Greek Text for the First Sunday in Lent 2017, Matt 4:1-11

Greek Study Matthew 4:1-11

v1 ανηχθη (αναγω) aor. pas. "[Jesus] was led" - Matthew's choice of word, as distinct from Mark and Luke, probably has exodus overtones. Jesus was led into the wilderness as Israel was led into the wilderness.

πειρασθηναι (παιραζω) aor. inf. pas. "to be tempted" - The infinitive expresses purpose, "in order to" (Mark and Luke use a participle). Note how Matthew has the temptation after the 40 days, while Mark and Luke has it during.

του διαβολου (ος) "the devil" – literally "the enemy; the tester, the accuser, the evil one".

v2 νηστευσας (νηστευω) aor. part. "after fasting" - adverbial, note how Matthew fills in the details of fasting, ie. going without food for a period, possibly pointing his readers to the "fast" of Israel in the wilderness (Ex.34:28, Deut.9:9). 

υστερον adv. "afterward”;  temporal adverb; he was hungry later – this was not a symbolic fast.

v3 The first temptation - stones into bread. As with all the temptations, this is a test of faith. Will God supply Jesus' needs in the journey to the cross or should he rely upon his own ingenuity? Israel failed this very test in the wilderness so, the first temptation tests Jesus willingness to rely upon God's provision.

ο πειραζων (πειραζω) pres. part. "the one testing”. A descriptive of the devil's persona; he tempts to an evil end, the wue4etion is can do more than just test/tempt?

προσελθων (προσερχομαι) aor. part. "having approached” 

ει + ind. "if" - a conditional clause 1st class, where the condition is assumed to be a reality; so maybe “Since you are the υιος "the Son [of God]" - not "a son of God."

ινα + subj. "so that [these stones become bread] - a dependent statement of indirect speech expressing what Jesus should speak.  Sop the tempter is suggestion the content of his speech here, not his actions (this power belongs to God, not Jesus).

  

v4 ο ... αποκριθεις (αποκρινομαι) aor. pas. part. "the one {tempted} answered”. 

γεγραπται (γραφω) perf. pas. "it is written" - The formal introduction to quotations; literally “it stands written”.  Soooooo; Jesus’ first defense to the temptation of interpreting God’s will to favor his own needs is to quote Scripture!

v5 The second temptation – at the pinnacle of the temple, note that in Luke the order of the next two temptations is reversed, although Matthew's order seems more appropriate given the devil's "worship me" is the most serious temptation. 

παραλαμβανει (παραλαμβανω) pres. "took him" – the present tense is probably historic, used for dramatic effect.

το πτερυγιον (ον) "the highest point" – an actual place by the way, although the actual meaning here is unclear, tip or high-point of a building is commonly accepted but it has been suggested it simply describes the position of the temple itself, given that it was held to be the highest point in Israel and the center of the world.

v6 οτι a dependent statement of quotation. The Devil can also use Scripture, in this case the Psalms.  But now the reversal, and Jesus interprets Scripture, of course he does this by USING Scriptures – and where have we heard this principal applied before? Oh wait, I remember, that Luther feller! What a maroon!

v7 Jesus' quotes Deut.6:16, a verse which goes on to refer to the testing of God by Israel at Massa, Ex.17:1-7. It was there Israel questioned God's covenant promise for their security and sought to dictate his provision. The Deuteronomy reference encourages Israel to do better.

εφη (αφιημι) aor. "[Jesus] answered" – literally, he ‘revealed what he was thinking”.

ουκ εκπειρασεις (εκπειραζω) fut. "do not put [the Lord your God] to the test" - do no tempt - an imperatival future tense. In the sense that forcing God prove himself correct is faithless at its center. 

v8 υψηλον adj. "high" (literally high) δεικνυσιν (δεικνυμι) pres. "showed" - Probably more in the sense "revealed", exposed the mystery of the secular world; apparently the devil has a doctorate in sociology.

του κοσμου (ος) gen. "[kingdoms] of the world" – interesting use of cosmos….

v9 The third and most powerful temptation - a kingdom without a cross. Jesus will rightly possess an eternal kingdom by divine right, but like Israel of old, the way to glory is through the wilderness. This should be required reading for every evangleical pioliticans, Trump included…Satan's compromise will trouble Jesus at the end; in Gethsemane he prays; "if it is possible, don't let this bitter ordeal come to me", again, we have a test of faith, either rely on God and his promise or on the world and its comfortable compromises.

