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Thus says the LORD: As you love your lives, take care not to
carry burdens on the sabbath day, to bring them in through the
gates of Jerusalem. Bring no burden from your homes on the
sabbath.
Do no work whatever, but keep holy the sabbath, as I commanded
your fathers, though they did not listen or give ear, but
stiffened their necks so as not to hear or take correction. If you
obey me wholeheartedly, says the LORD, and carry no burden through
the gates of this city on the sabbath, keeping the sabbath holy
and abstaining from all work on it, then, through the gates of
this city, kings who sit upon the throne of David will continue to
enter, riding in their chariots or upon their horses, along with
their princes, and the men of Judah, and the citizens of
Jerusalem. This city will remain inhabited forever... But if you
do not obey me and keep holy the sabbath, if you carry burdens and
come through the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath, I will set
unquenchable fire to its gates, which will consume the palaces of
Jerusalem. [Taken from JER 17:21-25,27]
This word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: Rise up, be off to
the potter's house; there I will give you my message. I went down
to the potter's house and there he was, working at the wheel.
Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly
in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of
whatever sort he pleased. Then the word of the Lord came to me:
Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done?
says the LORD. Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are
you in my hand, house of Israel. Sometimes I threaten to uproot
and tear down and destroy a nation or a kingdom. But if that
nation which I have threatened turns from its evil, I also repent
of the evil which I threatened to do. Sometimes, again, I promise
to build up and plant a nation or a kingdom. But if that nation
does what is evil in my eyes, refusing to obey my voice, I repent
of the good with which I promised to bless it. And now, tell this
to the men of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem: Thus says the
LORD: Take care! I am fashioning evil against you and making a
plan. Return, each of you, from his evil way; reform your ways and
your deeds. But they will say, "No use! We will follow our
own devices; each one of us will behave according to the
stubbornness of his evil heart!" [JER 18:1-12]
Woe to him who builds his house on wrong, his terraces on
injustice; Who works his neighbor without pay, and gives him no
wages. [JER 22:13]
The Israelites and the Judeans from their youth have done only
what is evil in my eyes; the Israelites did nothing but provoke me
with the works of their hands, says the LORD. From the day it was
built to this day, this city has excited my anger and wrath, so
that I must put it out of my sight for all the wickedness the
Israelites and Judeans, with their kings and their princes, their
priests and their prophets, the men of Judah and the citizens of
Jerusalem, have done to provoke me. They turned their backs to me,
not their faces; though I kept teaching them, they would not
listen to my correction. They defiled the house named after me by
the horrid idols they set up in it. [JER 32:30-34]
Cursed be he who does the LORD'S work remissly [Taken from JER 48:10]
The LORD opens his armory and brings forth the weapons of his
wrath; For the Lord GOD of hosts has work to do in the land of the
Chaldeans. [JER 50:25]
Every man is stupid, ignorant; every artisan is put to shame by his idol: He molded a fraud, without breath of life. Nothingness are they, a ridiculous work, that will perish in their time of punishment. [JER 51:17-18]
And the LORD kept watch over the evils, and brought them home to us; for the LORD is just in all the works he commanded us to do, but we did not heed his voice, or follow the precepts of the LORD which he set before us.
[BARUCH 2:9-10]
They schemed anxiously for money, but there is no trace of their work:
They have vanished down into the nether world, and others have risen up in their stead. [BARUCH 3:18-19]
How then can one not know that these are no-gods, which do not save themselves either from war or from disaster? They are wooden, gilded and silvered; they will later be known for frauds. To all peoples and kings it will be clear that they are not gods, but human handiwork; and that God's work is not in them.
[BARUCH 6:49-50]
For thus says the Lord GOD: I am now handing you over to those whom you hate, to those who fill you with disgust. They shall deal with you in hatred, seizing all that you have worked for and leaving you stark naked, so that your indecent nakedness is exposed. Your lewdness and harlotry have brought these things upon you, because you played the harlot with the nations by defiling yourself with their
idols. [EZEK
23:28-30]
But as for the Levites who departed from me when Israel strayed
from me to pursue their idols, they shall bear the consequences of
their sin. Because they used to minister for them before their
idols, and became an occasion of sin to the house of Israel,
therefore I have sworn an oath against them, says the Lord GOD:
they shall bear the consequences of their sin. They shall no
longer draw near me to serve as my priests, nor shall they touch
any of my sacred things, or the most sacred things. Thus they
shall bear their disgrace because of all their abominable deeds.
