This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks will take you to additional translations. The entire chapter is included to provide context.
Information about the meaning the original Hebrew or Greek of what seem to be key words is provided in blue. It is provided beneath the specific reading the words are in.
Collections of scriptures dealing principles similar to those addressed in particular readings are hyperlinked after those readings.
Excerpts collected in yellow at the end of this post tell us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him.
Excerpts collected in green at the end of this post tell us about something God wants us to do.
Excerpts collected in red at the end of this post tell us about something God does not want us to do.
Reading 1: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
In those days, the princes said to the king: "Jeremiah ought to be put to death; he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such things to them; he is not interested in the welfare of our people, but in their ruin." King Zedekiah answered: "He is in your power"; for the king could do nothing with them.
And so they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah, which was in the quarters of the guard, letting him down with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud.
***
Ebed-melech, a court official, went there from the palace and said to him: "My lord king, these men have been at fault in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah, casting him into the cistern. He will die of famine on the spot, for there is no more food in the city." Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Cushite to take three men along with him and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he should die.
speaking = דָּבַר = dabar. Blue Letter Bible to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing; to speak with one another, talk; answer; pronounce; teach; use (entreaties), utter; to lead, to guide; to direct a people; admonish; to speak kindly, console; to speak friendly, peaceably with anyone; to announce welfare
such things = דָּבָר = dāḇār Blue Letter Bible speech, word, speaking, thing; saying, utterance, discourse; confer; advice, counsel; message, report, tidings; tidings; thought; promise; precept, edict; business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
Ebed-melech = עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְ = ʿeḇeḏ meleḵ Blue Letter Bible servant of the king
court official = סָרִיס = sārîs Blue Letter Bible official, officer; eunuch; a minister of state; chamberlain
went = יָצָא = yāṣā' Blue Letter Bible to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out; to go out, to carry, pluck, pull out; send with commandment, shoot forth; carry or bring out; take or draw out; come out, exit, go forth; to deliver; bring forth (out, up), carry out; go forth; to rise
said—see “speaking” above
My lord = אָדוֹן = 'āḏôn Blue Letter Bible strong, lord, master; sovereign, i.e. controller; owner; superintendent of household, or of affairs; a submissive and reverent form of address
been at fault = רָעַע = rāʿaʿ Blue Letter Bible to be bad, be evil; to be injurious; to be wicked, be evil (ethically); to break, shatter; to be displeasing; to be sad; to spoil; afflict; vex; to break
Cushite = כּוּשִׁי = kûšî Blue Letter Bible Ethiopian; one of the descendants of Cush the grandson of Noah through Ham and a member of that nation or people
Other scriptures addressing the type of courage Ebed-melech displayed are collected at Wisdom Principles--Fortitude
Other scriptures addressing the sort of faith that apparently underlaid Ebed-melech's courage are collected at Wisdom Principles—Rely on God, not Material Power or Wealth
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 40:2,3,4,18
R. (14b) Lord, come to my aid!
I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
The LORD heard my cry.
He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp; he set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God.
Many shall look on in awe and trust in the LORD.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
Though I am afflicted and poor, yet the LORD thinks of me.
You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, hold not back!
