Third Sunday in Lent - B - March 7, 2021

1 God spoke all these words, saying, 2 "I am YHWH your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

4 "You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, YHWH your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 "You shall not take the name of YHWH your God in vain, for YHWH will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 You shall labor six days, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11 for in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.

12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which YHWH your God gives you.

13 "You shall not murder.

14 "You shall not commit adultery.

15 "You shall not steal.

16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God.
The expanse shows his handiwork.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech,
and night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language,
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice has gone out through all the earth,
their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which is as a bridegroom coming out of his room,
like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heavens,
his circuit to its ends;
There is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 The law of YHWH is perfect, restoring the soul.
The testimony of YHWH is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of YHWH are right, rejoicing the heart.
The commandment of YHWH is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of YHWH is clean, enduring forever.
The ordinances of YHWH are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned.
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive me from hidden errors.

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins.
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I will be upright.
I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
YHWH, my rock, and my redeemer.

22 Some people want signs from God that will amaze them. Others want thoughts and feelings from God to make them feel good. 23 But we talk about Jesus who died on the cross. The people who look for God's signs think that's shocking. And, the people who want good thoughts and feelings think that's worthless. 24 But, to the people who God called to believe, the sight of Jesus on the cross clearly shows God's power and wisdom. 25 God's foolishness is far better than our wisdom. And God's weakness is far stronger than our strength.

22 For Jews request signs and Greeks seem wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ having been crucified, to the Jews, on the one hand, a scandal, to the Gentiles, on the other hand, foolishness, 24 but to those called (by God), Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God (is) stronger than men.

13 As the Passover festival approached, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple courtyard at Jerusalem, he found merchants selling farm animals and doves the Jews used to offer God in worship. He also found people who would exchange foreign coins for coins used in the Temple. 15 After he made a whip out of small cords, he threw the animals out of the Temple courtyard, turned the tables of the money changers over, and spilled their coins everywhere. 16 "Take these doves out of here!" Jesus yelled at the merchants. "Do not turn my Father's house into place for you to make money!" 17 Jesus' followers remembered what was written in the Bible: "Love for your house burns inside me."

18 "What sign from God will you show us that gives you the right to do this?" the Jewish leaders demanded.

19 "Destroy this temple," Jesus answered, "and in three days I will raise it again."

20 "Workers took forty six years to rebuild the Temple!" the leaders shot back. "It will take you only three days to raise it up?"

21 But Jesus was talking about his body, God's true Temple. 22 When he was raised from the dead, his followers remembered he always said this. They believed in the scripture verse and in the words Jesus spoke.

23 When Jesus was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many people believed in his name because they saw the things he did. 24 But Jesus did not believe in them because he knew what everyone was like. 25 Jesus did not need anyone to tell him what people were like, for he knew what was in their hearts.

13 The Passover of Jews was near and JESUS went up into Jerusalem. 14 HE found in the Temple (courtyard) those selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and money changers sitting (at their tables). 15 Having made a whip of small cords, HE expelled both the oxen and sheep out of the Temple (courtyard). HE scattered the money of changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those selling the doves, HE said, "Take these (animals) from here! "Do not make the house of MY Father a house of business!" 17 HIS disciples remembered what was written (in Scripture): "Zeal for your house will destroy me."

18 Then the Jews answered, and said to HIM, "What sign do you show us that you can do these (things)?" 19 JESUS answered and said to them, "Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up." 20 Then the Jews said, "This Temple was built (in a span of) forty six years! And you in three days will raise it?" 21 But THAT ONE was speaking about the temple of HIS body. 22 When HE was raised from the dead, HIS disciples remembered HE was saying this, and they believed (both) the scripture (verse) and the word which JESUS spoke.

23 As HE was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in HIS name, watching the signs which HE was doing. 24 But JESUS did not entrust HIMSELF to them, since HE knew all (men), 25 and because HE had no need that someone might testify concerning man himself, for HE knew what was in man.