But I will set them to the service of the temple, for all its work
and for everything that is to be done in it. [EZEK
44:10,12-14]
Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate toward the east of the inner
court shall remain closed throughout the six working days, but on
the sabbath and on the day of the new moon it shall be open. [EZEK
46:1]
There shall remain an area along the sacred tract, ten thousand cubits to the east and ten thousand to the west, whose produce shall provide food for the workers of the City. The workers in the City shall be taken from all the tribes of Israel.
The entire tract shall be twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand cubits; as a perfect square you shall set apart the sacred tract together with the City property.
[EZEK 48:18-20]
So these men rushed in and found Daniel praying and pleading
before his God. Then they went to remind the king about the
prohibition: "Did you not decree, O king, that no one is to
address a petition to god or man for thirty days, except to you, O
king; otherwise he shall be cast into a den of lions?" The
king answered them, "The decree is absolute, irrevocable
under the Mede and Persian law." To this they replied,
"Daniel, the Jewish exile, has paid no attention to you, O
king, or to the decree you issued; three times a day he offers his
prayer." The king was deeply grieved at this news and he made
up his mind to save Daniel; he worked till sunset to rescue him.
But these men insisted. "Keep in mind, O king," they
said, "that under the Mede and Persian law every royal
prohibition or decree is irrevocable." [DAN 6:12-16]
I decree that throughout my royal domain the God of Daniel is to be reverenced and feared: "For he is the living God, enduring forever;
his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be without end. He is a deliverer and savior, working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, and he delivered Daniel from the lions'
power." [DAN 6:27-28]
And I will work wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke;
The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, At the coming of the Day of the LORD, the great and terrible day.
[JOEL 3:3-4]
Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their
couches; In the morning light they accomplish it when it lies
within their power. [MICAH 2:1]
Look over the nations and see, and be utterly amazed! For a
work is being done in your days that you would not have believed,
were it told. [HAB 1:5]
O LORD, I have heard your renown, and feared, O LORD, your
work. In the course of the years revive it, in the course of the
years make it known; in your wrath remember compassion! [HAB 3:2]
Then Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and the high priest Joshua,
son of Jehozadak, and all the remnant of the people listened to
the voice of the LORD, their God, and to the words of the prophet
Haggai, because the LORD, their God, had sent him, and the people
feared because of the LORD. And the LORD'S messenger, Haggai,
proclaimed to the people as the message of the LORD: I am with
you, says the LORD. Then the LORD stirred up the spirit of the
governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and the spirit of
the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all
the remnant of the people, so that they came and set to work on
the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth
day of the sixth month. [HAG 1:12-15]
But now take courage, Zerubbabel, says the LORD, and take
courage, Joshua, high priest, son of Jehozadak, And take courage,
all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work! For I am with
you, says the LORD of hosts. [HAG 2:4]
I struck you in all the works of your hands with blight,
searing wind, and hail, yet you did not return to me, says the
LORD. [HAG 2:17]
[Jesus said,] "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what
you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look
at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather
nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not
you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a
single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about
clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not
work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his
splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass
of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven
tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little
faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are
we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the
pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about
tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day
is its own evil." [Taken from MT 6:25-34]
And [Jesus] did not work many mighty deeds there because of their
lack of faith. [Taken from MT 13:58]
"The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at
dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them
for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going
out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the
marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.' So they went off. (And) he went
out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and
said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They answered,
'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into
my vineyard.' When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said
to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.' When those who
had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily
wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive
more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving
it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones
worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore
the day's burden and the heat.' He said to one of them in reply,
'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for
the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to
give this last one the same as you? (Or) am I not free to do as I
wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."
