Monday, February 24

1The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:

2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

3For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.

4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

5Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,

6who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,

7because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

8We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.

10Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

12Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.

13I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink;

14but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.

6For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

8We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

10always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

11For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

12So then death is working in us, but life in you.

13And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed and therefore I spoke,' we also believe and therefore speak,

14knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

15For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

29And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,

30saying, 'Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here.

31And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.' '

32So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them.

33But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, 'Why are you loosing the colt?'

34And they said, 'The Lord has need of him.'

35Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.

36And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.

37Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,

38saying: ''Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'

39And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, 'Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.'

40But He answered and said to them, 'I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.'

22:7Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.

8And He sent Peter and John, saying, 'Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.'

9So they said to Him, 'Where do You want us to prepare?'

10And He said to them, 'Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.

11Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, 'Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?' '

12Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.'

13So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

14The Eucharist Instituted When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.

15Then He said to them, 'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

16for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.'

17Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, 'Take this and divide it among yourselves;

18for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.'

19And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'

20Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

21But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.

22And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!'

23Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

24Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

25And He said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'

26But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.

27For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

28'But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.

29And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,

30that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'

31And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

32But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.'

33But he said to Him, 'Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.'

34Then He said, 'I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.'

35And He said to them, 'When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?'

36Then He said to them, 'But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.

37For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end.'

38So they said, 'Lord, look, here are two swords.'

39Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. And He said to them, 'It is enough.'

2And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples

3and said to Him, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'

4Jesus answered and said to them, 'Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:

5The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

6And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.'

7As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: 'What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

8But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

10For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.'

11'Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

12And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

14And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

15He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

17And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

18Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.

19And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'

20When the men had come to Him, they said, 'John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?' '

21And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.

22Jesus answered and said to them, 'Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

23And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.'

24When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: 'What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

25But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.

26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

27This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.'

28For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.'

29And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.

30But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.