July 13, 2026

10Hear the word of the LORD, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah! 11What do I care for the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD. I have had enough of whole-burnt rams and fat of fatlings; In the blood of calves, lambs, and goats I find no pleasure. 12When you come to appear before me, who asks these things of you? 13Trample my courts no more! To bring offerings is useless; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath, calling assemblies— festive convocations with wickedness— these I cannot bear. 14Your new moons and festivals I detest; they weigh me down, I tire of the load. 15When you spread out your hands, I will close my eyes to you; Though you pray the more, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! 16Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; 17learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.

8Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, your burnt offerings are always before me. 9I will not take a bullock from your house, or he-goats from your folds. 16III - But to the wicked God says: “Why do you recite my commandments and profess my covenant with your mouth? 17You hate discipline; you cast my words behind you! 21When you do these things should I be silent? Do you think that I am like you? I accuse you, I lay out the matter before your eyes. 23Those who offer praise as a sacrifice honor me; I will let him whose way is steadfast look upon the salvation of God.”

10Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

34Jesus: A Cause of Division. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. 35For I have come to set a man ‘against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36and one’s enemies will be those of his household.’ 37The Conditions of Discipleship. “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40Rewards. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” 1When Jesus finished giving these commands to his twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.