[MT 20:1-16]
"What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the
first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He
said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards he changed his mind
and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did
his father's will?" They answered, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and
prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John
came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw
that, you did not later change your minds and believe him." [MT 21:28-32]
"Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his
servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper
to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the
lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at
midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come
suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all:
'Watch!'" [MK 13:33-37]
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord
worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying
signs. [Taken from MK 16:19-20]
Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all
night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower
the nets." [LK 5:5]
He was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was
there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she
was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus
saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are set free
of your infirmity." He laid his hands on her, and she at once
stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the
synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to
the crowd in reply, "There are six days when work should be
done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath
day." The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites! Does
not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from
the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have
been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?" When he
said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole
crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him. [LK 13:10-17]
Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and
addressed them, "If any one comes to me without hating his
father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and
even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not
carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which
of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and
calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable
to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
'This one began to build but did not have the resources to
finish.' Or what king marching into battle would not first sit
down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can
successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty
thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will
send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way,
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot
be my disciple." [LK 14:25-33]
Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat." But
he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not
know." So the disciples said to one another, "Could
someone have brought him something to eat?" Jesus said to
them, "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and
to finish his work. Do you not say, 'In four months the harvest
will be here'? I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the
harvest. The reaper is already receiving his payment and gathering
crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice
together. For here the saying is verified that 'One sows and
another reaps.' I sent you to reap what you have not worked for;
others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their
work." [JN 4:31-38]
The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had
made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus
because he did this on a sabbath. But Jesus answered them,
"My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For
this reason the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he
not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father,
making himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do also. For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed."
[JN 5:15-20]
But I have testimony greater than John's. The works that the
Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify
on my behalf that the Father has sent me. [JN 5:36]
The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that
there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone
along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had
left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had
eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that
neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got
into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they
found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did
you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Amen,
amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw
signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work
for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal
life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father,
God, has set his seal." So they said to him, "What can
we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and
said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in
the one he sent." [JN 6:22-29]
After this, Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not
wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. So his brothers said
to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples
also may see the works you are doing. No one works in secret if he
wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, manifest
yourself to the world." For his brothers did not believe in
him. So Jesus said to them, "My time is not yet here, but the
time is always right for you. The world cannot hate you, but it
hates me, because I testify to it that its works are evil. You go
up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, because my time
has not yet been fulfilled." [JN 7:1-8] [Note: Some
ancient languages have no word for cousin (and other relatives) so
the term "brothers" may be used to refer to relatives
other than blood brothers. The use of this terminology does not
mean that Jesus had blood brothers, which of course he didn't
since Mary is an ever virgin. For more information on this topic,
visit the Non-Catholics section.]
Jesus answered and said to them, "I performed one work and
all of you are amazed because of it. Moses gave you circumcision -
not that it came from Moses but rather from the patriarchs - and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. If a man can
receive circumcision on a sabbath so that the law of Moses may not
be broken, are you angry with me because I made a whole person
well on a sabbath? Stop judging by appearances, but judge
justly." [JN 7:21-24]
They answered and said to him, "Our father is
Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's
children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are
trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard
from God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your
father!" (So) they said to him, "We are not
illegitimate. We have one Father, God." Jesus said to them,
"If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from
God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me."
[JN 8:39-42]
As he passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples
asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that
he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither he nor his
parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made
visible through him." [JN 9:1-3]
"We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
[JN 9:4-5]
[Jesus said,] "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for
the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are
not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs
away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he
works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good
shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father
knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for
the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there
will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one
takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay
it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have
received from my Father." [Taken from JN 10:11-18]
The feast of the Dedication was then taking place in Jerusalem.
It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the
Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to
him, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you
are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them,
"I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my
Father's name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you
are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and
they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has
given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them
out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." The Jews
again picked up rocks to stone him. Jesus answered them, "I
have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these
are you trying to stone me?" The Jews answered him, "We
are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man,
are making yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it
not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"'? If it
calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and scripture cannot
be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has
consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, 'I
am the Son of God'? If I do not perform my Father's works, do not
believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize (and understand) that
the Father is in me and I am in the Father." (Then) they
tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power. He
went back across the Jordan to the place where John first
baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said,
"John performed no sign, but everything John said about this
man was true." And many there began to believe in him. [JN 10:22-42]
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in
me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The
Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am
in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of
the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes
in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than
these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in
my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the
Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it. [JN 14:10-14]
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin;
but as it is they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me
also hates my Father. If I had not done works among them that no
one else ever did, they would not have sin; but as it is, they
have seen and hated both me and my Father. [JN 15:22-24]
When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and
said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so
that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over
all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true
God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on
earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now
glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you
before the world began." [JN 17:1-5]
You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.
