Saturday, December 23

11Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—

12that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

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.'

10He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

11Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?

13'No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.'

14Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.

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.

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.