Thematic Bible: Select readings

Abraham came near and said: Will you destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city. Would you also destroy the place and not spare it because the righteous people are there? Surely you would not do that! Would you slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked? Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? read more.
Jehovah said: If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I will spare the entire place for their sakes. Then Abraham answered and said: Indeed now, I who am only dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous. Would you destroy the entire city for lack of five? So He (God) said: If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it. Abraham spoke again: Suppose there should be forty found there? God replied: I will not do it for the sake of forty. Abraham then said: Do not be angry, and let me speak. Suppose thirty should be found there? God replied: I will not do it if I find thirty there. Abraham then said: Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah: Suppose twenty should be found there? God replied: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. Abraham again queried: Please do not be angry as I speak once more: Suppose ten should be found there? God said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.

Then Jacob was by himself. A man was fighting with him till dawn. The man saw that he was not able to overcome Jacob. He gave him a blow in the hollow part of his thigh, so that his leg was damaged. He said to him: Let me go now, for the dawn is near. But Jacob said: I will not let you go till you have given me your blessing. read more.
Then he asked: What is your name? And he said, Jacob. The man said: Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel (He Struggles With God), because you have struggled with God and with men and you have won. Jacob said: Please tell me your name. The man answered: Why do you ask for my name? Then he blessed Jacob there. Jacob named that place Peniel (Face of God), because he said: I have seen God face to face, yet my life was saved.

David went into the tent he set up for the ark. Then he sat there and prayed: Jehovah All-Powerful, my family and I do not deserve what you have already done for us. Yet this was insignificant in your eyes, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah for you have spoken also of your servant's house in the distant future. And this is the law for man, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah. What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah. read more.
For the sake of your Word and according to your will you have done this great thing. You have made it known to your servant! For this reason you are great, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah. There is none like you. There is no God besides you according to all that we have heard with our ears. There is no other nation on earth like Israel. This is the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and their gods out of your land, so your people could live here. You chose Israel to be your people from generation to generation! You have become their God. And now, Jehovah God, please do what you have promised. You will be famous for a very long time! Everyone will say: Jehovah of Hosts rules Israel. David's descendants are his chosen kings. Now therefore, may it please you to bless the house of your servant that it may continue a long time before you. You O Lord Jehovah have spoken. May the house of your servant be blessed from generation to generation. Lord Jehovah, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise. Please bless my descendants and let them be your chosen kings for a very long time. You have already promised, and I am sure that you will bless my family from generation to generation.

