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Tuesday
The First
Lesson
Ecclesiasticus 20:9-20
9 There is a sinner that hath good success in evil things; and
there is a gain that turneth to loss.
10 There is a gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a
gift whose recompence is double.
11 There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that
lifteth up his head from a low estate.
12 There is that buyeth much for a little, and repayeth it sevenfold.
13 A wise man by his words maketh him beloved: but the graces
of fools shall be poured out.
14 The gift of a fool shall do thee no good when thou hast it;
neither yet of the envious for his necessity: for he looketh
to receive many things for one.
15 He giveth little, and upbraideth much; he openeth his mouth
like a crier; to day he lendeth, and to morrow will he ask it
again: such an one is to be hated of God and man.
16 The fool saith, I have no friends, I have no thank for all
my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me.
17 How oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn! for
he knoweth not aright what it is to have; and it is all one unto
him as if he had it not.
18 To
slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue:
so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.
19 An
unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.
20 A wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a
fool's mouth; for he will not speak it in due season.
1st Lesson Questions -
Do I know anyone the likes of which is described in V. 9 ? Where have most of my slips taken place - on the pavement or the tongue? (V. 18) When was the last time I had an "unseasonable talk" in my mouth? (V. 19) RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Matthew 5:17-26
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one
jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all
be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom
of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall
be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For
I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case
enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt
not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the
judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever
shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council:
but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell
fire.
23 Therefore
if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that
thy brother hath aught against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first
be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the
way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to
the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou
be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence,
till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Does my righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees? (V. 20) Have I always followed Jesus' words in V. 23-24? RESOLVE.