R. Lord, come to my aid!
deliver = נָצַל = nāṣal Blue Letter Bible to snatch away, deliver, rescue; to be torn out or away; defend; preserve; draw out, pull out
waited = קָוָה = qāvâ Blue Letter Bible to wait, look for, hope, expect; look eagerly for; to bind together (perhaps by twisting); look, patiently, tarry; be strong, robust
stooped = נָטָה = natah Blue Letter Bible to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow; to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down; to hold out, extend; to turn, incline, influence; outstretched; wrest, cause to yield; spread oneself; seduce
heard = שָׁמַע = šāmaʿ Blue Letter Bible listen to, obey; perceive by ear; to hear with attention or interest, listen to; give heed; to consent, agree; yield to; to obey, be obedient; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.); to hear and answer
cry = שַׁוְעָה = šavʿâ Blue Letter Bible cry for help; a hallooing
drew me out = עָלָה = ʿālâ Blue Letter Bible to go up, ascend, climb; to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away; to be carried away, be led up; lift (self) up; perfect; recover; restore; from low place to high; go up after; bring up persons; cause to ascend; go from a lower region to a higher; to increase, to become strong; to be elevated
set = קוּם = qûm Blue Letter Bible to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up; after lying down (sleep, sickness, mourning, etc.), after falling, after being smitten, wounded, etc., from sitting, reclining, especially at meals; be clearer; get up; pitch; rouse up; stir up; go forth; flourish; persevere; arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed; bring on the scene
made firm = כּוּן = kûn Blue Letter Bible to be firm, be stable, be established; to be fixed, be securely determined; to prepare, be ready; to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up; make provision; to direct; be right, fit, sincere, firm, constant; sure, constant; established, confirmed; enduring; direct one’s face toward; arrange, order
put = נָתַן = nāṯan Blue Letter Bible to give, bestow, grant; consecrate, devote, dedicate; entrust, give over, deliver up; yield produce; be (healed); pour; print; teach; to apply the heart to; to constitute, to make a thing like or similar to
new = חָדָשׁ = ḥāḏāš Blue Letter Bible fresh, unheard of
song = שִׁיר = šîr Blue Letter Bible song, lyrical song
hymn = תְּהִלָּה = tᵊhillâ Blue Letter Bible song, a hymn; adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God); laudation, glory
Many = רַב = raḇ Blue Letter Bible much, many, great, vast; numerous, abundant, enough; exceedingly; plenteous
look = רָאָה= rā'â Blue Letter Bible to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider; learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out; consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish; gaze at; enjoy, have experience, take heed; spy, stare; enjoy the light; be pleased with the sight; provide or care for, go to see
trust = בָּטַח = bāṭaḥ Blue Letter Bible to have confidence, be confident; to be bold; to be secure; to feel safe, be careless; to trust, be confident or sure:—be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one, woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust; to confide in, place one’s confidence in; to be secure, fear nothing for one’s self; persuade to trust
afflicted = עָנִי = ʿānî Blue Letter Bible poor, afflicted, humble, wretched; weak; humble, lowly; depressed in mind or circumstances; needy; meek, mild; oppressed
poor = אֶבְיוֹן = 'eḇyôn Blue Letter Bible in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person; subject to oppression and abuse; needing help, deliverance from trouble, especially as delivered by God; general reference to lowest class; beggar; wretched
thinks = חָשַׁב = ḥāšaḇ Blue Letter Bible to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count; to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; regard, value, compute, make account of, conceive, consider, forecast, hold, imagine, impute; meditate; to take to be so; think upon, consider, be mindful of
help = עֶזְרָה = `ezrah Blue Letter Bible help, succour, assistance; one who helps
deliver = פָּלַט = pālaṭ Blue Letter Bible to escape, save, deliver, slip away; to bring into security, bring to safety, rescue; to slip out; slip out; to be smooth, sleek
hold not back = אָחַר = 'āḥar Blue Letter Bible to delay, hesitate, tarry, defer, remain behind; loiter; procrastinate
Other scriptures addressing God’s great care/love for us are collected at Wisdom Principles—God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him and Wisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin
Reading 2: Hebrews 12:1-4
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
surrounded = περίκειμαι = perikeimai Blue Letter Bible to be compassed, encompassed, have round one; encircle; to lie round; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon lie round about; have round one; wear, be in invested in, be clad in
great = τοσοῦτος = tosoutos Blue Letter Bible so great, so many, so much; of quantity: so great, so many; of time: so long; vast; great; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon great
cloud = νέφος = nephos Blue Letter Bible a great shapeless collection of vapour obscuring the heavens as opposed to a particular and definite masses of vapour with some form or shape; a cloudy, shapeless mass covering the heavens; a dense multitude, a throng; cloud; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon cloud, mass of cloud
witnesses= μάρτυς= martys Blue Letter Bible one who can or does aver what he has seen or heard or knows; one who is a spectator of anything; those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death; one who is mindful, heeds; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon witness; martyr
