Luke 13:1-17; Genesis 23; Psalms 16

Luke 13:1-17

1 At that time, some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

2 And He responded to them, "Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things?

3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!

4 Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed-do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem?

5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!"

6 And He told this parable: "A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none.

7 He told the vineyard worker, 'Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?'

8 "But he replied to him, 'Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

9 Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.' "

10 As He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath,

11 a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over 18 years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

12 When Jesus saw her, He called out to her, "Woman, you are free of your disability."

13 Then He laid His hands on her, and instantly she was restored and began to glorify God.

14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded by telling the crowd, "There are six days when work should be done; therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day."

15 But the Lord answered him and said, "Hypocrites! Doesn't each one of you untie his ox or donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead it to water?

16 Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for 18 years-shouldn't she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?"

17 When He had said these things, all His adversaries were humiliated, but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things He was doing.

Genesis 23

1 Now Sarah lived 127 years; [these were all] the years of her life.

2 Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

3 Then Abraham got up from beside his dead [wife] and spoke to the Hittites:

4 "I am a resident alien among you. Give me a burial site among you so that I can bury my dead."

5 The Hittites replied to Abraham,

6 "Listen to us, lord. You are God's chosen one among us. Bury your dead in our finest burial place. None of us will withhold from you his burial place for burying your dead."

7 Then Abraham rose and bowed down to the Hittites, the people of the land.

8 He said to them, "If you are willing [for me] to bury my dead, listen to me and ask Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf

9 to give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me in your presence, for the full price, as a burial place."

10 Ephron was present with the Hittites. So in the presence of all the Hittites who came to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham:

11 "No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead."

12 Abraham bowed down to the people of the land

13 and said to Ephron in the presence of the people of the land, "Please listen to me. Let me pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, and let me bury my dead there."

14 Ephron answered Abraham and said to him

15 "My lord, listen to me. Land worth 400 shekels of silver-what is that between you and me? Bury your dead."

16 Abraham agreed with Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver that he had agreed to in the hearing of the Hittites: 400 shekels of silver at the current commercial rate.

17 So Ephron's field at Machpelah near Mamre-the field with its cave and all the trees anywhere within the boundaries of the field-became

18 Abraham's possession in the presence of all the Hittites who came to the gate of his city.

19 After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan

20 The field with its cave passed from the Hittites to Abraham as a burial place.

Psalms 16

1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.

2 I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good besides You."

3 As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those who take another [god] for themselves multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips.

5 Lord, You are my portion and my cup [of blessing]; You hold my future.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I will praise the Lord who counsels me- even at night my conscience instructs me.

8 I keep the Lord in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely.

10 For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the Pit.

11 You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.