rather mourn, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you.
5:3 For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing.
5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:5 are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?
5:7 Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.
5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
5:9 I wrote to you in my letter to have no company with sexual sinners;
5:10 yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then you would have to leave the world.
5:11 But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. Don't even eat with such a person.
5:12 For what have I to do with also judging those who are outside? Don't you judge those who are within?
5:13 But those who are outside, God judges. "Put away the wicked man from among yourselves."
1 Corinthians 6
6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
6:2 Don't you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
6:3 Don't you know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
6:4 If then, you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly?
6:5 I say this to move you to shame. Isn't there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers?
6:6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers!
6:7 Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
6:8 No, but you yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that against your brothers.
6:9 Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,
6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God.
6:11 Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
6:12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are expedient. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be brought under the power of anything.
6:13 "Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods," but God will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
6:14 Now God raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power.
6:15 Don't you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!
6:16 Or don't you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, "The two," says he, "will become one flesh."{Genesis 2:24}
6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.
6:18 Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
6:19 Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own,
6:20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Day 26
Matthew 26
26:1 It happened, when Jesus had finished all these words, that he said to his disciples,
26:2 "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."
26:3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
26:4 They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.
26:5 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people."
26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
26:7 a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.
26:8 But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?
26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."
26:10 However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me.
26:11 For you always have the poor with you; but you don't always have me.
26:12 For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
26:13 Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her."
26:14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,
26:15 and said, "What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?" They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.
26:16 From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
26:17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
26:18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples."'"
26:19 The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.
26:20 Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.
26:21 As they were eating, he said, "Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me."
26:22 They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, "It isn't me, is it, Lord?"
26:23 He answered, "He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.
26:24 The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born."
26:25 Judas, who betrayed him, answered, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You said it."
26:26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for{TR reads "blessed" instead of "gave thanks for"} it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."
26:27 He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it,
26:28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
26:29 But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's Kingdom."
26:30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'{Zechariah 13:7}
26:32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee."
26:33 But Peter answered him, "Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble."
26:34 Jesus said to him, "Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
26:35 Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you." All of the disciples also said likewise.
26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go there and pray."
26:37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.
26:38 Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me."
26:39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire."
26:40 He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour?
26:41 Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
26:42 Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done."
26:43 He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
26:44 He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.
26:45 Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
26:46 Arise, let's be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."
26:47 While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and elders of the people.
26:48 Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him."
26:49 Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
26:50 Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
26:51 Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.
26:52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.
26:53 Or do you think that I couldn't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
26:54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?"
26:55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn't arrest me.
26:56 But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him, and fled.
26:57 Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
26:58 But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.
26:59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
26:60 and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,
26:61 and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'"
26:62 The high priest stood up, and said to him, "Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?"
26:63 But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."
26:64 Jesus said to him, "You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky."
26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
26:66 What do you think?" They answered, "He is worthy of death!"
26:67 Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
26:68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?"
26:69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, "You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!"
26:70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I don't know what you are talking about."
26:71 When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, "This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth."
26:72 Again he denied it with an oath, "I don't know the man."
26:73 After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known."
26:74 Then he began to curse and to swear, "I don't know the man!" Immediately the rooster crowed.
26:75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and wept bitterly.
1 Corinthians 7
7:1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
7:2 But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
7:3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
7:4 The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife.
7:5 Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
7:6 But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.
7:7 Yet I wish that all men were like me. However each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.
7:8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.
7:9 But if they don't have self-control, let them marry. For it's better to marry than to burn.
7:10 But to the married I command--not I, but the Lord--that the wife not leave her husband
7:11 (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.
7:12 But to the rest I--not the Lord--say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.
7:13 The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.
7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
7:15 Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.
7:16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
7:17 Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.
7:18 Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
7:20 Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called.
7:21 Were you called being a bondservant? Don't let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.
7:22 For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord's free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ's bondservant.
7:23 You were bought with a price. Don't become bondservants of men.
7:24 Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.
7:25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
7:26 I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a man to be as he is.
7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Don't seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don't seek a wife.
7:28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.
7:29 But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;
7:30 and those who weep, as though they didn't weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn't rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn't possess;
7:31 and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.
7:32 But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;
7:33 but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
7:34 There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband.
7:35 This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.
7:36 But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn't sin. Let them marry.
7:37 But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, does well.
7:38 So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn't give her in marriage does better.
7:39 A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord.
7:40 But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God's Spirit.
1 Corinthians 8
8:1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
8:2 But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn't yet know as he ought to know.
8:3 But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him.
8:4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
8:5 For though there are things that are called "gods," whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many "gods" and many "lords;"
8:6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.
8:7 However, that knowledge isn't in all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8:8 But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don't eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.
8:9 But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
8:10 For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol's temple, won't his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
8:11 And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
8:12 Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
8:13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forevermore, that I don't cause my brother to stumble.
Day 27
Matthew 27
27:1 Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
27:2 and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
27:3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
27:4 saying, "I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? You see to it."
27:5 He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself.
27:6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, "It's not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood."
27:7 They took counsel, and bought the potter's field with them, to bury strangers in.
27:8 Therefore that field was called "The Field of Blood" to this day.
27:9 Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah{some manuscripts omit "Jeremiah"} the prophet was fulfilled, saying, "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him upon whom a price had been set, whom some of the children of Israel priced,
27:10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."{Zechariah 11:12-13; Jeremiah 19:1-13; 32:6-9}
27:11 Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said to him, "So you say."