δωσω (διδωμι) fut. "I will give" - Is it the devil's to give; does he really have the “whole world in his hands?

προσκυνησης (προσκυνεω) "worship" - do obeisance. This word is sometimes translated "to serve" but it means "to adore" or “prostrate before."

v10 υπαγε (υπαγω) pres. imp. "away from me" – imperative, Jesus now commands.  And once again he appeals to Scripture; “it stands written”.

λατρευσεις (λατρευω) fut. ind. "you shall adore, venerate, worship”. There is some confusion over the meaning of this verb. "Service" is probably not its intended meaning - the parallelism of the text (προσκυνησεις, "to fall down before = to do obeisance") supports the translation "worship, venerate.”

v11 αφιησιν (αφιημι) pres. ind. "abandons him" note Luke's addition, until a suitable time

διηκονουν (διακονεω) "attended/served”; durative, sustained action, originally a word applied to waiting on tables; (Acts 6).  The angels' presence calls attention to the victory of obedience, i.e. the angels come and take care of him.

The Text for the 7th Sunday of the Epiphany, February 19th, 2017

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18

1The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

  2Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

  9When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God.

  11You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. 12And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the Lord.

  13You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. 14You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

  15You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. 16You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

  17You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Psalm: Psalm 119:33-40

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, 

    and I shall keep it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; 

    I shall keep it with all my heart.

35 Make me go in the path of your commandments, 

    for that is my desire.

36 Incline my heart to your decrees 

    and not to unjust gain

37 Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; 

    give me life in your ways.

38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, 

    which you make to those who fear you.

39 Turn away the reproach which I dread, 

    because your judgments are good.

40 Behold, I long for your commandments; 

    in your righteousness preserve my life.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

10According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.

  16Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

  18Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, 

 “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

20and again, 

 “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,

  that they are futile.”

21So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, 23and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

  43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Greek Text of Matt 5:38-48

Matthew 5:38–48

³⁸"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'  ³⁹But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;  ⁴⁰and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;  ⁴¹and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.  ⁴²Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

⁴³"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  ⁴⁴But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  ⁴⁵so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.  ⁴⁶For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

v38  ηκουσατε (ακουω) aor. "you have head" - 

v39 μη αντιστηναι (ανιστημι) aor. inf. + dat. "do not resist" 

τω πονηρω dat. adj. "an evil person" 

οστις pro. "if someone" ραπιζει (ραπιζω) pres. "strikes [you]" - strikes. 

  

v40  τω θελοντι (θελω) dat. pres. part "someone wants" 

κριθηναι (κρινω) aor. pas. inf. "to sue/take to court.”  The infinitive, as with λαβειν, "to take", is complementary completing the verbal sense of the participle "willing".

τον χιτωνα (ων ωνος) "tunic" - the basic garment worn by everyone. ; to be sued for  this garment indicates that its owner is poor.

αφες (αφιημι) aor. imp. allow, permit, forgive, remit.

το ιματιον (ον) "cloak" - the outer garment, all-purpose coat to use as a blanket, suitcase; sleeping bag or tent. Exodus 22:25-27 requires that this garment must not be taken away from a poor person permanently.

v41  αγγαρευσει (αγγαρευω) fut. "forces/compels” in the sense of "impress into service", following the military practice of a soldier's right to press a person into his service to carry his kit for one mile.

v42 δος (διδωμι) aor. imp. "give" τω/ αιτουντι (αιτεω) dat. pres. part. "to the one who asks [you]" μη αποστραφη/ς (αποστρεφω) aor. pas. subj. "do not turn away" τον θελοντα (θελω) pres. part. "the one who wants" δανισασθαι (δανειζω) aor. inf. "to borrow" - to borrow, lend. Tis turns the legal and ethical 1^st century world upside down.

v43  αγαπησεις (αγαπαω) fut. "love" in the sense of "compassion", Lev.19:18. The law, summed up in love, is simpler, and yet more demanding.

