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First Reading: Proverbs Chapter 31


Proverbs 31

31:1 The Words of King Lemuel's Mother

The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:
2 What, my son?And what, son of my womb?And what, son of my vows? 3 Do not give your strength to women,Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,It is not for kings to drink wine,Nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5 Lest they drink and forget the law,And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,And wine to those who are bitter of heart. 7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,And remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the speechless,In the cause of all who are appointed to die. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 The Virtuous Wife

Who can find a virtuous wife?For her worth is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;So he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax,And willingly works with her hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships,She brings her food from afar. 15 She also rises while it is yet night,And provides food for her household,And a portion for her maidservants. 16 She considers a field and buys it;From her profits she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds herself with strength,And strengthens her arms. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,And her lamp does not go out by night. 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,And her hand holds the spindle. 20 She extends her hand to the poor,Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,For all her household is clothed with scarlet. 22 She makes tapestry for herself;Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates,When he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them,And supplies sashes for the merchants. 25 Strength and honor are her clothing;She shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,And on her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She watches over the ways of her household,And does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;Her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many daughters have done well,But you excel them all." 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Second Reading: Luke Chapter 3


Luke 3

3:1 John the Baptist Prepares the Way
(Matt 3:1-6; Mark 1:2-6; John 1:19-23)

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:'Prepare the way of the LORD;Make His paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low;The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"
7 John Preaches to the People
(Matt 3:7-12; Mark 1:7,8; John 1:24-28)

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him,"Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
10 So the people asked him, saying,"What shall we do then?"
11 He answered and said to them,"He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
13 And he said to them,"Collect no more than what is appointed for you."
14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?"
So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."
15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all,"I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."
18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.
21 John Baptizes Jesus
(Matt 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; John 1:29-34)
When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
23 The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
(Gen 5; 11:10-26; Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Chron 1:1-4,24-27,34; 2:1-15; Matt 1:2-16)
Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27 the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Bible Background

BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

LUKE

Part 2 of 3

The following is found in Luke:

  1. The birth and childhood of the Messiah - Chapters 1-2
  2. Preparation for the ministry including his baptism and temptation - Chapters 3-4
  3. His ministry in Galilee with teachings and miracles - Chapters 5-10
  4. His ministry in Judea/Perea - Chapters 10-18
  5. The final week from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the crucifixon - Chapters 19-23
  6. The resurrection - Chapter 24

 

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