27:12 When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
27:13 Then Pilate said to him, "Don't you hear how many things they testify against you?"
27:14 He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
27:15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they desired.
27:16 They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
27:17 When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?"
27:18 For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.
27:19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him."
27:20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
27:21 But the governor answered them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"
27:22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified!"
27:23 But the governor said, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they cried out exceedingly, saying, "Let him be crucified!"
27:24 So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it."
27:25 All the people answered, "May his blood be on us, and on our children!"
27:26 Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.
27:27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.
27:28 They stripped him, and put a scarlet robe on him.
27:29 They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
27:30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.
27:31 When they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.
27:32 As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.
27:33 They came to a place called "Golgotha," that is to say, "The place of a skull."
27:34 They gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink.
27:35 When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,{TR adds "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: 'They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots;'" [see Psalm 22:18 and John 19:24]}
27:36 and they sat and watched him there.
27:37 They set up over his head the accusation against him written, "THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS."
27:38 Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.
27:39 Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads,
27:40 and saying, "You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"
27:41 Likewise the chief priests also mocking, with the scribes, the Pharisees,{TR omits "the Pharisees"} and the elders, said,
27:42 "He saved others, but he can't save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.
27:43 He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
27:44 The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.
27:45 Now from the sixth hour{noon} there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.{3:00 P. M.}
27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lima{TR reads "lama" instead of "lima"} sabachthani?" That is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"{Psalm 22:1}
27:47 Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, "This man is calling Elijah."
27:48 Immediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.
27:49 The rest said, "Let him be. Let's see whether Elijah comes to save him."
27:50 Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
27:51 Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
27:52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
27:53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.
27:54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God."
27:55 Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.
27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
27:57 When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus' disciple came.
27:58 This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus' body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up.
27:59 Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
27:60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.
27:61 Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
27:62 Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,
27:63 saying, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: 'After three days I will rise again.'
27:64 Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He is risen from the dead;' and the last deception will be worse than the first."
27:65 Pilate said to them, "You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can."
27:66 So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.
1 Corinthians 9
9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren't you my work in the Lord?
9:2 If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
9:3 My defense to those who examine me is this.
9:4 Have we no right to eat and to drink?
9:5 Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
9:6 Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
9:7 What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn't eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn't drink from the flock's milk?
9:8 Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn't the law also say the same thing?
9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain."{Deuteronomy 25:4} Is it for the oxen that God cares,
9:10 or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.
9:11 If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
9:12 If others partake of this right over you, don't we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.
9:13 Don't you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
9:14 Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News.
9:15 But I have used none of these things, and I don't write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.
9:16 For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don't preach the Good News.
9:17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
9:18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.
9:19 For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
9:20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;
9:21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.
9:22 To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
9:23 Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.
9:24 Don't you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win.
9:25 Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
9:26 I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air,
9:27 but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
1 Corinthians 10
10:1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
10:2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food;
10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.
10:5 However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
10:7 Neither be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."{Exodus 32:6}
10:8 Neither let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell.
10:9 Neither let us test the Lord, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents.
10:10 Neither grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.
10:11 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall.
10:13 No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
10:15 I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say.
10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, isn't it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn't it a sharing of the body of Christ?
10:17 Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.
10:18 Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don't those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?
10:19 What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
10:20 But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have fellowship with demons.
10:21 You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.
10:22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
10:23 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up.
10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor's good.
10:25 Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience,
10:26 for "the earth is the Lord's, and its fullness."{Psalm 24:1}
10:27 But if one of those who don't believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience.
10:28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," don't eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness."
10:29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other's conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience?
10:30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for that for which I give thanks?
10:31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
10:32 Give no occasions for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God;
10:33 even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.
Day 28
Matthew 28
28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
28:2 Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it.
28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
28:4 For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.
28:5 The angel answered the women, "Don't be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.
28:6 He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
28:7 Go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you."
28:8 They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.
28:9 As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid. Go tell my brothers{The word for "brothers" here may be also correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me."
28:11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.
28:12 When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,
28:13 saying, "Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
28:14 If this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry."
28:15 So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until this day.
28:16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.
28:17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.
28:18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
28:19 Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
1 Corinthians 11
11:1 Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.
11:2 Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.
11:3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.
11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
11:5 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved.
11:6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.
11:7 For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man.
11:8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man;
11:9 for neither was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
11:10 For this cause the woman ought to have authority on her head, because of the angels.
11:11 Nevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord.
11:12 For as woman came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from God.
11:13 Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled?
11:14 Doesn't even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
11:15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering.
11:16 But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God's assemblies.
11:17 But in giving you this command, I don't praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse.
11:18 For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it.
11:19 For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.
11:20 When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.
11:21 For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken.
11:22 What, don't you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God's assembly, and put them to shame who don't have? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don't praise you.
11:23 For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread.
11:24 When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me."
11:25 In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me."
11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord's cup in a manner unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.
11:29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn't discern the Lord's body.
11:30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
11:31 For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn't be judged.
11:32 But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
11:33 Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait one for another.
11:34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.
1 Corinthians 12
12:1 Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant.
12:2 You know that when you were heathen{or Gentiles}, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.
12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God's Spirit says, "Jesus is accursed." No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," but by the Holy Spirit.
12:4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
12:5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.
12:6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.