In the presence of the people Solomon stood in front of the altar. He raised his arms and prayed: Jehovah God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You keep your covenant with your people and show them your love when they live in wholehearted obedience to you. You kept the promise you made to my father David. Every word has been fulfilled. read more.
Jehovah, God of Israel, I pray that you will also keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided they obeyed you as carefully as he did. So now, O God of Israel, let your word come true that you promised to my father David, your servant. Can you, O God, really live on earth? Not even heaven or the heaven of heavens is large enough to hold you. How can this Temple I have built be large enough? Jehovah my God, I am your servant. Listen to my prayer. Grant the requests I make to you today. Watch over this Temple day and night. For this is the place where you have chosen to be worshiped. Hear me when I face this Temple and pray. Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people. In your home in heaven hear us and forgive us. When a person is accused of wronging another and is brought to your altar in this Temple to take an oath that he is innocent, O Jehovah, listen in heaven and judge your servants. Punish the guilty one, as he deserves. Justify the one who is innocent. When your people Israel have sinned against you their enemies defeat them. They can turn to you and come to this Temple, humbly praying to you for forgiveness. Listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your people and bring them back to the land that you gave to their ancestors. When you hold back the rain because your people have sinned against you. And when they repent in this Temple, humbly praying to you, listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of the king and of the people of Israel, and teach them to do what is right. Then, O Jehovah, send rain on this land of yours, which you gave to your people as a permanent possession. When there is famine in the land or an epidemic or scorching winds or swarms of locusts, or when their enemies attack your people, or when disease or sickness among them destroys the crops, listen to their prayers. If any of your people Israel, out of heartfelt sorrow, stretch out their hands in prayer toward this Temple, hear their prayer. Listen to them in your home in heaven, help them and forgive them. You alone know the thoughts of the human heart. Deal with each person, as he deserves, so that your people may obey you all the time they live in the land you gave to our ancestors. When a foreigner who lives in a distant land hears of your fame and of the great things you have done for your people and comes to worship you and to pray at this Temple, For they will have news of your great name and your strong hand and your out-stretched arm. When he comes to pray in this house: Listen to him and give him his desire. Let all the peoples of the earth know about your name. Let them worship you as your people Israel, and that they may see that this house which I have built is truly named by your name. When your people go to war against their enemies, they pray to you, O Jehovah, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I built for your name. Hear their prayer for mercy in heaven, and do what is right for them. They may sin against you, for everyone sins. You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy far or near who takes them to another country as captives. If they come to their senses and are sorry for what they have done, and plead with you in the land where they are captives, saying: We have sinned. We have done wrong. We have been wicked. If they change their attitude toward you in the land of their enemies where they are captives, if they pray to you toward the land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and the temple I have built for your name, then in heaven, the place where you live, hear their prayer for mercy. Do what is right for them. Forgive your people, who have sinned against you. Forgive all their wrongs when they rebelled against you. Cause those who captured them to have mercy on them. They are your own people. You brought them out of Egypt from the middle of an iron smelter. May your eyes always see my plea and your people Israel's plea so that you will listen to them whenever they call on you. You Jehovah set them apart from all the people of the world. They are your own as you promised through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt. When Solomon finished praying this prayer for mercy to Jehovah, he stood in front of Jehovah's altar, where he had been kneeling with his hands stretched out toward heaven. Then he stood and in a loud voice blessed the entire assembly of Israel: THANKS TO JEHOVAH! He has given his people Israel rest, as he has promised. None of the good promises he made through his servant Moses has failed to come true. May Jehovah our God be with us as he was with our ancestors. May he not leave us or abandon us. May he bend our hearts toward him. Then we will follow him and obey his commands, laws, and rules, which he commanded our ancestors to obey. May these words I have prayed to Jehovah be near Jehovah our God day and night. Then he will give his people Israel and me justice every day as it is needed. In this way all the people of the earth may know that Jehovah is God and there is no other god. Let your hearts be committed to Jehovah our God. Then you will live by his laws and keep his commands as you have today.

Jesus was praying. When he finished one of his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples. He said: When you pray say, 'Father holy (sacred) (sanctified) (blessed) (consecrated) is your name. Let your kingdom come. Give us day-by-day our daily bread. read more.
Forgive us our sins. For we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And keep us from temptation. He also said: Which of you have a friend you would approach at midnight and say lend me three loaves. This is because a friend of mine is visiting and I do not have any food to feed him. You hear a voice from the house say, 'The door is shut, my children are in bed, do not bother me. I cannot rise and help you.' I tell you even if he will not rise and give you what you need because he is your friend, he will arise and give you what you need because you keep asking. I say to you: Ask and it will be given you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. Every one who asks receives. Everyone who seeks will find. It will be opened to everyone who knocks. What father would give his son a stone when he asked for a loaf? What father would give a serpent when his son asked for a fish? If he asked for an egg would he give a scorpion? If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

He spoke an illustration to them emphasizing the need to pray and not become tired: There was a judge in a city that did not fear God and had no respect for man. There was a widow in that same city. She went to him asking for legal protection from her adversary. read more.
At first he refused. Then he thought about it and he said to himself, I do not fear God and have little respect for man. However this widow bothers me. For this reason I will avenge her. If she keeps coming to me she will wear me out. The Lord continued: Pay attention to what the unrighteous judge said. Should God avenge his chosen that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them? I say to you, that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, will the Son of man find faith on the earth when he comes?

See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone. But follow that which is good, both among you, and to all men. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. read more.
In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesying. Prove all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. May the very God of peace completely sanctify you (make you holy). I pray to God that your entire spiritual being, your mind and body, is preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he who calls you. He will also make it happen. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this letter is to be read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

I do not want you to be ignorant brothers, concerning those who are asleep (in death). You do not need to sorrow like others who have no hope. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. We tell you this by God's Word, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who are asleep. read more.
For the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ will rise first. We that are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so will we ever be with the Lord. Comfort one another with these words.

