Scripture Readings

The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
For Year A

Scripture readings are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV® ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved.

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle Reading
Gospel Reading

Old Testament

     The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
     “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.
     “‘Do not steal.
     “‘Do not lie.
     “‘Do not deceive one another.
     “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
     “‘Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him.
     “‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.
     “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.
     “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
     “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
     “‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.
     “‘Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
     “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
—Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18, NIV

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Psalm

Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees;
     then I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law
     and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your commands,
     for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes
     and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
     preserve my life according to your word.
Fulfill your promise to your servant,
     so that you may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread,
     for your laws are good.
How I long for your precepts!
     Preserve my life in your righteousness
—Psalm 119:33-40, NIV

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Epistle

     By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
     Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
     Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
—1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23, NIV

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Gospel

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
—Matthew 5:38-48, NIV

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