Bible Reading January 24 (World English Bible)
Genesis
24
Gen
24:1 Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed
Abraham in all things.
Gen
24:2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled
over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh.
Gen
24:3 I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God
of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the
daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
Gen
24:4 But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a
wife for my son Isaac."
Gen
24:5 The servant said to him, "What if the woman isn't willing
to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land
you came from?"
Gen
24:6 Abraham said to him, "Beware that you don't bring my son
there again.
Gen
24:7 Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house,
and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me,
saying, 'I will give this land to your seed.' He will send his angel
before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
Gen
24:8 If the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you shall be
clear from this my oath. Only you shall not bring my son there
again."
Gen
24:9 The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master,
and swore to him concerning this matter.
Gen
24:10 The servant took ten camels, of his master's camels, and
departed, having a variety of good things of his master's with him.
He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
Gen
24:11 He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of
water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw
water.
Gen
24:12 He said, "Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please
give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
Gen
24:13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of
the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
Gen
24:14 Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, 'Please
let down your pitcher, that I may drink,' and she will say, 'Drink,
and I will also give your camels a drink,'--let her be the one you
have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you
have shown kindness to my master."
Gen
24:15 It happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold,
Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife
of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.
Gen
24:16 The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin,
neither had any man known her. She went down to the spring, filled
her pitcher, and came up.
Gen
24:17 The servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please give me a
drink, a little water from your pitcher."
Gen
24:18 She said, "Drink, my lord." She hurried, and let
down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him drink.
Gen
24:19 When she had done giving him drink, she said, "I will
also draw for your camels, until they have done drinking."
Gen
24:20 She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran
again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
Gen
24:21 The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know
whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not.
Gen
24:22 It happened, as the camels had done drinking, that the man
took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her
hands of ten shekels weight of gold,
Gen
24:23 and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is
there room in your father's house for us to lodge in?"
Gen
24:24 She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of
Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
Gen
24:25 She said moreover to him, "We have both straw and
provender enough, and room to lodge in."
Gen
24:26 The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh.
Gen
24:27 He said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master
Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth
toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me in the way to the
house of my master's relatives."
Gen
24:28 The young lady ran, and told her mother's house about these
words.
Gen
24:29 Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out
to the man, to the spring.
Gen
24:30 It happened, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his
sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister,
saying, "This is what the man said to me," that he came to
the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
Gen
24:31 He said, "Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you
stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the
camels."
Gen
24:32 The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He
gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet
and the feet of the men who were with him.
Gen
24:33 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, "I will not
eat until I have told my message." He said, "Speak on."
Gen
24:34 He said, "I am Abraham's servant.
Gen
24:35 Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. He
has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and
female servants, and camels and donkeys.
Gen
24:36 Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was
old. He has given all that he has to him.
Gen
24:37 My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife
for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
Gen
24:38 but you shall go to my father's house, and to my relatives,
and take a wife for my son.'
Gen
24:39 I said to my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?'
Gen
24:40 He said to me, 'Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his
angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my
son of my relatives, and of my father's house.
Gen
24:41 Then will you be clear from my oath, when you come to my
relatives. If they don't give her to you, you shall be clear from my
oath.'
Gen
24:42 I came this day to the spring, and said, 'Yahweh, the God of
my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go--
Gen
24:43 behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen,
that the maiden who comes forth to draw, to whom I will say, "Give
me, I pray you, a little water from your pitcher to drink,"
Gen
24:44 and she will tell me, "Drink, and I will also draw for
your camels,"--let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed
for my master's son.'
Gen
24:45 Before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came
forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring,
and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'
Gen
24:46 She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and
said, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.' So I drank,
and she made the camels drink also.
Gen
24:47 I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said,
'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' I
put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.
Gen
24:48 I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the
God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my
master's brother's daughter for his son.
Gen
24:49 Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me.
If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left."
Gen
24:50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing proceeds from
Yahweh. We can't speak to you bad or good.
Gen
24:51 Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her
be your master's son's wife, as Yahweh has spoken."
Gen
24:52 It happened that when Abraham's servant heard their words, he
bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh.
Gen
24:53 The servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of
gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious
things to her brother and her mother.
Gen
24:54 They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and
stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, "Send
me away to my master."
Gen
24:55 Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young lady stay
with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go."
Gen
24:56 He said to them, "Don't hinder me, seeing Yahweh has
prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master."
Gen
24:57 They said, "We will call the young lady, and ask her."
Gen
24:58 They called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with
this man?" She said, "I will go."
Gen
24:59 They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse,
Abraham's servant, and his men.
Gen
24:60 They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "Our sister, may
you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your seed
possess the gate of those who hate them."
Gen
24:61 Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and
followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
Gen
24:62 Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the
land of the South.
Gen
24:63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He
lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.
Gen
24:64 Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she
dismounted from the camel.
Gen
24:65 She said to the servant, "Who is the man who is walking
in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my
master." She took her veil, and covered herself.
