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| "The Pharisees and the Saduccees Come to Tempt Jesus" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Galatians
3: 7 - 14
7
So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
8
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by
faith,
preached
the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the
nations
be blessed."
9
So then, those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had
faith.
10
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is
written,
"Cursed
be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of
the
law, and do them."
11
Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for
"He
who
through faith is righteous shall live";
12
but the law does not rest on faith, for "He who does them shall
live by
them."
13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse
for
us
-- for it is written, "Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree"
--
14
that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the
Gentiles,
that
we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
PSALM:
Psalms 111:
1 - 6
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.
3
Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures
for
ever.
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.
6
He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the
heritage
of
the nations.
GOSPEL:
Luke 11:
15 - 26
15
But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the
prince of
demons";
16
while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven.
17
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom
divided
against
itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.
18
And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom
stand?
For
you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul.
19
And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast
them
out?
Therefore they shall be your judges.
20
But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the
kingdom of
God
has come upon you.
21
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are
in
peace;
22
but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes
away
his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil.
23
He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with
me
scatters.
24
"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes
through
waterless
places seeking rest; and finding none he says, `I will return to my
house
from which I came.'
25
And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order.
26
Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself,
and they
enter
and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than
the
first."
