FIRST
READING: 2 Kings 22:
8 - 13; 23: 1 - 3
8
And Hilki'ah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I
have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." And
Hilki'ah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
9
And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king,
"Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the
house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have
the oversight of the house of the LORD."
10
Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, "Hilki'ah the priest
has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.
11
And when the king heard the words of the book of the law, he rent his
clothes.
12
And the king commanded Hilki'ah the priest, and Ahi'kam the son of
Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micai'ah, and Shaphan the secretary,
and Asai'ah the king's servant, saying,
13
"Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all
Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for
great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because
our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according
to all that is written concerning us."
1
Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were
gathered to him.
2
And the king went up to the house of the LORD, and with him all the
men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests
and the prophets, all the people, both small and great; and he read
in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which had
been found in the house of the LORD.
3
And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD,
to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his
testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to
perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book;
and all the people joined in the covenant.
PSALM:
Psalms 119: 33 - 37, 40
33
Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I will keep it to the
end.
34
Give me understanding, that I may keep thy law and observe it with my
whole heart.
35
Lead me in the path of thy commandments, for I delight in it.
36
Incline my heart to thy testimonies, and not to gain!
37
Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; and give me life in thy ways.
40
Behold, I long for thy precepts; in thy righteousness give me life!
GOSPEL:
Matthew 7: 15 - 20
15
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing
but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16
You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns,
or figs from thistles?
17
So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil
fruit.
18
A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good
fruit.
19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire.
20
Thus you will know them by their fruits.
