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| "The Pharisees and the Saduccees Come to Tempt Jesus" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Hebrews
9: 15, 24 - 28
15
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are
called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death
has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the
first covenant.
24
For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy
of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the
presence of God on our behalf.
25
Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the
Holy Place yearly with blood not his own;
26
for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation
of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end
of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27
And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes
judgment,
28
so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will
appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are
eagerly waiting for him.
PSALM:
Psalms 98:
1 - 6
1
O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His
right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2
The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication
in the sight of the nations.
3
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of
Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into
joyous song and sing praises!
5
Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound
of melody!
6
With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before
the King, the LORD!
GOSPEL:
Mark 3:
22 - 30
22
And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is
possessed by Be-el'zebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out
the demons."
23
And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, "How
can Satan cast out Satan?
24
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25
And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able
to stand.
26
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot
stand, but is coming to an end.
27
But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods,
unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his
house.
28
"Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men,
and whatever blasphemies they utter;
29
but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness,
but is guilty of an eternal sin" --
30
for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."