μισησεις (μισεω) fut. "hate" - in the sense of "hostile toward.". The Law certainly encourages love toward a fellow Jew, but doesn't encourage hatred toward an enemy. Nonetheless, such an inference can be drawn from Deuteronomy 7:2, 30:7. Psalm 139:21-22, 26:5. τον εχθρον (ος) "enemy" - the enemy. 

v44 αγαπατε (αγαπαω) pres. imp. "love" του εχθρου, "enemies (plural) as opposed to " enemy", v43, so widening the application and raising the bar.

των διωκοντων (διωκω) pres. part. "those who persecute [you]" because they are the  most difficult enemies to love.

v45 γενησθε (γινομαι) aor. subj. "you may become or show yourselves to be", υιοι (ος) "sons [legal heirs] του πατρος of your Father  ουρανοις, "in heaven".

  

v46 τους αγαπωντας (αγαπαω) pres. part. "those who love [you]" 

εχετε (εχω) pres. "will you get" – “what reward can you expect". A rhetorical question,  answer: "none". When it comes to receiving the promised blessings of the covenant there  is no reward for doing what is commonplace and expected.  The reward comes first!

  

v47 τους αδελφους (ος) "brothers" here in the sense of fellow Jews or fellow believers, so  "greet warmly and with respect".

περισσον adj. "[what are you doing] more than others?" as above, rhetorical, answer same and for the same reason. Covenant people are held to a different standard from the world.  In the world it might be considered unique or noteworthy to do such things, standards to which people of good character can aspire, but never realistically achieve as norms. But in the covenant community this is not the ceiling, it is the FLOOR.

v48 υμεις pro. "you” emphatic, εσεσθε (ειμι) fut. "be" used here as an imperative, τελειοι "perfect/complete" – literally, matured finished. 

A Slap in the Face

We talked bout this text 3 years ago and if you click on the title you can get to it: What Next

This is a current reflection:

[T]he truth that constitutes the church means that the lies of the world cannot help but be exposed by the way Christians are required to live. — Hauerwas, Stanley (2007-01-01). Matthew (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible) (p. 71). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

The heart of the Sermon on the Mount is the conviction that the cross and not the sword, suffering and not brute power determines the meaning of history. The key to the obedience of God’s people is not their effectiveness but their patience. The triumph of the right is assured not by the might that comes to the aid of the right, which is of course the justification of the use of violence and other kinds of power in every human conflict. The triumph of the right, although it is assured, is sure because of the power of the resurrection and not because of any calculation of causes and effects, nor because of the inherently greater strength of the good guys. The relationship between the obedience of God’s people and the triumph of God’s cause is not a relationship between cause and effect but one of cross and resurrection. (Yoder 1994b, 232) — quoted in Hauerwas, Stanley (2007-01-01). Matthew (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible) (p. 72). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

It is said that living the Sermon on the Mount is plain impossible. I am not sure that that is actually the case but I will gladly note that it is not likely that anyone will actually do so cleanly. That is to say: those who would dare to be guided by the Sermon on the Mount remain sinners. As such any attempt is likely to lead to many failures. Jesus and Matthew knew this. One could look at chapter 18 to figure out that failure was an option since it is obviously anticipated and a remedy is being proposed. 

Some realities: Turning the other cheek will most likely lead to being struck on the other cheek as well. My suspicion, having watched enough martial arts, is that the one turning the other cheek will be unconscious before the attacker tires of striking, unless they are in horrible physical shape. 

Maybe this is not to be taken literally. Maybe, this is a matter of having to tell the truth (5:37) repeatedly to a world that does not wish to hear it and suffering repeatedly the wrath of that world.

No one wants to be told the truth about themselves. We want to be flattered. We want to hear that we are “OK” and “them,” well, “them” is reprobate in some way. No one even wants to hear: “We are not OK, they are not OK, but that is OK.” If one says anything like it, the response would be somehow that: “Yes, we are all sinners but we are OKer then them, right?” 

There seems to be no really valuable “us” vs. “them” divide that one can make if Jesus words are believed. Morning comes and the sun warms the windows of the worst of the “them” as much as the best of the “ours.” “Their” lives are quite ordinary if one was to investigate the matter. “They” do not kick puppies ever day and “they” don’t punch old ladies. “Their” crops grow and “their” children grow up. “Their” family loves one another. (5:45-46) 

Sure, we can insist that God, please, judge “them” by the actions that offend us and according to “their” sins and visit retribution upon them. We are available to help meting that out. Grant the chance to serve you thus, dear Lord. 

