Matthew 5:1-10 and Psalm 124

Matthew 5:1-10

[1]When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. [2]Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

[3]"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[4]"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

[5]"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

[6]"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

[7]"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

[8]"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

[9]"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

[10]"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Psalm 124

[1]   If it had not been the LORD who was on our side  
          -- let Israel now say --  
[2]   if it had not been the LORD who was on our side,  
          when our enemies attacked us,  
[3]   then they would have swallowed us up alive,  
          when their anger was kindled against us;  
[4]   then the flood would have swept us away,  
          the torrent would have gone over us;  
[5]   then over us would have gone  
          the raging waters.

[6]   Blessed be the LORD,  
          who has not given us  
          as prey to their teeth.  
[7]   We have escaped like a bird  
          from the snare of the fowlers;  
     the snare is broken,  
          and we have escaped.

[8]   Our help is in the name of the LORD,  
          who made heaven and earth.

Matthew 4:12-17 and Psalm 49

Matthew 4:12-17

[12]Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. [13]He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, [14]so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: [15]"Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - [16]the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." [17]From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

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Psalm 49

[1]   Hear this, all you peoples;  
          give ear, all inhabitants of the world,  
[2]   both low and high,  
          rich and poor together.  
[3]   My mouth shall speak wisdom;  
          the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.  
[4]   I will incline my ear to a proverb;  
          I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.

[5]   Why should I fear in times of trouble,  
          when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,  
[6]   those who trust in their wealth  
          and boast of the abundance of their riches?  
[7]   Truly, no ransom avails for one's life,  
          there is no price one can give to God for it.  
[8]   For the ransom of life is costly,  
          and can never suffice,  
[9]   that one should live on forever  
          and never see the grave.

[10]   When we look at the wise, they die;  
          fool and dolt perish together  
          and leave their wealth to others.  
[11]   Their graves are their homes forever,  
          their dwelling places to all generations,  
          though they named lands their own.  
[12]  Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;  
          they are like the animals that perish.

[13]  Such is the fate of the foolhardy,  
          the end of those who are pleased with their lot.          Selah  
[14]  Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;  
          Death shall be their shepherd;  
     straight to the grave they descend,  
          and their form shall waste away;  
          Sheol shall be their home.  
[15]  But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,  
          for he will receive me.                                            
           Selah

[16]  Do not be afraid when some become rich,  
          when the wealth of their houses increases.  
[17]  For when they die they will carry nothing away;  
          their wealth will not go down after them.  
[18]  Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy  
          -- for you are praised when you do well for yourself --  
[19]  they will go to the company of their ancestors,  
          who will never again see the light.  
[20]  Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;  
          they are like the animals that perish.

Psalm 47 and Matthew 4:1-11

Psalm 47

[1]   Clap your hands, all you peoples;  
          shout to God with loud songs of joy.  
[2]   For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome,  
          a great king over all the earth.  
[3]   He subdued peoples under us,  
          and nations under our feet.  
[4]   He chose our heritage for us,  
          the pride of Jacob whom he loves.                    Selah

[5]   God has gone up with a shout,  
          the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.  
[6]   Sing praises to God, sing praises;  
          sing praises to our King, sing praises.  
[7]   For God is the king of all the earth;  
          sing praises with a psalm.

[8]   God is king over the nations;  
          God sits on his holy throne.  
[9]   The princes of the peoples gather  
          as the people of the God of Abraham.  
     For the shields of the earth belong to God;  
          he is highly exalted.

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Matthew 4:1-11

[1]Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [2]He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. [3]The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." [4]But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

[5]Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, [6]saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" [7]Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

[8]Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; [9]and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." [10]Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" [11]Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. 

Matthew 3:13-17 and Psalm 9

Matthew 3:13-17

[13]Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.
[14]John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and
do you come to me?" [15]But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is
proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented.
[16]And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water,
suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting on him. [17]And a voice from heaven said,
"This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." 

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Psalm 9

[1]   I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;   
         I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.   
[2]   I will be glad and exult in you;   
         I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

[3]   When my enemies turned back,   
         they stumbled and perished before you.   
[4]   For you have maintained my just cause;   
         you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.

[5]   You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked;   
         you have blotted out their name forever and ever.   
[6]   The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins;   
         their cities you have rooted out;   
         the very memory of them has perished.

[7]   But the LORD sits enthroned forever,   
         he has established his throne for judgment.   
[8]   He judges the world with righteousness;   
         he judges the peoples with equity.

