Reading October 17, 2019
Romans 3:21-30
Brothers and sisters:Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,though testified to by the law and the prophets,the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christfor all who believe.For there is no distinction;all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.They are justified freely by his gracethrough the redemption in Christ Jesus,whom God set forth as an expiation,through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousnessbecause of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,through the forbearance of God–to prove his righteousness in the present time,that he might be righteousand justify the one who has faith in Jesus.What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out.On what principle, that of works?No, rather on the principle of faith.For we consider that a person is justified by faithapart from works of the law.Does God belong to Jews alone?Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is oneand will justify the circumcised on the basis of faithand the uncircumcised through faith.
Psalm 120:1b-6b
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;LORD, hear my voice!Let your ears be attentiveto my voice in supplication.If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,Lord, who can stand?But with you is forgiveness,that you may be revered.I trust in the LORD;my soul trusts in his word.My soul waits for the LORDmore than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Luke 11:47-54
The Lord said:"Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed.Consequently, you bear witness and give consentto the deeds of your ancestors,for they killed them and you do the building.Therefore, the wisdom of God said,'I will send to them prophets and Apostles;some of them they will kill and persecute'in order that this generation might be chargedwith the blood of all the prophetsshed since the foundation of the world,from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariahwho died between the altar and the temple building.Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!Woe to you, scholars of the law!You have taken away the key of knowledge.You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter."When Jesus left, the scribes and Phariseesbegan to act with hostility toward himand to interrogate him about many things,for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.