Monday 15 October 2012

22For it is written that Abraham had two sons,one by the servant,and one by the free woman.23However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh,but the son by the free woman was born through promise.24These things contain an allegory,for these are two covenants.One is from Mount Sinai,bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.· · · verse 25 is not read26But the Jerusalem that is above is free,which is the mother of us all.27For it is written,

“Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear.Break out and shout, you who don’t travail.For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”· · · verses 28–30 are not read31So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.

1Stand firm therefore in the liberty bywhich Christ has made us free,and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

1Praise the Lord!Praise, you servants of the Lord,praise the Lord’s name.2Blessed be the Lord’s name,from this time forward and forever more.

3From the rising of the sun to its going down,the Lord’s name is to be praised.4The Lord is high above all nations,his glory above the heavens.

5Who is like the Lord, our God,who has his seat on high,

6who stoops down to see in heaven and on the earth?7He raises up the poor out of the dust,and lifts up the needy from the ash heap,

29When the multitudes were gathering together to him,he began to say, “This is an evil generation.It seeks after a sign.No sign will be given to itbut the sign of Jonah the prophet.30For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,so the Son of Man will also be to this generation.31The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generationand will condemn them,for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon;and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.32The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation,and will condemn it,for they repented at the preaching of Jonah;and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.