Saturday, December 18

8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.'

9So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.'

11But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for 'the just shall live by faith.'

12Yet the law is not of faith, but 'the man who does them shall live by them.'

8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.'

9So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.'

11But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for 'the just shall live by faith.'

12Yet the law is not of faith, but 'the man who does them shall live by them.'

1Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely.

2And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy.

3And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, 'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?'

4But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go.

5Then He answered them, saying, 'Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?'

6And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

7So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:

8'When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;

9and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.

10But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.

11For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'

18Then He said, 'What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.'

20And again He said, 'To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?

21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.'

22And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23Then one said to Him, 'Lord, are there few who are saved?'

24And He said to them, 'Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

25When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,'

26then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'

27But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'

28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

29They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.