matthew Archives » Cam Villages Bible Reading Group

2nd November 2017

30 October- 3 November: Matthew 27.45-56; Psalm 15

Matthew 27.45-56

45 Now from the sixth hour^A there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.^B 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima^C sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”^D

47 Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”

48 Immediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him a drink. 49 The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”

50 Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. 51 Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

55 Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him. 56 Amongst them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Psalm 15

A Psalm by David.

1 LORD, who shall dwell in your sanctuary?

Who shall live on your holy hill?

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right,

and speaks truth in his heart;

3 he who doesn’t slander with his tongue,

nor does evil to his friend,

nor casts slurs against his fellow man;

4 in whose eyes a vile man is despised,

but who honours those who fear the LORD;

he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;

5 he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury,

nor take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be shaken.

Notes

^A 27:45: noon

^B 27:45: 3:00 p.m.

^C 27:46: TR reads “lama” instead of “lima”

^D 27:46: Psalm 22:1

Artwork: The artwork at the top of this post is from a 16th-century metrical psalter produced by Thomas Wood, held by the University of Edinburgh.

10th July 20175th July 2017

10-14 July, 2017 – Matthew 27.27-44

This is Friday’s Additional Weekday Lectionary Bible reading, which we will include in the Cam Villages pop-up prayer.

Matthew 27.27-44

²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him. 28 They stripped him, and put a scarlet robe on him. ²⁹ They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they knelt down before him, and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰ They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. ³¹ When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

³² As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross. ³³ When they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull,” ³⁴ they gave him sour wine^† to drink mixed with gall.^‡ When he had tasted it, he would not drink. ³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing amongst them, casting lots,^§ ³⁶ and they sat and watched him there. ³⁷ They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

³⁸ Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left. ³⁹ Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”

⁴¹ Likewise the chief priests also mocking, with the scribes, the Pharisees,^☩ and the elders, said, ⁴² “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” ⁴⁴ The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.

Notes to the text

^† 27:34: or, vinegar
^‡ 27:34: Gall is a bitter-tasting, dark green oil from a wormwood plant that is alcoholic in its effect.
^§ 27:35: TR adds “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: ‘They divided my garments amongst them, and for my clothing they cast lots;’ ” [see Psalm 22:18 and John 19:24]
^☩ 27:41: TR omits “the Pharisees”

World English Bible, British Edition

The Psalm for Friday is Psalm 88, which may be found (complete with the Common Worship refrain and a concluding prayer) through this link.

John Keble, Anglican poet and priest (1792-1866)

Today we remember John Keble, an influential Anglican writer. You can find more about him at Wikipedia, or read some of his poetry and hymnody here.

He is probably best remembered for two hymns, Blest are the pure in heart and New every morning is the love. Here is verse from a lesser-known hymn, Lord of life, prophetic Spirit, in which the poet asks God to revive the whole Church through a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Thou didst come that fire to kindle;
Fain would we Thy torches prove,
Far and wide Thy beacons lighting
With th’undying spark of love:
Only feed our flame, we pray Thee,
With Thy breathings from above.

30th January 201728th January 2017

Matthew 28.1-15 (for Friday 3rd February, 2017)

This is the Additional Weekday Lectionary reading we will include in the Cam Villages pop-up prayer at 9.30am on Friday, this week at All Saints, Great Chesterford.

Matthew 28.1-15

¹ Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ² Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. ⁵ The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. ⁷ Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”

⁸ They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. ⁹ As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!”

They came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers [1]that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”

¹¹ Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. ¹² When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, ¹³ saying, “Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. ¹⁴ If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.” ¹⁵ So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad amongst the Jews, and continues until today.

[1]28:10 The word for ‘brothers’ here may be also correctly translated ‘brothers and sisters’ or ‘siblings.’

World English Bible, British Edition