In Prayer
Scriptures | 1 John 1 1 Thessalonians 5 1 Timothy 2 Acts 6 Luke 11 Luke 6 Mark 11 Mark 13 Mark 14 Matthew 5 Matthew 6 Psalms 5 Psalms 54 Psalms 6 Romans 8 |
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John Chapter 11 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, āThis was he of whom I said, āHe who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.ā ā)16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Fatherās side, he has made him known.19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, āWho are you?ā20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, āI am not the Christ.ā21 And they asked him, āWhat then? Are you Elijah?ā He said, āI am not.ā āAre you the Prophet?ā And he answered, āNo.ā22 So they said to him, āWho are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?ā23 He said, āI am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, āMake straight the way of the Lord,āas the prophet Isaiah said.ā24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)25 They asked him, āThen why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?ā26 John answered them, āI baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.ā28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, āBehold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!30 This is he of whom I said, āAfter me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.ā31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.ā32 And John bore witness: āI saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, āHe on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.ā34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.ā35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, āBehold, the Lamb of God!ā37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, āWhat are you seeking?ā And they said to him, āRabbiā (which means Teacher), āwhere are you staying?ā39 He said to them, āCome and you will see.ā So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peterās brother.41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, āWe have found the Messiahā (which means Christ).42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, āSo you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephasā (which means Peter).43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, āFollow me.ā44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, āWe have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.ā46 Nathanael said to him, āCan anything good come out of Nazareth?ā Philip said to him, āCome and see.ā47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, āBehold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!ā48 Nathanael said to him, āHow do you know me?ā Jesus answered him, āBefore Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.ā49 Nathanael answered him, āRabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!ā50 Jesus answered him, āBecause I said to you, āI saw you under the fig tree,ādo you believe? You will see greater things than these.ā51 And he said to him, āTruly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.ā Acts Chapter 61 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, āIt is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.ā5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, āWe have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.ā12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,13 and they set up false witnesses who said, āThis man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.ā15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Luke Chapter 111 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, āLord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.ā2 And he said to them, āWhen you pray, say: āFather, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.3 Give us each day our daily bread,4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.ā5 And he said to them, āWhich of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, āFriend, lend me three loaves,6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before himā;7 and he will answer from within, āDo not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anythingā?8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!ā14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled.15 But some of them said, āHe casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,ā16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, āEvery kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.24 āWhen the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, āI will return to my house from which I came.ā25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order.26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.ā27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, āBlessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!ā28 But he said, āBlessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!ā29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, āThis generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.33 āNo one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.ā37 While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table.38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.39 And the Lord said to him, āNow you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.42 āBut woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.ā45 One of the lawyers answered him, āTeacher, in saying these things you insult us also.ā46 And he said, āWoe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed.48 So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs.49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, āI will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,ā50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation,51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.ā53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things,54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say. Luke Chapter 61 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands.2 But some of the Pharisees said, āWhy are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?ā3 And Jesus answered them, āHave you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?ā5 And he said to them, āThe Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.ā6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered.7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him.8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, āCome and stand here.ā And he rose and stood there.9 And Jesus said to them, āI ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?ā10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, āStretch out your hand.ā And he did so, and his hand was restored.11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: āBlessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.21 āBlessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. āBlessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.22 āBlessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.24 āBut woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.25 āWoe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. āWoe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.26 āWoe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.27 āBut I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.32 āIf you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.37 āJudge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.ā39 He also told them a parable: āCan a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brotherās eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?42 How can you say to your brother, āBrother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,āwhen you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brotherās eye.43 āFor no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.46 āWhy do you call me āLord, Lord,āand not do what I tell you?47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like:48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.ā Mark Chapter 111 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples2 and said to them, āGo into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.3 If anyone says to you, āWhy are you doing this?āsay, āThe Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.ā ā4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it.5 And some of those standing there said to them, āWhat are you doing, untying the colt?ā6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, āHosanna! 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!ā11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.14 And he said to it, āMay no one ever eat fruit from you again.ā And his disciples heard it.15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, āIs it not written, āMy house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nationsā? But you have made it a den of robbers.ā18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.19 And when evening came they went out of the city.20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.21 And Peter remembered and said to him, āRabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.ā22 And Jesus answered them, āHave faith in God.23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, āBe taken up and thrown into the sea,āand does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.ā27 And 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,28 and they said to him, āBy what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?ā29 Jesus said to them, āI will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.ā31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, āIf we say, āFrom heaven,āhe will say, āWhy then did you not believe him?ā32 But shall we say, āFrom manā?āāthey were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.33 So they answered Jesus, āWe do not know.