Monday, November 2, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 36
Matthew 23; Luke 20;
Luke 21
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 "The
teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 So
you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do,
for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy
loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to
lift a finger to move them. 5 "Everything they do is done
for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their
garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and
the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be
greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' 8 "But
you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all
brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you
have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be
called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.11 The
greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts
himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13 "Woe
to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom
of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those
enter who are trying to. 15 "Woe to you, teachers of the
law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single
convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as
you are. 16 "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If
anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold
of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17 You blind fools!
Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You
also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone
swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' 19You blind
men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore,
he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And
he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And
he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on
it. 23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees,
you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you
have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and
faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the
former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow
a camel. 25 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but
inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind
Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also
will be clean. 27 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful
on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything
unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to
people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and
wickedness. 29 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the
graves of the righteous.30 And you say, 'If we had lived in the
days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the
blood of the prophets.' 31 So you testify against yourselves
that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill
up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers! 33 "You
snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34Therefore
I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill
and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to
town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood
that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of
Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the
altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this
generation. 37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the
prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your
children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were
not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you
desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until
you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' "
1 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts
and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,
together with the elders, came up to him. 2 "Tell us by
what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you
this authority?" 3 He replied, "I will also ask you
a question. Tell me, 4 John's baptism--was it from heaven, or
from men?" 5 They discussed it among themselves and said,
"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe
him?' 6 But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone
us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."7 So
they answered, "We don't know where it was from." 8 Jesus
said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these
things." 9 He went on to tell the people this parable:
"A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a
long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants
so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat
him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another
servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away
empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him
and threw him out. 13 "Then the owner of the vineyard
said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will
respect him.' 14 "But when the tenants saw him, they
talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the
inheritance will be ours.' 15 So they threw him out of the
vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to
them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the
vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this
never be!" 17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked,
"Then what is the meaning of that which is written: " 'The stone the
builders rejected has become the capstone ' ? 18 Everyone who
falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be
crushed." 19 The teachers of the law and the chief
priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had
spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. 20 Keeping
a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped
to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the
power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies
questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right,
and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with
the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or
not?" 23 He saw through their duplicity and said to
them, 24 "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and
inscription are on it?" 25 "Caesar's," they
replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to
God what is God's." 26 They were unable to trap him in
what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became
silent. 27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no
resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 "Teacher,"
they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a
wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his
brother. 29Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a
woman and died childless. 30 The second 31and then
the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no
children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now
then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married
to her?" 34 Jesus replied, "The people of this age
marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are
considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the
dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they
can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since
they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account
of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the
God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 38 He
is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are
alive." 39 Some of the teachers of the law responded,
"Well said, teacher!" 40 And no one dared to ask him
any more questions. 41 Then Jesus said to them, "How is
it that they say the Christ is the Son of David? 42David himself
declares in the Book of Psalms: " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at
my right hand 43 until I make your enemies a footstool for
your feet." ' 44 David calls him 'Lord.' How then can he
be his son?" 45 While all the people were listening,
Jesus said to his disciples, 46 "Beware of the teachers
of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in
the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the
places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows' houses and
for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts
into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in
two very small copper coins. 3 "I tell you the
truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the
others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their
wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." 5 Some
of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful
stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 "As
for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on
another; every one of them will be thrown down." 7 "Teacher,"
they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that
they are about to take place?" 8 He replied: "Watch
out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am
he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. 9 When you
hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen
first, but the end will not come right away." 10 Then he
said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences
in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 12 "But
before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will
deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and
governors, and all on account of my name. 13 This will result
in your being witnesses to them. 14 But make up your mind not
to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I
will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to
resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents,
brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 All
men will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your
head will perish. 19 By standing firm you will gain
life. 20"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,
you will know that its desolation is near. 21Then let those who are
in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in
the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of
punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How
dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There
will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They
will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations.
Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles
are fulfilled. 25 "There will be signs in the sun, moon
and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the
roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 Men will faint from terror,
apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be
shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in
a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin
to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is
drawing near." 29 He told them this parable: "Look
at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves,
you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even
so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is
near. 32 "I tell you the truth, this generation will
certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 34 "Be
careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and
the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a
trap. 35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face
of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that
you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able
to stand before the Son of Man." 37 Each day Jesus was
teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the
hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came
early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
Revelation 12
Revelation 12 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 12
The Woman and the Dragon
1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who "will rule all the nations with an iron scepter."[a] And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."
13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Revelation 12
The Woman and the Dragon
1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who "will rule all the nations with an iron scepter."[a] And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."
13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Revelation 11
Revelation 11 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 They are "the two olive trees" and the two lampstands, and "they stand before the Lord of the earth."[a] 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath[b] of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever."
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name, both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth."
19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 They are "the two olive trees" and the two lampstands, and "they stand before the Lord of the earth."[a] 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath[b] of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever."
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name, both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth."