12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
12:8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
12:9 to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit;
12:10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.
12:11 But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
12:12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
12:15 If the foot would say, "Because I'm not the hand, I'm not part of the body," it is not therefore not part of the body.
12:16 If the ear would say, "Because I'm not the eye, I'm not part of the body," it's not therefore not part of the body.
12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
12:18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.
12:19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?
12:20 But now they are many members, but one body.
12:21 The eye can't tell the hand, "I have no need for you," or again the head to the feet, "I have no need for you."
12:22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
12:23 Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety;
12:24 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,
12:25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
12:26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
12:28 God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.
12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?
12:30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?
12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
Day 29
Mark 1
1:1 The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
1:2 As it is written in the prophets, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.{Malachi 3:1}
1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!'"{Isaiah 40:3}
1:4 John came baptizing{or, immersing} in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.
1:5 All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.
1:6 John was clothed with camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
1:7 He preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.
1:8 I baptized you in{The Greek word (en) translated here as "in" could also be translated as "with" in some contexts.} water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit."
1:9 It happened in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
1:10 Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
1:11 A voice came out of the sky, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
1:12 Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.
1:13 He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.
1:14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God,
1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News."
1:16 Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
1:17 Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men."
1:18 Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.
1:19 Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.
1:20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
1:21 They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
1:22 They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
1:23 Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,
1:24 saying, "Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!"
1:25 Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"
1:26 The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
1:27 They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!"
1:28 The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.
1:29 Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
1:30 Now Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.
1:31 He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.
1:32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed by demons.
1:33 All the city was gathered together at the door.
1:34 He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He didn't allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.
1:36 Simon and those who were with him followed after him;
1:37 and they found him, and told him, "Everyone is looking for you."
1:38 He said to them, "Let's go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason."
1:39 He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
1:40 A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, "If you want to, you can make me clean."
1:41 Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, "I want to. Be made clean."
1:42 When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.
1:43 He strictly warned him, and immediately sent him out,
1:44 and said to him, "See you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."
1:45 But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places: and they came to him from everywhere.
1 Corinthians 13
13:1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing.
13:3 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.
13:4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud,
13:5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
13:6 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
13:8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
13:10 but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.
13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
13:13 But now faith, hope, and love remain--these three. The greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 14
14:1 Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
14:2 For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
14:3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
14:4 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
14:5 Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.
14:6 But now, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?
14:7 Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn't give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?
14:8 For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
14:9 So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.
14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
14:11 If then I don't know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.
14:12 So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
14:13 Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
14:14 For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
14:16 Otherwise if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn't know what you say?
14:17 For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
14:18 I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
14:19 However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
14:20 Brothers, don't be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
14:21 In the law it is written, "By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. Not even thus will they hear me, says the Lord."{Isaiah 28:11-12}
14:22 Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
14:23 If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won't they say that you are crazy?
14:24 But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.
14:25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
14:26 What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.
14:27 If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.
14:28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God.
14:29 Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.
14:30 But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
14:31 For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.
14:32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the assemblies of the saints,
14:34 let your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the law also says.
14:35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the assembly.
14:36 What? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
14:37 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
14:38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
14:39 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking with other languages.
14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Day 30
Mark 2
2:1 When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was in the house.
2:2 Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them.
2:3 Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.
2:4 When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.
2:5 Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."
2:6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
2:7 "Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
2:8 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you reason these things in your hearts?
2:9 Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?'
2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the paralytic--
2:11 "I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house."
2:12 He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
2:13 He went out again by the seaside. All the multitude came to him, and he taught them.
2:14 As he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he arose and followed him.
2:15 It happened, that he was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.
2:16 The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"
2:17 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
2:18 John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?"
2:19 Jesus said to them, "Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can't fast.
2:20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.
2:21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made.
2:22 No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins."
2:23 It happened that he was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields, and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain.
2:24 The Pharisees said to him, "Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?"
2:25 He said to them, "Did you never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry--he, and those who were with him?
2:26 How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?"
2:27 He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
2:28 Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."
1 Corinthians 15
15:1 Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,
15:2 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.
15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
15:6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
15:8 and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.
15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
15:11 Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.
15:12 Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised.
15:14 If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain.
15:15 Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn't raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised.
15:16 For if the dead aren't raised, neither has Christ been raised.
15:17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
15:18 Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
15:19 If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.
15:21 For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.
15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming.
15:24 Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power.
15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
15:26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
15:27 For, "He put all things in subjection under his feet."{Psalm 8:6} But when he says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him.
15:28 When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.
15:29 Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren't raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead?
15:30 Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?
15:31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
15:32 If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."{Isaiah 22:13}
15:33 Don't be deceived! "Evil companionships corrupt good morals."
15:34 Wake up righteously, and don't sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
15:35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised?" and, "With what kind of body do they come?"
15:36 You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies.
15:37 That which you sow, you don't sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind.
15:38 But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own.
15:39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
15:40 There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial.
15:41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.
15:43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.
15:45 So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul."{Genesis 2:7} The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
15:46 However that which is spiritual isn't first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual.
15:47 The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
15:48 As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
15:49 As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let's{NU, TR read "we will" instead of "let's"} also bear the image of the heavenly.
15:50 Now I say this, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} that flesh and blood can't inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.
15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
15:54 But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in victory."{Isaiah 25:8}
15:55 "Death, where is your sting? Hades{or, Hell}, where is your victory?"{Hosea 13:14}
15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 16
16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise.
