1 Corinthians 7.12-24
(Epistle)
12But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.
13The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.
14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.
16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.
18Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping God’s commandments.
20Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called.
21Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.
22For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.
23You were bought with a price. Don’t become bondservants of men.
24Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.
Acts 15.35-41
(Epistle, Apostles Silas & Silvanus)
35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
38But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work.
39Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
40but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
Matthew 14.35-15.11
(Gospel)
35When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick;
36and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.
1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,
2“Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
4For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
5But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,”
6he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.
7You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
8‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9And they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’”
10He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand.
11That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”