A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived at Bethany where his sisters Mary and Martha lived. This is the same Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was sick. The sisters therefore sent for the Lord, They said: The one for whom you have great affection is sick. read more.
When Jesus heard it he said: This sickness will not end in death. It is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it. Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he heard the news he stayed where he was for two days. After this he said to the disciples: Let us go to Judea again. The disciples said: Rabbi, the Jews were seeking to stone you and you go there? Jesus answered: Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day he does not stumble because he sees the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him. Then he told them: Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. I go to wake him out of sleep. The disciples said, Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he would recover. Jesus spoke of his death. They thought he spoke of taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said plainly: Lazarus is dead! I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, for it will help you believe. Let us go to him. Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples: Let us also go that we may die with him. When Jesus arrived he found Lazarus had been in the grave four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. Many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to console them about their brother. Martha went out to meet Jesus and Mary sat in the house. Martha said to Jesus: Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died. Even now I know that what ever you ask of God he will give it to you. Jesus replied: Your brother will rise again. Martha exclaimed: I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said: I am the resurrection and the life. He who puts active faith in me will live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and puts active faith in me will never die. Do you believe this? She said: Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who is to come into the world. After she said this she went away and secretly called her sister Mary. She said: The teacher is here and calls you. Mary got up quickly and went to him. (Now Jesus had not yet arrived at the village and was still at the place where Martha met him.) The Jews were with her in the house, consoling her. They saw Mary get up quickly and leave. So they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary saw Jesus she fell down at his feet. She said: Lord; if you had been here my brother would not have died. Jesus groaned in his spirit and was troubled when he saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her weeping. He asked: Where have you laid him? They answered: Come and see Lord. Jesus wept. The Jews therefore said: Look how deeply he loved him! Some of them said: This man opened the eyes of the blind. Could he have prevented this man from dying? Again Jesus groaned in himself. He went to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid against it. Jesus said: Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of the dead man said: Lord by now the body has decayed for he has been dead four days. Jesus said to her: Did I not say that if you believe you shall see the glory of God? So they took away the stone. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said: Father, I thank you that you hear me. I knew that you always hear me. But because of the crowd that stands here I said it, that they may believe that you did send me. After he finished he cried out loud: Lazarus, come out! He that was dead came out. He was bound hand and foot with grave-clothes and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus commanded them: Unwrap him and let him go.

After Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices so they could anoint him. They went to the tomb when the sun had risen. It was very early. They asked each other who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb? read more.
The stone was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back. They entered the tomb. They were amazed at what they saw. A young man dressed in a white robe was sitting on the right side of the tomb. He said to them: Do not be amazed. Jesus the Nazarene, who has been impaled, is not here. He has risen. Behold, the place where they laid him! Go tell his disciples and Peter that he goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him just as he told you. They fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone for they were afraid. (Verses through She told those who had been with him, for they mourned and wept. When they heard that he was alive and she had seen him they did not believe it. After this two of them saw him in another form as they walked, on their way into the country. They went to tell the rest. They didn't believe them, either. Afterward he was revealed to the eleven as they sat at the table. He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

It was early in the morning on the first day of the week. They went to the tomb with the spices that they had prepared. The stone was rolled away from the tomb. When they entered they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. read more.
They were perplexed about what had happened. Two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. This frightened them and they bowed down prostrate on the ground. The two men said to them: Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. He has arisen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was yet in Galilee. He said the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be impaled, and the third day rise again. They remembered his words. When they returned from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. They were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them. They told these things to the apostles. These words seemed to be idle talk and they did not believe them. Peter ran to the tomb. Looking inside he saw the linen cloths by themselves. He departed to his home, wondering about that which occurred. That day two of them traveled to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They talked between themselves about all the things that happened. While they talked and discussed together Jesus came near and walked with them. But their eyes did not permit them to recognize him. He asked: What are you talking about with each other as you walk? They stopped walking and were sad. The one named Cleopas answered him: Do you travel alone in Jerusalem and not know the things that have happened there these days? He asked: What things? They said to him: The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene. He was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death. They impaled him! We hoped he would redeem Israel. Yes and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Some of the women of our company stunned us. They went to the tomb early. They did not find his body. They said that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Others with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women said. He was not there! He said to them: You are foolish men. You are slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Did the Christ need to suffer these things and enter into his glory? He explained to them all the Scriptures about the things concerning him. He spoke about Moses and all the prophets. They approached the village where they were going and he appeared to be going further. They persuaded him not to go saying, Abide with us. It is nearly evening and the day is almost gone. He stayed with them. When he had sat down with them to eat he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them. Their eyes were opened and they knew him. Then he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other: Were our hearts not burning within us? When he spoke to us in the way and opened the scriptures to us? They rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven gathered together with others. The Lord has risen indeed, they said, and he appeared to Simon. And they told the things that happened in the way, how they recognized him when he broke the bread. As they spoke these things he stood in their midst and said: May you have peace. But they were afraid and supposed that they saw a spirit. He said to them, Why are you troubled? And why do you question in your hearts? See my hands and my feet that it is I. Touch me and see. A spirit does not have flesh and bones like I have. When he said this he showed them his hands and his feet. While they still did not believe him but were filled with joy and wonder, he asked for something to eat. They gave him a piece of a broiled fish. He took it and ate it in front of them. He said: These are my words that I spoke to you, while I was yet with you. All things must be fulfilled. They are things that are written in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms, concerning me. He opened their minds that they might understand the scriptures. He said: It is written that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day.

