Tuesday, December 21

11But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

12having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith.

13And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

14Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

15For some have already turned aside after Satan.

16If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

18For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,' and, 'The laborer is worthy of his wages.'

19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

20Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

21I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

2The Pharisees came and asked Him, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?' testing Him.

3And He answered and said to them, 'What did Moses command you?'

4They said, 'Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.'

5And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

6But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.'

7'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,

8and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.

9Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.'

10In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter.

11So He said to them, 'Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.

12And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.'