Teachings on Humility

⁷ He told a parable^(A) to those who were invited, when he noticed how they would choose the best places^(B) for themselves: ⁸ “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t sit in the place of honor, because a more distinguished person^(C) than you may have been invited by your host. ⁹ The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place.

¹⁰ “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored^(D) in the presence of all the other guests.^{(E) 11} For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”^(F)

¹² He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. ¹³ On the contrary, when you host a banquet,^(G) invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind.^{(H) 14} And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid^(I) at the resurrection of the righteous.”^(J)

The Temptation and the Fall

3 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” ^(A)

² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. ³ But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”^(B)

⁴ “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman.^{(C) 5} “In fact, God knows that when^[a] you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.^{(D) 7} Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you^(A) to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(B) holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.^{[a] 2} Do not be conformed^(C) to this age,^(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,^(E) so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will^(F) of God.

Many Gifts but One Body

³ For by the grace^(G) given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think.^(H) Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith^(I) to each one. ⁴ Now as we have many parts in one body,^(J) and all the parts do not have the same function, ⁵ in the same way we who are many^(K) are one body in Christ^(L) and individually members of one another. ⁶ According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:^(M) If prophecy,^(N) use it according to the proportion of one’s^[b] faith; ⁷ if service,^(O) use it in service; if teaching,^(P) in teaching; ⁸ if exhorting,^(Q) in exhortation; giving, with generosity;^(R) leading,^(S) with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.^(T)