rid ourselves = ἀποτίθημι = apotithēmi Blue Letter Bible to put off, lay aside; cast off; put way; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon put away, stow away; put away from oneself; lay aside; put it off; cut it off; set aside; disregard; quell desire; put off, defer; reserve, keep back
every = πᾶς = pas Blue Letter Bible radically means "all." Used without the article it means "every," every kind or variety; any and every, of every kind, all manner of; in every way or particular; the whole; each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; thoroughly, whatsoever; all manner of; the highest degree, the maximum; always; in everything, in every way, on every side, in every particular or relation; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon when used of a number, all; when of one only, the whole; all, the whole; every; all things as a unity, as a totality; all kinds of things; in all points, entirely, wholly; in every way, by all means, altogether
burden = ὄγκος = ogkos Blue Letter Bible a bulk or mass; an encumbrance, weight; prominent, protuberance, bulk, mass; hindrance; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon bulk, size, mass; dissentions; bulk, weight, trouble; dignity, pride, self-importance, pretension; loftiness, majesty; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon (alternate definition) barb of an arrow; brackets
sins = ἁμαρτία = hamartia Blue Letter Bible lit., "a missing of the mark;" moral obliquity; to be without a share in; to err, be mistaken; to miss or wander from the path; to do or go wrong; violate God's law; offence; a bad action, some particular evil deed; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon a failure, fault; error; guilt; Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament missing of a mark or aim; a failing to grasp; to be without one’s share of, to miss; a failing and missing the true end and scope of our lives
clings = εὐπερίστατος = euperistatos Blue Letter Bible easily encompassing; skillfully surrounding i.e. besetting; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon easily besetting; leading to distress
persevere = ὑπομονή = hypomone Blue Letter Bible patience; remaining under; steadfastness, constancy, endurance; the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon remaining behind; endurance, power to sustain, endure; enduring to do
run = τρέχω = trechō Blue Letter Bible to run or walk hastily; to exert oneself, strive hard; to spend one's strength in performing or attaining something; the exertion of all one's efforts; of persons in haste; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon move quickly
race = ἀγών = agōn Blue Letter Bible contest for a prize any struggle or contest; a battle; intense solicitude, anxiety; a place of assembly: especially an assembly met to see games; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon struggle, battle; action at law; place of contest
lies before = πρόκειμαι = prokeimai Blue Letter Bible to lie or be placed before (a person or a thing) or in front of; to be placed before the eyes, to lie in sight; to be there, be present, be at hand; to be appointed, destined; to lie before the view, i.e. (figuratively); to be present (to the mind); Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon to be set before one, laid ready; to be set before competitors, as the prize of a contest; lie before, lie in front of; bulge, project
fixed on = ἀφοράω = aphoraō Blue Letter Bible to look away from one thing so as to see another; concentrate the gaze upon; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon look away from all others at one, have in view; look towards
leader = ἀρχηγός = archēgos Blue Letter Bible a founder, author, prince or leader; one who takes a lead in, or provides the first occasion of, anything; an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer; author; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon beginning, originating; primary, leading, chief; captain; founder; prince; first cause, originator; originating power; fundamental
perfector = τελειωτής = teleiōtēs Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon accomplisher, finisher
faith = πίστις = pistis Blue Letter Bible firm persuasion, a conviction; trust; an assurance; the main element in "faith" in its relation to the invisible God, as distinct from "faith" in man; trust and holy fervor; a strong and welcome conviction; belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence); the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things; a power that seizes upon the soul; fidelity, faithfulness; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon Trust; persuasion of a thing, confidence, assurance; credit
joy = χαρά = chara Blue Letter Bible Delight, gladness; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon delight
lay before—see “lies before” above
endured = ὑπομένω = hypomenō Blue Letter Bible to abide under; to remain in a place instead of leaving it, to stay behind; to persevere; endurance under what would be burdensome; to bear up courageously; take it patiently; not recede or flee; under misfortunes and trials to hold fast; bear bravely and calmly; take patiently; to persevere: absolutely and emphatically, under misfortunes; to cleave faithfully to; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon stay behind, remain, to be permanent; abide or await; stand one's ground, stand firm; endure patiently; submit, bear; suffer
despising = καταφρονέω = kataphroneō Blue Letter Bible to think down upon or against; to contemn, despise, disdain, think little or nothing of; disesteem; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon look down upon, think slightly of; regard slightly, despise; to be disdainful, deal contemptuously; fix one's thoughts upon, aim at