But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.
[ACTS 2:22-24]
Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great
wonders and signs among the people. [ACTS 6:8]
Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen
who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they
were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I
have called them." Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off. [ACTS 13:1-3]
"Be careful, then, that what was said in the prophets not come about:
'Look on, you scoffers, be amazed and disappear. For I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe even if
someone tells you.'" [ACTS 13:40-41]
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
[ACTS 14:25-27]
The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul
and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among
the Gentiles through them. [ACTS 15:12]
Barnabas wanted to take with them also John, who was called
Mark, but Paul insisted that they should not take with them
someone who had deserted them at Pamphylia and who had not
continued with them in their work. So sharp was their disagreement
that they separated. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. But
Paul chose Silas and departed after being commended by the
brothers to the grace of the Lord. He traveled through Syria and
Cilicia bringing strength to the churches. [ACTS 15:37-41]
After this he left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a
Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from
Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the
Jews to leave Rome. He went to visit them and, because he
practiced the same trade, stayed with them and worked, for they
were tentmakers by trade. [ACTS 18:1-3]
About that time a serious disturbance broke out concerning the
Way. There was a silversmith named Demetrius who made miniature
silver shrines of Artemis and provided no little work for the
craftsmen. He called a meeting of these and other workers in
related crafts and said, "Men, you know well that our
prosperity derives from this work. As you can now see and hear,
not only in Ephesus but throughout most of the province of Asia
this Paul has persuaded and misled a great number of people by
saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all. The danger
grows, not only that our business will be discredited, but also
that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be of no
account, and that she whom the whole province of Asia and all the
world worship will be stripped of her magnificence." When
they heard this, they were filled with fury and began to shout,
"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" The city was filled
with confusion, and the people rushed with one accord into the
theater, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians, Paul's
traveling companions. [ACTS 19:23-29]
"I have never wanted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You
know well that these very hands have served my needs and my
companions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work of
that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the
Lord Jesus who himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to
receive.'" [ACTS 20:33-35]
A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something
due. But when one does not work, yet believes in the one who
justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. So
also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God
credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they
whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record." [ROM 4:4-8]
For when we were in the flesh, our sinful passions, awakened by the law, worked in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, dead to what held us captive, so that we may serve in the newness of the spirit and not under the obsolete letter.
[ROM 7:5-6]
Did the good, then, become death for me? Of course not! Sin, in
order that it might be shown to be sin, worked death in me through
the good, so that sin might become sinful beyond measure through
the commandment. [ROM 7:13]
We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose. [ROM 8:28]
Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another.
For the sake of food, do not destroy the work of God.
Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to become a
stumbling block by eating [Taken from ROM 14:19-20]
Brothers, I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but as
fleshly people, as infants in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid
food, because you were unable to take it. Indeed, you are still
not able, even now, for you are still of the flesh. While there is
jealousy and rivalry among you, are you not of the flesh, and
behaving in an ordinary human way? Whenever someone says, "I
belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to Apollos,"
are you not merely human? What is Apollos, after all, and what is
Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the
Lord assigned each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused
the growth. Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who
waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. The one
who plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive
wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God's co-workers; you
are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God
given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and
another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he
builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one
that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this
foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or
straw, the work of each will come to light, for the Day will
disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself)
will test the quality of each one's work. If the work stands that
someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a
wage. But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer
loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire. [1COR
3:1-15]
We are fools on Christ's account, but you are wise in Christ;
we are weak, but you are strong; you are held in honor, but we in
disrepute. To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are
poorly clad and roughly treated, we wander about homeless and we
toil, working with our own hands. When ridiculed, we bless; when
persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we respond gently. We have
become like the world's rubbish, the scum of all, to this very
moment. I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish
you as my beloved children. Even if you should have countless
guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became
your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Therefore, I urge
you, be imitators of me. [1COR 4:10-16]
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our
Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? Although I may not be an
apostle for others, certainly I am for you, for you are the seal
of my apostleship in the Lord. [1COR 9:1-2]
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always
fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord
your labor is not in vain. [1COR 15:58]
I shall stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a door has
opened for me wide and productive for work, but there are many
opponents. If Timothy comes, see that he is without fear in your
company, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am.
