Daily Readings

[15] Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. [16] And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. [17] Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” [18] But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? [19] Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. [20] And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” [21] They said to Him, “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.” [22] When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way. [23] The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, [24] saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. [25] Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. [26] Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. [27] Last of all the woman died also. [28] Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.” [29] Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. [30] For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. [31] But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, [32] ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ ? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” [33] And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. [34] But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. [35] Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, [36] “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” [37] Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” [41] While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, [42] saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” [43] He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: [44] ‘TheLord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’ ? [45] If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” [46] And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

[27] Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, [28] saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. [29] Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. [30] And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. [31] Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. [32] Last of all the woman died also. [33] Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.” [34] Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. [35] But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; [36] nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. [37] But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ [38] For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.” [39] Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” [40] But after that they dared not question Him anymore. [41] And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? [42] Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, [43] Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ [44] Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’ ; how is He then his Son?” [45] Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, [46] “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, [47] who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” [1] And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, [2] and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. [3] So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; [4] for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

[23] So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was brought in. [24] And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. [25] But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. [26] I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. [27] For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.” [1] Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: [2] “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, [3] especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. [4] “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. [5] They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. [6] And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. [7] To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. [8] Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? [9] “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. [10] This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. [11] And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. [12] “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, [13] at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. [14] And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ [15] So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [16] But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose,to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. [17] I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles,to whom I now send you, [18] to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God,that they may receive forgiveness of sins andan inheritance among those who aresanctified by faith in Me.’ [19] “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, [20] but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. [21] For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. [22] Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— [23] that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” [24] Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” [25] But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. [26] For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. [27] King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” [28] Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” [29] And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” [30] When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; [31] and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” [32] Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

[8] Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. [9] Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” [10] But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. [11] Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. [12] These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; [13] raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. [14] Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, [15] to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

[1] Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. [2] And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, [3] Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, [4] rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. [5] After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. [6] Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” [7] Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” [8] Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” [9] Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” [10] Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” [11] For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” [12] So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? [13] You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. [14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

[35] Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? [36] For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ [37] Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’ ; how is He then his Son?” And the common people heard Him gladly. [38] Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, [39] the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, [40] who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” [41] Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. [42] Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. [43] So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; [44] for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”