16:2 On the first day of the week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.
16:3 When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.
16:4 If it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.
16:5 But I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia.
16:6 But with you it may be that I will stay, or even winter, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go.
16:7 For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.
16:8 But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost,
16:9 for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
16:10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.
16:11 Therefore let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.
16:12 Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity.
16:13 Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!
16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.
16:15 Now I beg you, brothers (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to serve the saints),
16:16 that you also be in subjection to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.
16:17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied.
16:18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that.
16:19 The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, together with the assembly that is in their house.
16:20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
16:21 This greeting is by me, Paul, with my own hand.
16:22 If any man doesn't love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed{Greek: anathema.}. Come, Lord!{Aramaic: Maranatha!}
16:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
16:24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Day 31
Mark 3
3:1 He entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had his hand withered.
3:2 They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.
3:3 He said to the man who had his hand withered, "Stand up."
3:4 He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?" But they were silent.
3:5 When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.
3:6 The Pharisees went out, and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
3:7 Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples, and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea,
3:8 from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and those from around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him.
3:9 He spoke to his disciples that a little boat should stay near him because of the crowd, so that they wouldn't press on him.
3:10 For he had healed many, so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him.
3:11 The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, "You are the Son of God!"
3:12 He sternly warned them that they should not make him known.
3:13 He went up into the mountain, and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him.
3:14 He appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach,
3:15 and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
3:16 Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter;
3:17 James the son of Zebedee; John, the brother of James, and he surnamed them Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder;
3:18 Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot;
3:19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. He came into a house.
3:20 The multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
3:21 When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him: for they said, "He is insane."
3:22 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul," and, "By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons."
3:23 He summoned them, and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?
3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
3:25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
3:26 If Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can't stand, but has an end.
3:27 But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he will plunder his house.
3:28 Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme;
3:29 but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"
3:30 --because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."
3:31 His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him.
3:32 A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, "Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters{TR omits "your sisters"} are outside looking for you."
3:33 He answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"
3:34 Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers!
3:35 For whoever does the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."
2 Corinthians 1
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;
1:4 who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.
1:6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.
1:7 Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so also are you of the comfort.
1:8 For we don't desire to have you uninformed, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life.
1:9 Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,
1:10 who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;
1:11 you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed on us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.
1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
1:13 For we write no other things to you, than what you read or even acknowledge, and I hope you will acknowledge to the end;
1:14 as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
1:15 In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit;
1:16 and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be sent forward by you on my journey to Judea.
1:17 When I therefore was thus determined, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the "Yes, yes" and the "No, no?"
1:18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not "Yes and no."
1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not "Yes and no," but in him is "Yes."
1:20 For however many are the promises of God, in him is the "Yes." Therefore also through him is the "Amen," to the glory of God through us.
1:21 Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;
1:22 who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.
1:23 But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn't come to Corinth to spare you.
1:24 Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.
2 Corinthians 2
2:1 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.
2:2 For if I make you sorry, then who will make me glad but he who is made sorry by me?
2:3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn't have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you.
2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made sorry, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.
2:5 But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all.
2:6 Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many;
2:7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.
2:8 Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him.
2:9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.
2:10 Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
2:11 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
2:12 Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,
2:13 I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn't find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.
2:14 Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.
2:15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish;
2:16 to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
2:17 For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
Day 32
Mark 4
4:1 Again he began to teach by the seaside. A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea, and sat down. All the multitude were on the land by the sea.
4:2 He taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching,
4:3 "Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow,
4:4 and it happened, as he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds{TR adds "of the air"} came and devoured it.
4:5 Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.
4:6 When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
4:7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
4:8 Others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some brought forth thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much."
4:9 He said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."
4:10 When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
4:11 He said to them, "To you is given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
4:12 that 'seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.'"{Isaiah 6:9-10}
4:13 He said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables?
4:14 The farmer sows the word.
4:15 The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
4:16 These in like manner are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.
4:17 They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble.
4:18 Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word,
4:19 and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
4:20 Those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times."
4:21 He said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket{literally, a modion, a dry measuring basket containing about a peck (about 9 litres)} or under a bed? Isn't it put on a stand?
4:22 For there is nothing hidden, except that it should be made known; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light.
4:23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear."
4:24 He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you who hear.
4:25 For whoever has, to him will more be given, and he who doesn't have, even that which he has will be taken away from him."
4:26 He said, "The Kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed on the earth,
4:27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he doesn't know how.
4:28 For the earth bears fruit: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
4:29 But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest has come."
4:30 He said, "How will we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?
4:31 It's like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,
4:32 yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow."
4:33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
4:34 Without a parable he didn't speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
4:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let's go over to the other side."
4:36 Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.
4:37 A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.
4:38 He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, "Teacher, don't you care that we are dying?"
4:39 He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
4:40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?"
4:41 They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
2 Corinthians 3
3:1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?
3:2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
3:3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.
3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God;
3:5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;
3:6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
3:7 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away:
3:8 won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory?
3:9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
3:10 For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses.
3:11 For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
3:12 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,
3:13 and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn't look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away.
3:14 But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away.
3:15 But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
3:16 But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4
4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don't faint.
4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
4:3 Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;
4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
4:5 For we don't preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake;
4:6 seeing it is God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness,"{Genesis 1:3} who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.