And the strikes to the cheek are equally likely to come, not from the “them,” but from other of the “us” who would be vexed to hear that we have no excuse, whoever we are, when we judge; for in passing judgment upon “them” we condemn ourself. (Rom 2:1)

It was Jesus himself who announced that he had come to bring not necessarily peace but the sword. (Matt 10:34) Exposing the sin of the world has that result. It is one reason that the world decided to crucify him. 

Those who would be grown ups (5:48) — and Jesus hopes his church will be the grown ups about the sin of the world —  are those who have come to terms with the reality that the facts and forces are what they are and one one must name them. It is dirty work but someone has to do it. There will not be anything that resembles community or church unless someone takes up the task, just as there is no such thing as salvation unless Christ takes up the task to call sin what it is so that it can be forgiven. 

To live the Sermon on the Mount is an exercise in growing up and facing facts about ourselves, of repenting and living truth. Merely doing that, will likely bring the slaps of offended ones who would like to live their lies. The really question is: “Are there ANY grownups around us today?”

The Texts for the 6th Sunday of the Epiphany, February 12, 2017

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

[Moses said to the people:] 15See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Psalm: Psalm 119:1-8

1 Happy are they whose way is blameless, 

    who walk in the law of the LORD!

2 Happy are they who observe his decrees 

    and seek him with all their hearts!

3 Who never do any wrong, 

    but always walk in his ways.

4 You laid down your commandments, 

    that we should fully keep them.

5 Oh, that my ways were made so direct 

    that I might keep your statutes!

6 Then I should not be put to shame, 

    when I regard all your commandments.

7 I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, 

    when I have learned your righteous judgments.

8 I will keep your statutes; 

    do not utterly forsake me.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

1Brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, 3for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? 4For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human?

  5What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. 9For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Gospel: Matthew 5:21-37

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 21“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

  27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.

  31“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

  33“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ 34But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

Matthew 5:23-37

This week there are some reposts to consider:

The Greek text is discussed here: Matthew 5:23-36


This is the commentary from 3 years ago, and it is still good for today. Sanctuary

The Readings for the 5th Sunday of Epiphany, Feb 5, 2017

First Reading: Isaiah 58:1-9a 

 1Shout out, do not hold back!

  Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

 Announce to my people their rebellion,

  to the house of Jacob their sins.

 2Yet day after day they seek me

  and delight to know my ways,

 as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness

  and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;

 they ask of me righteous judgments,

  they delight to draw near to God.

 3“Why do we fast, but you do not see?

  Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?”

 Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day,

  and oppress all your workers.

 4Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight

  and to strike with a wicked fist.

 Such fasting as you do today

  will not make your voice heard on high.

 5Is such the fast that I choose,

  a day to humble oneself?

 Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,

  and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?

 Will you call this a fast,

  a day acceptable to the Lord?

 6Is not this the fast that I choose:

  to loose the bonds of injustice,

  to undo the thongs of the yoke,

 to let the oppressed go free,

  and to break every yoke?

 7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

  and bring the homeless poor into your house;

 when you see the naked, to cover them,

  and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

 8Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

  and your healing shall spring up quickly;

 your vindicator shall go before you,

  the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

 9aThen you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

  you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

Psalm: Psalm 112:1-9 [10]

1 Hallelujah!

Happy are they who fear the Lord 

    and have great delight in his commandments!

2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; 

    the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches will be in their house, 

    and their righteousness will last for ever.

4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright; 

    the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.

5 It is good for them to be generous in lending 

    and to manage their affairs with justice.

6 For they will never be shaken; 

    the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.

7 They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; 

    their heart is right;

    they put their trust in the Lord.

8 Their heart is established and will not shrink, 

    until they see their desire upon their enemies.

9 They have given freely to the poor, 

    and their righteousness stands fast for ever;

    they will hold up their head with honor.

10 The wicked will see it and be angry;

they will gnash their teeth and pine away; 

    the desires of the wicked will perish.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

1When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

  6Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But, as it is written, 

 “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

  nor the human heart conceived,

 what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. 13And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.

  14Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.

 16“For who has known the mind of the Lord

  so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20

[Jesus said:] 13“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

  14“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

  17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”