Friday, December 1

4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

5for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

6If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

7But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

8For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.

10For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

11These things command and teach.

12Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

13Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

15Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

16Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

19And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

20So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.

21Then they asked Him, saying, 'Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:

22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?'

23But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 'Why do you test Me?

24Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?'

25They answered and said, 'Caesar's.' And He said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'

26But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.