4:8 We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;
4:9 pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;
4:10 always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
4:11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.
4:12 So then death works in us, but life in you.
4:13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, "I believed, and therefore I spoke."{Psalm 116:10} We also believe, and therefore also we speak;
4:14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you.
4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
4:16 Therefore we don't faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.
4:17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
4:18 while we don't look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Day 33
Mark 5
5:1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
5:2 When he had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met him out of the tombs.
5:3 He lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains,
5:4 because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him.
5:5 Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
5:6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him,
5:7 and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don't torment me."
5:8 For he said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"
5:9 He asked him, "What is your name?" He said to him, "My name is Legion, for we are many."
5:10 He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
5:11 Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding.
5:12 All the demons begged him, saying, "Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them."
5:13 At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea.
5:14 Those who fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the country. The people came to see what it was that had happened.
5:15 They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid.
5:16 Those who saw it declared to them how it happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs.
5:17 They began to beg him to depart from their region.
5:18 As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him.
5:19 He didn't allow him, but said to him, "Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you."
5:20 He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.
5:21 When Jesus had crossed back over in the boat to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the sea.
5:22 Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet,
5:23 and begged him much, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live."
5:24 He went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides.
5:25 A certain woman, who had an issue of blood for twelve years,
5:26 and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse,
5:27 having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd, and touched his clothes.
5:28 For she said, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well."
5:29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
5:30 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd, and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
5:31 His disciples said to him, "You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, 'Who touched me?'"
5:32 He looked around to see her who had done this thing.
5:33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
5:34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease."
5:35 While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler's house saying, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?"
5:36 But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Don't be afraid, only believe."
5:37 He allowed no one to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
5:38 He came to the synagogue ruler's house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing.
5:39 When he had entered in, he said to them, "Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep."
5:40 They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying.
5:41 Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, "Talitha cumi!" which means, being interpreted, "Girl, I tell you, get up!"
5:42 Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement.
5:43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.
2 Corinthians 5
5:1 For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
5:2 For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;
5:3 if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked.
5:4 For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5:5 Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
5:6 Therefore, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;
5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
5:8 We are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
5:9 Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.
5:10 For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
5:11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.
5:12 For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart.
5:13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.
5:14 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died.
5:15 He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
5:16 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
5:18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
5:20 We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
5:21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 6
6:1 Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,
6:2 for he says, "At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you."{Isaiah 49:8} Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.
6:3 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
6:4 but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;
6:6 in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,
6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
6:8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
6:9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed;
6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
6:11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.
6:12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
6:13 Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide.
6:14 Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
6:15 What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?
6:16 What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people."{Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27}
6:17 Therefore, "'Come out from among them, and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.{Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41}
6:18 I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty."{2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8}
Day 34
Mark 6
6:1 He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him.
6:2 When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things?" and, "What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands?
6:3 Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" They were offended at him.
6:4 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house."
6:5 He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them.
6:6 He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.
6:7 He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
6:8 He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse,
6:9 but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics.
6:10 He said to them, "Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.
6:11 Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"
6:12 They went out and preached that people should repent.
6:13 They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them.
6:14 King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, "John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."
6:15 But others said, "He is Elijah." Others said, "He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets."
6:16 But Herod, when he heard this, said, "This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead."
6:17 For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for he had married her.
6:18 For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
6:19 Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn't,
6:20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
6:21 Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.
6:22 When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you."
6:23 He swore to her, "Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."
6:24 She went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" She said, "The head of John the Baptizer."
6:25 She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter."
6:26 The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn't wish to refuse her.
6:27 Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John's head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
6:28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.
6:29 When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
6:30 The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught.
6:31 He said to them, "You come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile." For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
6:32 They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
6:33 They{TR reads "The multitudes" instead of "They"} saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him.
6:34 Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
6:35 When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him, and said, "This place is deserted, and it is late in the day.
6:36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat."
6:37 But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They asked him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii{200 denarii was about 7 or 8 months wages for an agricultural laborer.} worth of bread, and give them something to eat?"
6:38 He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go see." When they knew, they said, "Five, and two fish."
6:39 He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass.
6:40 They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.
6:41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all.
6:42 They all ate, and were filled.
6:43 They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish.
6:44 Those who ate the loaves were{TR adds "about"} five thousand men.
6:45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away.
6:46 After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.
6:47 When evening had come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
6:48 Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea,{see Job 9:8} and he would have passed by them,
6:49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
6:50 for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, "Cheer up! It is I!{or, "I AM!"} Don't be afraid."
6:51 He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled;
6:52 for they hadn't understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.
6:54 When they had come out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him,
6:55 and ran around that whole region, and began to bring those who were sick, on their mats, to where they heard he was.
6:56 Wherever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch just the fringe{or, tassel} of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.
2 Corinthians 7
7:1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
7:2 Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one.
7:3 I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die together and live together.
7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction.
7:5 For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside.
7:6 Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7:7 and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced still more.
7:8 For though I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that my letter made you sorry, though just for a while.
7:9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing.
7:10 For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world works death.
7:11 For behold, this same thing, that you were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter.
7:12 So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God.
7:13 Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
7:14 For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.
7:15 His affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you received him.
7:16 I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you.
2 Corinthians 8
8:1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;
8:2 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.
8:3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
8:4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.