19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
Galatians 6
Galatians 6 (New International Version, ©2010)
Galatians 6
Doing Good to All
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Not Circumcision but the New Creation
11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to[b] the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
Galatians 6
Doing Good to All
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Not Circumcision but the New Creation
11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to[b] the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Revelation 10
Revelation 10 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 10
The Angel and the Little Scroll
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."
9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but 'in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.'[a]" 10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
Revelation 10
The Angel and the Little Scroll
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."
9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but 'in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.'[a]" 10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
Galatians 5
Galatians 5 (New International Version, ©2010)
Galatians 5
Freedom in Christ
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5
Freedom in Christ
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 35
Matthew 22; Mark 12
1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 "The
kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his
son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to
the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 "Then
he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I
have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and
everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' 5 "But
they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his
business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and
killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and
destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 "Then
he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did
not deserve to come. 9 Go to the street corners and invite to
the banquet anyone you find.' 10 So the servants went out into
the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and
the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 "But when the
king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing
wedding clothes. 12 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in
here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. 13 "Then
the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside,
into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 "For
many are invited, but few are chosen." 15 Then the
Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They
sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they
said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of
God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no
attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your
opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 18 But
Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you
trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the
tax." They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them,
"Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" 21"Caesar's,"
they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and
to God what is God's." 22 When they heard this, they were
amazed. So they left him and went away. 23 That same day the
Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 "Teacher,"
they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his
brother must marry the widow and have children for him. 25 Now
there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since
he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The
same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the
seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now
then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of
them were married to her?" 29 Jesus replied, "You
are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At
the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will
be like the angels in heaven.31 But about the resurrection of the
dead--have you not read what God said to you, 32 'I am the God
of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? He is not the God of the
dead but of the living."33 When the crowds heard this, they
were astonished at his teaching. 34 Hearing that Jesus had
silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of
them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 "Teacher,
which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus
replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and
greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your
neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on
these two commandments." 41 While the Pharisees were
gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 "What do you
think about the Christ ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David,"
they replied. 43 He said to them, "How is it then that
David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 44 "
'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies
under your feet." ' 45 If then David calls him 'Lord,'
how can he be his son?" 46 No one could say a word in
reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Revelation 9
Revelation 9 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 9
1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. 6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).
12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.
13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.
17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.
20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Revelation 9
1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. 6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).
12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.
13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.
17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.
20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Galatians 4
Galatians 4 (New International Version, ©2010)
Galatians 4
1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,[c] Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: "Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."[e]
28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."[f] 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Galatians 4
1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,[c] Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: "Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."[e]
28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."[f] 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 34
Mark 11; John 12
·
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and
Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying
to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you
will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring
it here. 3 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell
him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' " 4 They
went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied
it, 5 some people standing there asked, "What are you
doing, untying that colt?" 6 They answered as Jesus had
told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought
the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many
people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had
cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who
followed shouted, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord!" 10 "Blessed is the coming kingdom
of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" 11 Jesus
entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but
since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The
next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing
in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit.
When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season
for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever
eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. 15On
reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those
who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money
changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would
not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And
as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " 'My house will be
called a house of prayer for all nations' ? But you have made it 'a den of
robbers.' " 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the
law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him,
because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 19 When
evening came, they went out of the city. 20 In the morning, as
they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter
remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has
withered!" 22 "Have faith in God," Jesus
answered. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to
this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his
heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for
him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And
when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so
that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. " 27 They
arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts,
the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 "By
what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave
you authority to do this?" 29 Jesus replied, "I will
ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am
doing these things. 30 John's baptism--was it from heaven, or
from men? Tell me!" 31 They discussed it among themselves
and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you
believe him?' 32 But if we say, 'From men' . . ." (They
feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) 33 So
they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will
I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany,
where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here
a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among
those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about
a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and
wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of
the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who
was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this
perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.
" 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor
but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself
to what was put into it. 7 "Leave her alone," Jesus
replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day
of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but
you will not always have me." 9 Meanwhile a large crowd
of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but
also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So
the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for
on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their
faith in him. 12 The next day the great crowd that had come
for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They
took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! "
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is
the King of Israel!" 14 Jesus found a young donkey and
sat upon it, as it is written, 15 "Do not be afraid, O
Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's
colt." 16 At first his disciples did not understand all
this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had
been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 17 Now
the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him
from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people,
because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet
him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this
is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!" 20 Now
there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They
came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request.
"Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22 Philip
went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus
replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I
tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it
remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The
man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this
world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must
follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the
one who serves me. 27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what
shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason
I came to this hour.28 Father, glorify your name!" Then a
voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it
again." 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it
had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus
said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now
is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be
driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will
draw all men to myself." 33 He said this to show the kind
of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, "We
have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you
say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" 35 Then
Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while
longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man
who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put
your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of
light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from
them. 37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs
in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This
was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our
message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39 For
this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 "He
has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with
their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal
them." 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory
and spoke about him.42 Yet at the same time many even among the
leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess
their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for
they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then
Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me
only, but in the one who sent me. 45 When he looks at me, he
sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a
light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 47 "As
for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him.
For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48 There
is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very
word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49 For I
did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to
say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to
eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to
say."
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