Key:
What these readings tell us about God
What these readings tell us to do
What these readings tell us not to do
Hyperlinks to additional resources
If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man’s every deed. No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes!
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Be good to your servant, that I may live and keep your words.
Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes!
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Be good to your servant, that I may live and keep your words.
Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him,this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.
and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.
“You have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
“It was also said, whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife -unless the marriage is unlawful -causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife -unless the marriage is unlawful -causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”
What these Readings tell us about God
If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live
Immense is the wisdom of the Lord
he is mighty in power, and all-seeing
The eyes of God are on those who fear him
he understands man’s every deed
No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD
Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD
Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away
God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory
What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him,this God has revealed to us through the Spirit
For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill
What these readings tell us to do
keep the commandments
trust in God
follow the law of the Lord!
walk in the law of the LORD
observe his decrees
walk in the law of the LORD
observe his decrees
seek him with all their heart
follow the law of the Lord!
be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes!
follow the law of the Lord!
keep your words
consider the wonders of your law
follow the law of the Lord!
observe your law
follow the law of the Lord!
be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes!
follow the law of the Lord!
keep your words
consider the wonders of your law
follow the law of the Lord!
observe your law
keep it with all my heart
follow the law of the Lord!
follow the law of the Lord!
whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away
And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,' and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
What these readings tell us not to do
whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment
whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment
whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrinwhoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna
you shall not commit adultery
everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart
whoever divorces his wife -unless the marriage is unlawful -causes her to commit adultery
whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery
Do not take a false oath
do not swear at all
Other scriptures addressing the same principles are collected at Wisdom Principles: God’s Ways Give Security
