Book of Common Prayer

Psalm 118

Thanksgiving for Victory

Psalm 145

Praising God’s Greatness

A hymn of David.

10 Samuel took the flask of oil,^(A) poured it out on Saul’s head,^(B) kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t the Lord anointed you^(C) ruler over his inheritance?^{[a](D) 2} Today when you leave me, you’ll find two men at Rachel’s Grave^(E) at Zelzah in the territory of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went looking for have been found,^(F) and now your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worried about you, asking: What should I do about my son?’

³ “You will proceed from there until you come to the oak of Tabor.^(G) Three men going up to God at Bethel^(H) will meet you there, one bringing three goats, one bringing three loaves of bread, and one bringing a clay jar of wine. ⁴ They will ask how you are and give you two loaves^[b] of bread, which you will accept from them.

⁵ “After that you will come to Gibeah of God^(I) where there are Philistine garrisons.^[c] When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets^(J) coming down from the high place prophesying.^(K) They will be preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres. ⁶ The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully on you,^(L) you will prophesy with them,^(M) and you will be transformed.^{(N) 7} When these signs have happened to you, do whatever your circumstances require^[d](O) because God is with you. ⁸ Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”

⁹ When Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed his heart,^[e] and all the signs came about that day. ¹⁰ When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully on him, and he prophesied along with them.

¹¹ Everyone who knew him previously and saw him prophesy with the prophets asked each other, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” ^(P)

¹² Then a man who was from there asked, “And who is their father?” ^(Q)

As a result, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” became a popular saying. ¹³ Then Saul finished prophesying and went to the high place.

¹⁴ Saul’s uncle^(R) asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?”

“To look for the donkeys,” Saul answered. “When we saw they weren’t there, we went to Samuel.”^(S)

¹⁵ “Tell me,” Saul’s uncle asked, “what did Samuel say to you?”

¹⁶ Saul told him, “He assured us the donkeys had been found.” However, Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship.

The Promise Granted through Faith

¹³ For the promise to Abraham^(A) or to his descendants that he would inherit the world^(B) was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. ¹⁴ If those who are of the law are heirs,^(C) faith is made empty and the promise nullified, ¹⁵ because the law produces wrath.^(D) And where there is no law,^(E) there is no transgression.

¹⁶ This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace,^(F) to guarantee it to all the descendants^(G)—not only to the one who is of the law^[a] but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations^[b](H)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed,the one who gives life to the dead^(I) and calls^(J) things into existence that do not exist.^{(K) 18} He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations^[c](L) according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.^{[d](M) 19} He did not weaken in faith when he considered^[e] his own body to be already dead^(N) (since he was about a hundred years old)^(O) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb.^{(P) 20} He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(Q) 21} because he was fully convinced^(R) that what God had promised, he was also able to do.^{(S) 22} Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.^{[f](T) 23} Now it was credited to him^[g] was not written for Abraham alone,^{(U) 24} but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him^(V) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.^{(W) 25} He was delivered up for^[h] our trespasses^(X) and raised for our justification.^(Y)

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

²³ When he entered the temple,^(A) the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?” ^(B)

²⁴ Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ Did John’s baptism come from heaven, or was it of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ^{(C) 26} But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we’re afraid of the crowd,^(D) because everyone considers John to be a prophet.”^{(E) 27} So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

²⁸ “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’^(F)

²⁹ “He answered, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he answered, but he didn’t go. ³¹ Which of the two did his father’s will?”

They said, “The first.”

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness,^(G) and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.