 |
| "The Disciples Eat Wheat on the Sabbath" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Hebrews
6: 10 - 20
10
For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love which
you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.
11
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in
realizing the full assurance of hope until the end,
12
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through
faith and patience inherit the promises.
13
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater
by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
14
saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you."
15
And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise.
16
Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their
disputes an oath is final for confirmation.
17
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the
promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with
an oath,
18
so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible
that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have
strong encouragement to
seize
the hope set before us.
19
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that
enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain,
20
where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a
high priest for ever after the order of Melchiz'edek.
PSALM:
Psalms 111:
1 - 2, 4 - 5, 9 - 10
1
Praise the LORD. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2
Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who have pleasure in
them.
4
He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is
gracious and merciful.
5
He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his
covenant.
9
He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for
ever. Holy and terrible is his name!
10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding
have all those who practice it. His praise endures for ever!
GOSPEL:
Mark 2:
23 - 28
23
One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made
their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.
24
And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is
not lawful on the sabbath?"
25
And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when
he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him:
26
how he entered the house of God, when Abi'athar was high priest, and
ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the
priests to eat, and also
gave
it to those who were with him?"
27
And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for
the sabbath;
28
so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath."