8:5 This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
8:6 So we urged Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
8:7 But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace.
8:8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
8:10 I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.
8:11 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
8:12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don't have.
8:13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,
8:14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.
8:15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."{Exodus 16:8}
8:16 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
8:17 For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.
8:18 We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known through all the assemblies.
8:19 Not only so, but who was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.
8:20 We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.
8:21 Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
8:22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.
8:23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.
8:24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them in front of the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Day 35
Mark 7
7:1 Then the Pharisees, and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem.
7:2 Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands, they found fault.
7:3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, don't eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.
7:4 They don't eat when they come from the marketplace, unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)
7:5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?"
7:6 He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7:7 But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'{Isaiah 29:13}
7:8 "For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things."
7:9 He said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
7:10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother;'{Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16} and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'{Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9}
7:11 But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban{Corban is a Hebrew word for an offering devoted to God.}, that is to say, given to God;"'
7:12 then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother,
7:13 making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this."
7:14 He called all the multitude to himself, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand.
7:15 There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.
7:16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"
7:17 When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.
7:18 He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Don't you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can't defile him,
7:19 because it doesn't go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, thus making all foods clean?"
7:20 He said, "That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.
7:21 For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
7:22 covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
7:24 From there he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house, and didn't want anyone to know it, but he couldn't escape notice.
7:25 For a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.
7:26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would cast the demon out of her daughter.
7:27 But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
7:28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
7:29 He said to her, "For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter."
7:30 She went away to her house, and found the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.
7:31 Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the region of Decapolis.
7:32 They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him.
7:33 He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue.
7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!"
7:35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.
7:36 He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.
7:37 They were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!"
2 Corinthians 9
9:1 It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,
9:2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.
9:3 But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,
9:4 so that I won't by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should be disappointed in this confident boasting.
9:5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you, and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.
9:6 Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
9:7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.
9:9 As it is written, "He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever."{Psalm 112:9}
9:10 Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;
9:11 you being enriched in everything to all liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God.
9:12 For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through many givings of thanks to God;
9:13 seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;
9:14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
9:15 Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
2 Corinthians 10
10:1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.
10:2 Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.
10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh;
10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,
10:5 throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
10:6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.
10:7 Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's.
10:8 For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,
10:9 that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.
10:10 For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."
10:11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.
10:12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.
10:13 But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.
10:14 For we don't stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn't reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,
10:15 not boasting beyond proper limits in other men's labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,
10:16 so as to preach the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.
10:17 But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}
10:18 For it isn't he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Day 36
Mark 8
8:1 In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself, and said to them,
8:2 "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.
8:3 If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way."
8:4 His disciples answered him, "From where could one satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?"
8:5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven."
8:6 He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the multitude.
8:7 They had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also.
8:8 They ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over.
8:9 Those who had eaten were about four thousand. Then he sent them away.
8:10 Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the region of Dalmanutha.
8:11 The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him.
8:12 He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, "Why does this generation{The word translated "generation" here (genea) could also be translated "people," "race," or "family."} seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation."
8:13 He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.
8:14 They forgot to take bread; and they didn't have more than one loaf in the boat with them.
8:15 He warned them, saying, "Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."
8:16 They reasoned with one another, saying, "It's because we have no bread."
8:17 Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, "Why do you reason that it's because you have no bread? Don't you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?
8:18 Having eyes, don't you see? Having ears, don't you hear? Don't you remember?
8:19 When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They told him, "Twelve."
8:20 "When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They told him, "Seven."
8:21 He asked them, "Don't you understand, yet?"
8:22 He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him.
8:23 He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.
8:24 He looked up, and said, "I see men; for I see them like trees walking."
8:25 Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly.
8:26 He sent him away to his house, saying, "Don't enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village."
8:27 Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"
8:28 They told him, "John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets."
8:29 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
8:30 He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.
8:31 He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
8:32 He spoke to them openly. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
8:33 But he, turning around, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men."
8:34 He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, "Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.
8:36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
8:37 For what will a man give in exchange for his life?
8:38 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
2 Corinthians 11
11:1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.
11:2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
11:3 But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
11:4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different "good news", which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough.
11:5 For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.
11:6 But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.
11:7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God's Good News free of charge?
11:8 I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you.
11:9 When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn't a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.
11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11:11 Why? Because I don't love you? God knows.
11:12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.
11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles.
11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.
11:15 It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
11:16 I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.
11:17 That which I speak, I don't speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
11:18 Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast.
11:19 For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.
11:20 For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face.
11:21 I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.
11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.
11:24 Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one.
11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.
11:26 I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers;
11:27 in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.
11:28 Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies.
11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don't burn with indignation?
11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.
11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forevermore, knows that I don't lie.
11:32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes desiring to arrest me.
11:33 Through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.
2 Corinthians 12
12:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
12:2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don't know, or whether out of the body, I don't know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven.
12:3 I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows),
12:4 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
12:5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
12:6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.
12:7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
12:8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
12:9 He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
12:11 I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.
12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
12:13 For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.
12:14 Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
12:15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
12:16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.
12:17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?
12:18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn't we walk in the same spirit? Didn't we walk in the same steps?
12:19 Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
12:20 For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don't desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;
12:21 that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.
Day 37
Mark 9
9:1 He said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come with power."
9:2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them.
9:3 His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
9:4 Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.
9:5 Peter answered Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
9:6 For he didn't know what to say, for they were very afraid.
