August 20, 2026

23But I will show the holiness of my great name, desecrated among the nations, in whose midst you desecrated it. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD—oracle of the Lord GOD—when through you I show my holiness before their very eyes. 24I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you back to your own soil. 25I will sprinkle clean water over you to make you clean; from all your impurities and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. 28You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

12A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. 13Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your holy spirit. 14Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit. 15I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you. 18For you do not desire sacrifice or I would give it; a burnt offering you would not accept. 19My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.

8Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the desert.

1Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, 2“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. 4A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ 5Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. 9Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ 10The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. 11But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. 12He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. 13Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ 14Many are invited, but few are chosen.” Paying Taxes to the Emperor.