shame = αἰσχύνη = aischynē Blue Letter Bible ignominy, disgrace, dishonour; the confusion of one who is ashamed of anything, sense of shame; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon shame, dishonour
consider = ἀναλογίζομαι = analogizomai Blue Letter Bible to think over, consider, ponder, contemplate; weighing, comparing; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon reckon up, sum up; calculate the past and the present in comparison with
endured—see above
opposition = ἀντιλογία = antilogia Blue Letter Bible contradiction, dispute; gainsaying; strifes; opposition, rebellion; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon contradiction, controversy; opposing arguments; quarrel
sinners = ἁμαρτωλός = hamartōlos Blue Letter Bible one who misses the mark; devoted to sin; pre-eminently sinful, especially wicked; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon erroneous; of bad character
grow weary = κάμνω = kamnō Blue Letter Bible the effect of constant work; weariness of mind which not infrequently hinders physical recovery; to be sick; to toil, to tire (figuratively, faint, sicken):—faint, sick; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon the effect of continued work; to be hard-pressed; to be sick or suffering; to be distressed, meet with disaster; outworn
lose = ἐκλύω = eklyō Blue Letter Bible to loose, release; to dissolve; to weaken, relax, exhaust; to have one's strength relaxed, to be enfeebled through exhaustion, to grow weak, grow weary, be tired out; to despond, become faint hearted; relax, faint; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon unloose; let loose a foolish tongue; to be faint; fail; to be unserviceable
heart = ψυχή = psyche Blue Letter Bible the seat of personality; the breath of life; the vital force which animates the body; the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon life; the conscious self or personality as centre of emotions, desires, and affections; various aspects of the self; Psyche
struggle = ἀνταγωνίζομαι = antagōnizomai Blue Letter Bible struggle, fight; strive against; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon struggle against; prove a match for; to be set against
resisted = ἀντικαθίστημι = antikathistēmi. Blue Letter Bible to stand firm against; to put in place of another; to place in opposition; to stand against, resist; withstand; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon set against, oppose; to be put in another's place, reign in his stead; to be pitted against another, opposed; to be confronted with
Other scriptures addressing the dynamics discussed in this reading are collected at We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to receive all that God offers, But It Is Well Worth It
Alleluia: John 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
hear = ἀκούω = akouō Blue Letter Bible harkin to; to attend to, consider what is or has been said; to understand, perceive the sense of what is said; to give ear to a teaching or a teacher; to comprehend; to perceive anyone's voice; to yield to, hear and obey; have regard to; to perceive the distinct words of a voice; to yield obedience to the voice; to perceive in the soul; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon hearken, give ear; listen to; obey; hear and understand
voice = φωνή = phōnē Blue Letter Bible a voice; speech; a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language; a sound, a tone, of inanimate things, as musical instruments; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon sound, tone; the sound of the voice, whether of men or animals with lungs and throat; speech, voice, utterance; cry; any articulate sound
kn0w = γινώσκω = ginōskō Blue Letter Bible knowledge as the effect of experience; perceive, feel; "to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand," or "to understand completely"; in its past tenses it frequently means "to know in the sense of realizing"; "to know by observation and experience," is translated "to learn;" to become acquainted with; to come to know; idiom: to have sexual relations with; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon come to know, perceive; now by reflection, know by observation; discern, distinguish, recognize; perceive; feel
follow = ἀκολουθέω = akoloutheō Blue Letter Bible to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him; to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple; to be in the same way with, i.e. to accompany (specially, as a disciple); to cleave steadfastly to one, conform wholly to his example Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon follow one, go after or with him, freq. of soldiers and slaves; be guided by
Gospel: Luke 12:49-53
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
come = ἔρχομαι = erchomai Blue Letter Bible denoting either "to come, or to go," signifies the act, in contrast with heko, which stresses the arrival; to come from one place to another; to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence; to come to a thing; to go; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon start, set out; come or go; to go a journey; any kind of motion
set = βάλλω = ballō Blue Letter Bible to throw or cast; hurl; send; thrust; to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls; to scatter, to throw, cast into; to give over to one's care uncertain about the result; to pour out; put into, insert; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon throw so as to hit; cast, hurl; let fall; push forward; throw about
wish = θέλω = thelō Blue Letter Bible to will, to wish; to design to do anything; desire; have in mind, intend; to be resolved or determined, to purpose