9:7 A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
9:8 Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Jesus only.
9:9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
9:10 They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the "rising from the dead" meant.
9:11 They asked him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
9:12 He said to them, "Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised?
9:13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him."
9:14 Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and scribes questioning them.
9:15 Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him greeted him.
9:16 He asked the scribes, "What are you asking them?"
9:17 One of the multitude answered, "Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;
9:18 and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren't able."
9:19 He answered him, "Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me."
9:20 They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.
9:21 He asked his father, "How long has it been since this has come to him?" He said, "From childhood.
9:22 Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us."
9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, "I believe. Help my unbelief!"
9:25 When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!"
9:26 Having cried out, and convulsed greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, "He is dead."
9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.
9:28 When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we cast it out?"
9:29 He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting."
9:30 They went out from there, and passed through Galilee. He didn't want anyone to know it.
9:31 For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, "The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again."
9:32 But they didn't understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
9:33 He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?"
9:34 But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.
9:35 He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all."
9:36 He took a little child, and set him in the midst of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,
9:37 "Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn't receive me, but him who sent me."
9:38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone who doesn't follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow us."
9:39 But Jesus said, "Don't forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.
9:40 For whoever is not against us is on our side.
9:41 For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ's, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
9:42 Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he was thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.
9:43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna,{or, Hell} into the unquenchable fire,
9:44 'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
9:45 If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna,{or, Hell} into the fire that will never be quenched--
9:46 'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
9:47 If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna{or, Hell} of fire,
9:48 'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'{Isaiah 66:24}
9:49 For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
2 Corinthians 13
13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. "At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."{Deuteronomy 19:15}
13:2 I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;
13:3 seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you.
13:4 For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.
13:5 Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don't you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.
13:6 But I hope that you will know that we aren't disqualified.
13:7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate.
13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
13:9 For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting.
13:10 For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.
13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13:13 All the saints greet you.
13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
Day 38
Mark 10
10:1 He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching them.
10:2 Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
10:3 He answered, "What did Moses command you?"
10:4 They said, "Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her."
10:5 But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.
10:6 But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female.{Genesis 1:27}
10:7 For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife,
10:8 and the two will become one flesh,{Genesis 2:24} so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.
10:9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."
10:10 In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter.
10:11 He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her.
10:12 If a woman herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery."
10:13 They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them.
10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, "Allow the little children to come to me! Don't forbid them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
10:15 Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it."
10:16 He took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
10:17 As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
10:18 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one--God.
10:19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder,' 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not give false testimony,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and mother.'"{Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20}
10:20 He said to him, "Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth."
10:21 Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross."
10:22 But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.
10:23 Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!"
10:24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, "Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!
10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
10:26 They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, "Then who can be saved?"
10:27 Jesus, looking at them, said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God."
10:28 Peter began to tell him, "Behold, we have left all, and have followed you."
10:29 Jesus said, "Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News,
10:30 but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life.
10:31 But many who are first will be last; and the last first."
10:32 They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him.
10:33 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles.
10:34 They will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him. On the third day he will rise again."
10:35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask."
10:36 He said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"
10:37 They said to him, "Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left hand, in your glory."
10:38 But Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
10:39 They said to him, "We are able." Jesus said to them, "You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;
10:40 but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared."
10:41 When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant towards James and John.
10:42 Jesus summoned them, and said to them, "You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
10:43 But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant.
10:44 Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all.
10:45 For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
10:46 They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.
10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!"
10:48 Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"
10:49 Jesus stood still, and said, "Call him." They called the blind man, saying to him, "Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!"
10:50 He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
10:51 Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "Rhabboni,{Rhabboni is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for "great teacher."} that I may see again."
10:52 Jesus said to him, "Go your way. Your faith has made you well." Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Galatians 1
1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),
1:2 and all the brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia:
1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
1:4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father--
1:5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
1:6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different "good news";
1:7 and there isn't another "good news." Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.
1:8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any "good news" other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.
1:9 As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any "good news" other than that which you received, let him be cursed.
1:10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn't be a servant of Christ.
1:11 But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.
1:12 For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
1:13 For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it.
1:14 I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
1:15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace,
1:16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn't immediately confer with flesh and blood,
1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.
1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.
1:19 But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord's brother.
1:20 Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I'm not lying.
1:21 Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
1:22 I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,
1:23 but they only heard: "He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy."
1:24 And they glorified God in me.
Galatians 2
2:1 Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.
2:2 I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.
2:3 But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
2:4 This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;
2:5 to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you.
2:6 But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn't show partiality to man)--they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,
2:7 but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision
2:8 (for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles);
2:9 and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.
2:10 They only asked us to remember the poor--which very thing I was also zealous to do.
2:11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.
2:12 For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
2:13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
2:14 But when I saw that they didn't walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?
2:15 "We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners,
2:16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
2:17 But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not!
2:18 For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.
2:19 For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God.
2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
2:21 I don't make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"
Day 39
Mark 11
11:1 When they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
11:2 and said to them, "Go your way into the village that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat. Untie him, and bring him.
11:3 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord needs him;' and immediately he will send him back here."
11:4 They went away, and found a young donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him.
11:5 Some of those who stood there asked them, "What are you doing, untying the young donkey?"
11:6 They said to them just as Jesus had said, and they let them go.
11:7 They brought the young donkey to Jesus, and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it.