Gen
24:66 The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
Gen
24:67 Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took
Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted
after his mother's death.
Matthew 12
Mat 12:1
At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields.
His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to
eat.
Mat 12:2
But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, "Behold, your
disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."
Mat 12:3
But he said to them, "Haven't you read what David did, when he
was hungry, and those who were with him;
Mat 12:4
how he entered into the house of God, and ate the show bread, which
was not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were with him,
but only for the priests?
Mat 12:5
Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day, the priests
in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?
Mat 12:6
But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
Mat 12:7
But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not
sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.
Mat 12:8
For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Mat 12:9
He departed there, and went into their synagogue.
Mat 12:10
And behold there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, "Is
it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?" that they might accuse
him.
Mat 12:11
He said to them, "What man is there among you, who has one
sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won't he
grab on to it, and lift it out?
Mat 12:12
Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is
lawful to do good on the Sabbath day."
Mat 12:13
Then he told the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched
it out; and it was restored whole, just like the other.
Mat 12:14
But the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might
destroy him.
Mat 12:15
Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes
followed him; and he healed them all,
Mat 12:16
and commanded them that they should not make him known:
Mat 12:17
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the
prophet, saying,
Mat 12:18
"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom my
soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him. He will proclaim
justice to the nations.
Mat 12:19
He will not strive, nor shout; neither will anyone hear his voice in
the streets.
Mat 12:20
He won't break a bruised reed. He won't quench a smoking flax, until
he leads justice to victory.
Mat 12:21
In his name, the nations will hope."
Mat 12:22
Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and
he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
Mat 12:23
All the multitudes were amazed, and said, "Can this be the son
of David?"
Mat 12:24
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man does not
cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons."
Mat 12:25
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or
house divided against itself will not stand.
Mat 12:26
If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then
will his kingdom stand?
Mat 12:27
If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them
out? Therefore they will be your judges.
Mat 12:28
But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then the Kingdom of
God has come upon you.
Mat 12:29
Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and plunder
his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then he will plunder
his house.
Mat 12:30
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn't gather
with me, scatters.
Mat 12:31
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men,
but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
Mat 12:32
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven
him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be
forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.
Mat 12:33
"Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree
corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.
Mat 12:34
You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things?
For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Mat 12:35
The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the
evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.
Mat 12:36
I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give
account of it in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37
For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will
be condemned."
Mat 12:38
Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, "Teacher, we
want to see a sign from you."
Mat 12:39
But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks
after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the
prophet.
Mat 12:40
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the
whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the
heart of the earth.
Mat 12:41
The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this
generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching
of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.
Mat 12:42
The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this
generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the
earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than
Solomon is here.
Mat 12:43
But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passes
through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn't find it.
Mat 12:44
Then he says, 'I will return into my house from which I came out,'
and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in
order.
Mat 12:45
Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil
than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that
man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this
evil generation."
Mat 12:46
While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and
his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him.
Mat 12:47
One said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers stand
outside, seeking to speak to you."
Mat 12:48
But he answered him who spoke to him, "Who is my mother? Who are
my brothers?"
Mat 12:49
He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, "Behold,
my mother and my brothers!
Mat 12:50
For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my
brother, and sister, and mother."
When
one examines the sweeping scope of human history, it becomes readily
apparent that progress is not technically linear. Rather, nations rise
and fall. The progress that they achieve is often lost to later
civilizations, who must essentially “reinvent the wheel.” Archaeological
evidence exists to substantiate the fact that highly advanced
civilizations have preceded modern times, creating many enigmas for
researchers. The Moche were a highly developed society that vanished
centuries ago. The ancient Paracas performed medieval wonders in brain
surgery using only crude metal instruments. The fabled Macchu Picchu
achieved incredible engineering feats (“Inca...,” 1995). The Nasca (or
perhaps their predecessors) produced massive drawings that stretch for
miles and are thus visible/discernible only from the air (“The Lost
City...,” 2000; “Nasca Lines,” n.d.).
“It’s
been proven! Life began in a primordial soup in lakes and oceans. If
you don’t believe us, you’re an ignoramus…. No, wait. Scratch that.
Actually, it began in space. If you don’t believe us, you’re an
ignoramus. Wait...it began underground. Now, if you
don’t believe us, you must be an ignoramus….” Once again, it appears
that the evolutionary community is wrong in its long-time, dogged
speculation about the origin of life according to the naturalistic
model. While most of us grew up being taught in school definitively that
life sprang into existence in some primordial soup, recent research is
now calling that into question—proving that evolution has never had key
answers that would prove itself to be true. Not surprisingly, the new
research provides more support for the Creation model of origins.
Forgiveness
is one of the most sublime concepts in the Bible. To think that our
Creator loves us in spite of grievous sins that we have committed is
thrilling. And to know that the blood of Jesus can forgive us when we
repent and obey is nothing short of amazing (see