[9]   The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,   
         a stronghold in times of trouble.   
[10]  And those who know your name put their trust in you,   
         for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

[11  ]Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion.   
         Declare his deeds among the peoples.   
[12]  For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;   
         he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

[13]  Be gracious to me, O LORD.   
         See what I suffer from those who hate me;   
         you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,   
[14]  so that I may recount all your praises,   
         and, in the gates of daughter Zion,   
         rejoice in your deliverance.

[15]  The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;   
         in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.   
[16]  The LORD has made himself known, he has executed judgment;   
         the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.              
Higgaion.  Selah

[17]  The wicked shall depart to Sheol,   
         all the nations that forget God.

[18]  For the needy shall not always be forgotten,   
         nor the hope of the poor perish forever.

[19]  Rise up, O LORD! Do not let mortals prevail;   
         let the nations be judged before you.   
[20]  Put them in fear, O LORD;   
         let the nations know that they are only human.                      
           Selah

Matthew 3:7-12 and Psalm 66

Matthew 3:7-12

[7]But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
[8]Bear fruit worthy of repentance. [9]Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. [10]Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

[11]"I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [12]His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

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Psalm 66

[1]   Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;  
[2]        sing the glory of his name;  
          give to him glorious praise.  
[3]   Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!  
          Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.  
[4]   All the earth worships you;  
          they sing praises to you,  
          sing praises to your name."                                        
             Selah

[5]   Come and see what God has done:  
          he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.  
[6]   He turned the sea into dry land;  
          they passed through the river on foot.  
     There we rejoiced in him,  
[7]        who rules by his might forever,  
     whose eyes keep watch on the nations --  
          let the rebellious not exalt themselves.                          
     Selah

[8]   Bless our God, O peoples,  
          let the sound of his praise be heard,  
[9]   who has kept us among the living,  
          and has not let our feet slip.  
[10]  For you, O God, have tested us;  
          you have tried us as silver is tried.  
[11]  You brought us into the net;  
          you laid burdens on our backs;  
[12]  you let people ride over our heads;  
          we went through fire and through water;  
     yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

[13]  I will come into your house with burnt offerings;  
          I will pay you my vows,  
[14]  those that my lips uttered  
          and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.  
[15]  I will offer to you burnt offerings of fatlings,  
          with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;  
     I will make an offering of bulls and goats.                            
    Selah

[16]  Come and hear, all you who fear God,  
          and I will tell what he has done for me.  
[17]  I cried aloud to him,  
          and he was extolled with my tongue.  
[18]  If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,  
          the Lord would not have listened.  
[19]  But truly God has listened;  
          he has given heed to the words of my prayer.

[20]  Blessed be God,  
          because he has not rejected my prayer  
          or removed his steadfast love from me.

Matthew 3:1-6 and Psalm 124

Matthew 3:1-6

3:1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, [2]"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." [3]This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" [4]Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. [5]Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, [6]and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

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Psalm 124

[1]   If it had not been the LORD who was on our side  
          -- let Israel now say --  
[2]   if it had not been the LORD who was on our side,  
          when our enemies attacked us,  
[3]   then they would have swallowed us up alive,  
          when their anger was kindled against us;  
[4]   then the flood would have swept us away,  
          the torrent would have gone over us;  
[5]   then over us would have gone  
          the raging waters.

[6]   Blessed be the LORD,  
          who has not given us  
          as prey to their teeth.  
[7]   We have escaped like a bird  
          from the snare of the fowlers;  
     the snare is broken,  
          and we have escaped.

[8]   Our help is in the name of the LORD,  
          who made heaven and earth.

John 15:12-27 and Psalm 113

John 15:12-27

[12]"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
[13]No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. [14]You are my friends if you do what I command you. [15]I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. [16]You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. [17]I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

[18]"If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you.
[19]If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world - therefore the world hates you. [20]Remember the word that I said to you, 'Servants are not greater than their master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. [21]But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. [22]If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. [23]Whoever hates me hates my Father also. [24]If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. [25]It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'

[26]"When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.
[27]You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning."

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Psalm 113

[1]   Praise the LORD!  

     Praise, O servants of the LORD;  

          praise the name of the LORD.

[2]   Blessed be the name of the LORD  

          from this time on and forevermore.  

[3]   From the rising of the sun to its setting  

          the name of the LORD is to be praised.  

[4]   The LORD is high above all nations,  

          and his glory above the heavens.

[5]   Who is like the LORD our God,  

          who is seated on high,  

[6]   who looks far down  

          on the heavens and the earth?  

[7]   He raises the poor from the dust,  

          and lifts the needy from the ash heap,  

[8]   to make them sit with princes,  

          with the princes of his people.  

[9]   He gives the barren woman a home,  

          making her the joyous mother of children.  

     Praise the LORD!