[1COR 16:8-10]
I urge you, brothers - you know that the household of Stephanas is the firstfruits of Achaia and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the holy
ones - be subordinate to such people and to everyone who works and toils with them. [1COR
16:15-16]
But I call upon God as witness, on my life, that it is to spare you that I have not yet gone to
Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith; rather, we work together for your joy, for you stand firm in the faith.
[2COR 1:23-24]
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed,
but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck
down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the
dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested
in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to
death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be
manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but
life in you. [2COR 4:8-12]
Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the
grace of God in vain. [2COR 6:1]
But thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the
heart of Titus, for he not only welcomed our appeal but, since he
is very concerned, he has gone to you of his own accord. With him
we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for
his preaching of the gospel. And not only that, but he has also
been appointed our traveling companion by the churches in this
gracious work administered by us for the glory of the Lord
(himself) and for the expression of our eagerness. [2COR 8:16-19]
As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker for you; as for
our brothers, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of
Christ. [2COR 8:23]
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so
that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an
abundance for every good work. [2COR 9:8]
May I not seem as one frightening you through letters. For
someone will say, "His letters are severe and forceful, but
his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible."
Such a person must understand that what we are in word through
letters when absent, that we also are in action when present. Not
that we dare to class or compare ourselves with some of those who
recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one
another and compare themselves with one another, they are without
understanding. But we will not boast beyond measure but will keep
to the limits God has apportioned us, namely, to reach even to
you. For we are not overreaching ourselves, as though we did not
reach you; we indeed first came to you with the gospel of Christ.
We are not boasting beyond measure, in other people's labors; yet
our hope is that, as your faith increases, our influence among you
may be greatly enlarged, within our proper limits, so that we may
preach the gospel even beyond you, not boasting of work already
done in another's sphere. "Whoever boasts, should boast in
the Lord." For it is not the one who recommends himself who
is approved, but the one whom the Lord recommends. [2COR 10:9-18]
And what I do I will continue to do, in order to end this
pretext of those who seek a pretext for being regarded as we are
in the mission of which they boast. For such people are false
apostles, deceitful workers, who masquerade as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. So
it is not strange that his ministers also masquerade as ministers
of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. [2COR 11:12-15]
But from those who were reputed to be important (what they once
were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) - those of
repute made me add nothing. On the contrary, when they saw that I
had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as
Peter to the circumcised, for the one who worked in Peter for an
apostolate to the circumcised worked also in me for the Gentiles,
and when they recognized the grace bestowed upon me, James and
Kephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and
Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to
the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, we were to be
mindful of the poor, which is the very thing I was eager to do. [GAL 2:6-10]
Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works mighty deeds among you do so from works of the law or from faith in what you heard? Thus Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as
righteousness." Realize then that it is those who have faith who are children of Abraham.