ā And Jesus said to them, āNeither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.ā Mark Chapter 131 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, āLook, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!ā2 And Jesus said to him, āDo you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.ā3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,4 āTell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?ā5 And Jesus began to say to them, āSee that no one leads you astray.6 Many will come in my name, saying, āI am he!āand they will lead many astray.7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.9 āBut be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.13 And you will be hated by all for my nameās sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.14 āBut when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out,16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!18 Pray that it may not happen in winter.19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be.20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.21 And then if anyone says to you, āLook, here is the Christ!āor āLook, there he is!ādo not believe it.22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.24 āBut in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.28 āFrom the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.32 āBut concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.35 Therefore stay awakeāfor you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morningā36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.ā Mark Chapter 141 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him,2 for they said, āNot during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.ā3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, āWhy was the ointment wasted like that?5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.ā And they scolded her.6 But Jesus said, āLeave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.ā10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, āWhere will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?ā13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, āGo into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him,14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, āThe Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?ā15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.ā16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, āTruly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.ā19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, āIs it I?ā20 He said to them, āIt is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.ā22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, āTake; this is my body.ā23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.24 And he said to them, āThis is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.ā26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.27 And Jesus said to them, āYou will all fall away, for it is written, āI will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.ā28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.ā29 Peter said to him, āEven though they all fall away, I will not.ā30 And Jesus said to him, āTruly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.ā31 But he said emphatically, āIf I must die with you, I will not deny you.ā And they all said the same.32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, āSit here while I pray.ā33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.34 And he said to them, āMy soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.ā35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.36 And he said, āAbba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.ā37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, āSimon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.ā39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him.41 And he came the third time and said to them, āAre you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.ā43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, āThe one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.ā45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, āRabbi!ā And he kissed him.46 And they laid hands on him and seized him.47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.48 And Jesus said to them, āHave you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.ā50 And they all left him and fled.51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him,52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together.54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.55 Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying,58 āWe heard him say, āI will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.ā ā59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree.60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, āHave you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?ā61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, āAre you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?ā62 And Jesus said, āI am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.ā63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, āWhat further witnesses do we need?64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?ā And they all condemned him as deserving death.65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, āProphesy!ā And the guards received him with blows.66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came,67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, āYou also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.ā68 But he denied it, saying, āI neither know nor understand what you mean.ā And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed.69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, āThis man is one of them.ā70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, āCertainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.ā71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, āI do not know this man of whom you speak.ā72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, āBefore the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.ā And he broke down and wept. Matthew Chapter 51 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:3 āBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 āBlessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.5 āBlessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.6 āBlessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.7 āBlessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.8 āBlessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.9 āBlessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.10 āBlessed are those who are persecuted for righteousnessā sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 āBlessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.13 āYou are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under peopleās feet.14 āYou are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.17 āDo not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.21 āYou have heard that it was said to those of old, āYou shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.ā22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, āYou fool!āwill be liable to the hell of fire.23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.27 āYou have heard that it was said, āYou shall not commit adultery.ā28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.31 āIt was also said, āWhoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.ā32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.33 āAgain you have heard that it was said to those of old, āYou shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.ā34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.37 Let what you say be simply āYesāor āNoā; anything more than this comes from evil.38 āYou have heard that it was said, āAn eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.ā39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.43 āYou have heard that it was said, āYou shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.ā44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew Chapter 61 āBeware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.2 āThus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.5 āAnd when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.7 āAnd when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.9 Pray then like this: āOur Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.16 āAnd when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.19 āDo not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.22 āThe eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!24 āNo one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.25 āTherefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, āWhat shall we eat?āor āWhat shall we drink?āor āWhat shall we wear?ā32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.34 āTherefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Romans Chapter 81 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to Godās law; indeed, it cannot.8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, āAbba! Father!ā16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,17 and if children, then heirsāheirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?33 Who shall bring any charge against Godās elect? It is God who justifies.34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who diedāmore than that, who was raisedāwho is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?36 As it is written, āFor your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.ā37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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