11:8 Many spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees, and spreading them on the road.
11:9 Those who went in front, and those who followed, cried out, "Hosanna{"Hosanna" means "save us" or "help us, we pray."}! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!{Psalm 118:25-26}
11:10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
11:11 Jesus entered into the temple in Jerusalem. When he had looked around at everything, it being now evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
11:12 The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry.
11:13 Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
11:14 Jesus told it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" and his disciples heard it.
11:15 They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold the doves.
11:16 He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple.
11:17 He taught, saying to them, "Isn't it written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?'{Isaiah 56:7} But you have made it a den of robbers!"{Jeremiah 7:11}
11:18 The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
11:19 When evening came, he went out of the city.
11:20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.
11:21 Peter, remembering, said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away."
11:22 Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.
11:23 For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and doesn't doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says.
11:24 Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.
11:25 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions.
11:26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions."
11:27 They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders came to him,
11:28 and they began saying to him, "By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?"
11:29 Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
11:30 The baptism of John--was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me."
11:31 They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
11:32 If we should say, 'From men'"--they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.
11:33 They answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things."
Galatians 3
3:1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth among you as crucified?
3:2 I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?
3:4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?
3:5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
3:6 Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."
3:7 Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham.
3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations will be blessed."{Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18}
3:9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.
3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."{Deuteronomy 27:26}
3:11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, "The righteous will live by faith."{Habakkuk 2:4}
3:12 The law is not of faith, but, "The man who does them will live by them."{Leviticus 18:5}
3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"{Deuteronomy 21:23}
3:14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
3:15 Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it.
3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn't say, "To seeds," as of many, but as of one, "To your seed,"{Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 24:7} which is Christ.
3:17 Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.
3:18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.
3:19 What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
3:20 Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.
3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.
3:22 But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
3:23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
3:24 So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
3:26 For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.
3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
3:29 If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise.
Galatians 4
4:1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;
4:2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
4:3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
4:5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.
4:6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba,{Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for "Father" or "Daddy" used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.} Father!"
4:7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
4:8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?
4:10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
4:11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
4:12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
4:13 but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
4:14 That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn't despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
4:15 What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
4:16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
4:17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
4:18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
4:19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you--
4:20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
4:21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don't you listen to the law?
4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman.
4:23 However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
4:24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
4:25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
4:27 For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who don't bear. Break forth and shout, you that don't travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband."{Isaiah 54:1}
4:28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
4:29 But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
4:30 However what does the Scripture say? "Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman."{Genesis 21:10}
4:31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.
Day 40
Mark 12
12:1 He began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.
12:2 When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.
12:3 They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.
12:4 Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.
12:5 Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some.
12:6 Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
12:7 But those farmers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'
12:8 They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
12:9 What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.
12:10 Haven't you even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner.
12:11 This was from the Lord, it is marvelous in our eyes'?"{Psalm 118:22-23}
12:12 They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him, and went away.
12:13 They sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.
12:14 When they had come, they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don't defer to anyone; for you aren't partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give?" But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it."
12:16 They brought it. He said to them, "Whose is this image and inscription?" They said to him, "Caesar's."
12:17 Jesus answered them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." They marveled greatly at him.
12:18 There came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. They asked him, saying,
12:19 "Teacher, Moses wrote to us, 'If a man's brother dies, and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.'
12:20 There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.
12:21 The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;
12:22 and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.
12:23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife."
12:24 Jesus answered them, "Isn't this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God?
12:25 For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
12:26 But about the dead, that they are raised; haven't you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'{Exodus 3:6}?
12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken."
12:28 One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the greatest of all?"
12:29 Jesus answered, "The greatest is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one:
12:30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'{Deuteronomy 6:4-5} This is the first commandment.
12:31 The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'{Leviticus 19:18} There is no other commandment greater than these."
12:32 The scribe said to him, "Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he,
12:33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
12:34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." No one dared ask him any question after that.
12:35 Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
12:36 For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."'{Psalm 110:1}
12:37 Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?" The common people heard him gladly.
12:38 In his teaching he said to them, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,
12:39 and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts:
12:40 those who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."
12:41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much.
12:42 A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins,{literally, lepta (or widow's mites). Lepta are very small brass coins worth half a quadrans each, which is a quarter of the copper assarion. Lepta are worth less than 1% of an agricultural worker's daily wages.} which equal a quadrans coin.{A quadrans is a coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius. A denarius is about one day's wages for an agricultural laborer.}
12:43 He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,
12:44 for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on."
Galatians 5
5:1 Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don't be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
5:2 Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
5:3 Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
5:4 You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.
5:5 For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.
5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
5:7 You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?
5:8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
5:9 A little yeast grows through the whole lump.
5:10 I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
5:11 But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.
5:12 I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.
5:13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}
5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don't consume one another.
5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.
5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,
5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
5:21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,{or, faithfulness}
5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
5:24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let's also walk by the Spirit.
5:26 Let's not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.
Galatians 6
6:1 Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren't tempted.
6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
6:3 For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
6:4 But let each man test his own work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in his neighbor.
6:5 For each man will bear his own burden.
6:6 But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.
6:7 Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
6:9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up.
6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let's do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
6:11 See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand.
6:12 As many as desire to look good in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
6:13 For even they who receive circumcision don't keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.
6:14 But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
6:16 As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God's Israel.
6:17 From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body.
6:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.