Sunday 28 August 2039

1Now, Israel, listen to the statutesand to the ordinances which I teach you,to do them, that you may live and go inand possess the land which the Lord,the God of your fathers, gives you.2You shall not add to the word which I command you,neither shall you take away from it,that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your Godwhich I command you.· · · verses 3–5 are not read6Keep therefore and do them;for this is your wisdomand your understanding in the sight of the peopleswho shall hear all these statutes and say,“Surely this great nation is a wiseand understanding people.”7For what great nation is therethat has a god so near to them as the Lord our God is whenever we call on him?8What great nation is there that has statutesand ordinances so righteous as all this lawwhich I set before you today?

2He who walks blamelessly and does what is right,and speaks truth in his heart;3he who doesn’t slander with his tongue,

3nor does evil to his friend,nor casts slurs against his fellow man;4in whose eyes a vile man is despised,

4but who honors those who fear the Lord;he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;5he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury,nor take a bribe against the innocent.He who does these things shall never be shaken.

17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,coming down from the Father of lights,with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow.18Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth,that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.· · · verses 19–20 are not read21Therefore, putting away all filthinessand overflowing of wickedness,receive with humility the implanted word,which is able to save your souls.

22But be doers of the word,and not only hearers,deluding your own selves.· · · verses 23–26 are not read27Pure religionand undefiled before our God and Father is this:to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

1Then the Phariseesand some of the scribes gathered together to him,having come from Jerusalem.2Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled,that is unwashed, hands, they found fault.3(For the Phariseesand all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms,holding to the tradition of the elders.4They don’t eatwhen they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves,and there are many other thingswhich they have received to hold to:washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)5The Pharisees and the scribes asked him,“Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders,but eat their bread with unwashed hands?”

6He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

‘This people honors me with their lips,but their heart is far from me.7They worship me in vain,teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8“For you set aside the commandment of God,and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups,and you do many other such things.”

· · · verses 9–13 are not read14He called all the multitude to himself and said to them,“Hear me, all of you, and understand.15There is nothing from outside of the manthat going into him can defile him;but the things which proceed out of the man are thosethat defile the man.· · · verses 17–20 are not read21For from within, out of the hearts of men,proceed evil thoughts,adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,22covetings, wickedness,deceit, lustful desires,an evil eye, blasphemy,pride, and foolishness.23All these evil things come from withinand defile the man.”