Where can wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding? No man knows where it is. It cannot be found in this world of the living. The deep ocean says: 'It is not in me.' The sea proclaims: 'Not in me either!' read more.
Gold will not buy it; neither will any amount of silver. It cannot be bought with the gold from Ophir or with precious onyx or sapphire. Neither gold nor crystal can equal its value. Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold. Wisdom is more valuable than gems. Topaz from Ethiopia cannot equal its value. It cannot be bought for any amount of pure gold. Where does wisdom come from? Where does understanding live? It is hidden from the eyes of all the living, concealed from the birds in the air. Destruction and Death say: 'We heard a rumor about it.' God understands the way to it. He knows where it lives He can see to the ends of the earth and observe everything under heaven. When he gave the wind its force and measured the water in the sea, when he made rules for the rain and set paths for the thunderstorms, then he saw it and announced it. He confirmed it and examined it. To man he said: 'Respect for Jehovah is wisdom! To stay away from evil is understanding.'

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom. Happy is the man who gains understanding. The profit from wisdom is better than the profit from silver. Her gain is better than fine gold. She (wisdom) is more precious than pearls. Nothing you desire compares with wisdom. read more.
Long life is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways. All her paths are peace. She (wisdom) is a tree of life to those who hold her. Happy are all who keep her. In wisdom Jehovah founded the earth. In understanding he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, do not let them depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion! They will mean life to you and adornment to your neck. You will walk in your way safely. Your foot will not stumble. When you lie down you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

Listen my sons to what your father teaches you. Pay attention and gain understanding. I give you good instruction. Do not abandon my Law! I was my father's son, tender and the only son to my mother. read more.
Father taught me. He said: Remember my words in your heart. Obey my commandments and live. Achieve wisdom and understanding! Do not forget or ignore what I say. Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will keep you safe. Wisdom is the most important thing. So gain wisdom! And by all means arrive at understanding. Love wisdom and she will exalt you. Embrace wisdom and she will honor you. She will present you with a crown of glory. Listen to me, my son. Accept what I tell you and live a long life. I taught you wisdom and the right way to live. Walk with wisdom and nothing will stand in your way. Run with wisdom and you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction and do not let go. Obey her for she is your life.

We have many things to say about him and it is hard to explain it to you, for you are dull of hearing (slow to learn). At this time you should be teachers. But you need someone to teach you again from the beginning the elementary truths from the Word of God. You need milk, not solid food. Everyone who drinks milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. read more.
But solid food belongs to mature people. It belongs to those who by reason of use have their senses trained to know the difference between good and evil.

Therefore leaving the elementary truths of the doctrine of Christ let us move on to maturity. Let us not lay again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. We should not repeat the basic teachings about baptisms, and of the laying on of hands (setting apart for holy tasks), and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. We will do this if God permits. read more.
Those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the age to come, if they shall fall away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance. This is because they personally impale the Son of God again, and expose him to public shame. The earth that drinks in the rain that comes upon it, and brings forth vegetation for those by whom it was cultivated, receives blessing from God. That which bears thorns and briars is rejected, and is near to being cursed. It ends up being burned. Even though we speak this way, beloved, we are convinced that you will have better things, things that belong to salvation. For God is not unrighteous (unjust) to forget your work and the love you showed for his name. You ministered to the holy ones and continue to minister. We desire that every one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope down to the end. We desire that you are not lazy, but follow those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. When God made a promise to Abraham, he could swear by no one greater then himself, so he swore by himself. He said: I will surely bless you and give you many descendants. After waiting patiently, Abraham received the promise. Men swear by someone greater then themselves: and an oath for confirmation to them puts an end to the problem.

Jesus continued: I tell you, make friends for yourselves with worldly wealth. That way when it gives out, you will be welcomed in the eternal home. Verse Concepts