blazing = ἀνάπτω = anaptō Blue Letter Bible light up, kindle; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon light up, kindle; inflame with anger; make fast on or to
baptism = βάπτισμα = baptisma Blue Letter Bible baptism, consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence
baptized = βαπτίζω = baptizō Blue Letter Bible to dip; washed; to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge; to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe; to overwhelm; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon dip, plunge; to be drowned; to be drenched; draw wine by dipping the cup in the bowl
anguish = συνέχω = synechō Blue Letter Bible to hold together, confine, secure, to hold fast; constrained; to hold together with constraint, to compress; to press on every side; to hold completely; being held, or thronged; of being taken with a malady, with fear, of being straitened or pressed in spirit, with desire; to be held by, closely occupied with any business; to constrain, oppress, of ills laying hold of one and distressing him; to be held with, afflicted with, suffering from; to urge, impel; perplex; preoccupy; be in a strait, straiten, be taken with; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon heap with earth, cover with a mound, bank up, fill them up with earth; confound; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon (alternate definition) shoulders bent in or contracted upon the chest; collapse
accomplished = τελέω = teleō Blue Letter Bible to carry out a thing to the full; to complete, finish, bring to an end; to go through or over; to pay; to perform; to perform, execute, complete, fulfil, (so that the thing done corresponds to what has been said, the order, command etc.); to pay tribute; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon Fulfill, glut, grant one the fulfilment or accomplishment of anything; grant in full, work out; bring to fulfilment or perfection; bring to an end, finish; pay what one owes, what is due; lay out, spend; consume, eat; to belong to a class, to be reckoned among; to be consecrated to
establish = δίδωμι = didōmi Blue Letter Bible bestow, the implied idea being that of giving freely; grant; offer; yield, produce; to supply, furnish, necessary things; to furnish, endue; to cause, profuse, give forth from one's self; minister; to give one to someone to care for his interests; give up for; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicongive freely, to be ready to give, offer; provide well for
peace = εἰρήνη = eirēnē Blue Letter Bible harmonious relationships between men; friendliness; the sense of rest and contentment; The corresponding Heb. word shalom primarily signifies "wholeness"; quietness; harmony, concord; security, safety, prosperity, felicity; quietness, rest; way leading to peace, a course of life promoting harmony; a formula of wishing well, blessing, addressed by the Hebrews to departing friends; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon profound peace
division = διαμερισμός = diamerismos Blue Letter Bible parting, distribution; dissension, division or discord, breaking up; disunion; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon division, dissension
divided = διαμερίζω = diamerizō Blue Letter Bible to part asunder; to divide through, i.e., completely, to divide up; cut in pieces; to be divided into opposing parts, to be at variance, in dissension; to distribute; to partition thoroughly; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon divide; distribute; to be cut up; to be set at variance
against = ἐπί = epi Blue Letter Bible upon, on, at, by, before, over, against; superimposition; used of things, affairs, persons, which one is set over, over which he exercises power; super; in addition to; over and above; more widely, to a greater degree, further; power, control over anything; superintendence; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon upon, on, over, of persons in authority; on or over, against, extending over; in addition to, over and above; upon, in the power of; persons set over others; superiority felt over; authority over; Georg Autenrieth, A Homeric Dictionary upon, on, thereon, on top; charge or mastery; extending over
Other scriptures addressing the type of courage Jesus displayed are collected at: Wisdom Principles--Fortitude
Other scriptures addressing one of the dynamics Jesus addressed here are collected at We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to receive all that God offers, But It Is Well Worth It
What do these readings tell us about God/His ways:
he stooped toward me.
The LORD heard my cry.
He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp
he made firm my steps.
he put a new song into my mouth
a hymn to our God.
Many shall look on in awe and trust in the LORD.
Though I am afflicted and poor, yet the LORD thinks of me.
You are my help and my deliverer; O my God
we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith
For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross
his seat at the right of the throne of God
he endured such opposition from sinners
My sheep hear my voice
I know them
they follow me
I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
What these readings tell us to do:
speaking such things to them
went
said
My lord
[asking God to] come to my aid!
waited, waited for the LORD
[asking God to] come to my aid!
[asking God to] come to my aid!
a hymn to our God.
look on in awe and trust in the LORD
[asking God to] come to my aid!
[asking God to] come to my aid!
rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
persevere in running the race that lies before us
keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus
endured
endured
not grow weary
hear my voice
follow me
What these readings tell us not to do:
grow weary
lose heart
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