1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I

will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name

great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever

curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at

Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7The LORD appeared to Abram

and said, “To your offspring [seed] I will give this land.”

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had

been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s

womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but

was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to

do what he had promised.

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had

embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had

said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham

reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive

Isaac back from death.

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be

guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have

made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he

believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

16 I will make your seed like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust,

then your seed could be counted.

11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he

went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this

creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood,

thus obtaining eternal redemption.

13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are

ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.14 How much more,

then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that

lead to death, so that we may serve

the living God!

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts

he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the

temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned

their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house

into a market!”

17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

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

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three

days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of

was his body.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the

barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.

23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell

you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.

But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in

your midst?

25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world

will keep it for eternal life.

26 Whoever serves me must follow me;

• and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves

with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and

female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s

seed, and heirs according to the promise.