Friday, November 20

6But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;

8nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,

9not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

10For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

11For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.

12Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

13But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

14And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.

15Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

17The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

15And He said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16'The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

18'Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

19'There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.

20But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,

21desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

23And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24'Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'

25But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

26And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

27'Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,

28for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

29Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'

30And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

31But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' '

1Then He said to the disciples, 'It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

2It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

3Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

4And if he sins against you seven times in day, and seven times in day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him.'