[GAL 3:5-7]
For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
counts for anything, but only faith working through love. [GAL
5:6]
Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you
who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit,
looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted. Bear one
another's burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ. For
if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is
deluding himself. Each one must examine his own work, and then he
will have reason to boast with regard to himself alone, and not
with regard to someone else; for each will bear his own load. One
who is being instructed in the word should share all good things
with his instructor. Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a
person will reap only what he sows, because the one who sows for
his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who
sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit. Let us
not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our
harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the
opportunity, let us do good to all, but especially to those who
belong to the family of the faith. [GAL 6:1-10]
May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know
what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of
glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the
surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord
with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the
heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and
dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but
also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his
body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way. [EPH 1:18-23]
You were dead in your transgressions and sin s in which you
once lived following the age of this world, following the ruler of
the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the
disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the desires of our
flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we
were by nature children of wrath, like the rest. But God, who is
rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when
we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ
[Taken from EPH 2:1-5]
Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
[EPH 3:20-21]
And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as
evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy
ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son
of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of
Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and
swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery,
from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. Rather,
living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who
is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning
of each part, brings about the body's growth and builds itself up
in love. [EPH
4:11-16]
The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest
work with his (own) hands, so that he may have something to share
with one in need. [EPH 4:28]
I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying
always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your
partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am
confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will
continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right
that I should think this way about all of you, because I hold you
in my heart, you who are all partners with me in grace, both in my
imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the
affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love
may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of
perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure
and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and
praise of God. [PHIL 1:3-11]
So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only
when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out
your salvation with fear and trembling . For God is the one who,
for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work. Do
everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be
blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the
midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine
like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so
that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in
vain or labor in vain. [PHIL 2:12-16]
With regard to Epaphroditus, my brother and co-worker and
fellow soldier, your messenger and minister in my need, I consider
it necessary to send him to you. For he has been longing for all
of you and was distressed because you heard that he was ill. He
was indeed ill, close to death; but God had mercy on him, not just
on him but also on me, so that I might not have sorrow upon
sorrow. I send him therefore with the greater eagerness, so that,
on seeing him, you may rejoice again, and I may have less anxiety.
Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy and hold such people in
esteem, because for the sake of the work of Christ he came close
to death, risking his life to make up for those services to me
that you could not perform. [PHIL 2:25-30]
Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the
mutilation! [PHIL 3:2]
Yes, and I ask you also, my true yokemate, to help them, for
they have struggled at my side in promoting the gospel, along with
Clement and my other co-workers, whose names are in the book of
life. [PHIL 4:3]
Therefore, from the day we heard this, we do not cease praying
for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of
his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to live in
a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every
good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God,
strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the
Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the
holy ones in light. [COL 1:9-12]
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I
am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on
behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister
in accordance with God's stewardship given to me to bring to
completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages
and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his
holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope
for glory. It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and
teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone
perfect in Christ. For this I labor and struggle, in accord with
the exercise of his power working within me. [COL 1:24-29]
Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does
Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received
instructions; if he comes to you, receive him), and Jesus, who is
called Justus, who are of the circumcision; these alone are my
co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to
me. Epaphras sends you greetings; he is one of you, a slave of
Christ (Jesus), always striving for you in his prayers so that you
may be perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I can
testify that he works very hard for you and for those in Laodicea
and those in Hierapolis. [COL 4:10-13]
We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in
our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and
labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,
before our God and Father, knowing, brothers loved by God, how you
were chosen. For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but
also in power and in the Holy Spirit and (with) much conviction.
You know what sort of people we were (among) you for your sake.
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word
in great affliction, with joy from the Holy Spirit, so that you
became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. [1THES 1:2-7]
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with
you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so
dearly beloved had you become to us. You recall, brothers, our
toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden
any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are
witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly
we behaved toward you believers. As you know, we treated each one
of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging
you and insisting that you conduct yourselves as worthy of the God
who calls you into his kingdom and glory. And for this reason we
too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of
God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it
truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who
believe. For you, brothers, have become imitators of the churches
of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you suffer the same
things from your compatriots as they did from the Jews, who killed
both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us; they do
not please God, and are opposed to everyone, trying to prevent us
from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved, thus
constantly filling up the measure of their sins. But the wrath of
God has finally begun to come upon them. [1THES 2:8-16]
On the subject of mutual charity you have no need for anyone to
write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one
another. Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout
Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers, to progress even
more, and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own
affairs, and to work with your (own) hands, as we instructed you,
that you may conduct yourselves properly toward outsiders and not
depend on anyone. [1THES 4:9-12]
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who are laboring among you and who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you, and to show esteem for them with special love on account of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
[1THES 5:13]
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. But the one
who restrains is to do so only for the present, until he is
removed from the scene. And then the lawless one will be revealed,
whom the Lord (Jesus) will kill with the breath of his mouth and
render powerless by the manifestation of his coming, the one whose
coming springs from the power of Satan in every mighty deed and in
signs and wonders that lie, and in every wicked deceit for those
who are perishing because they have not accepted the love of truth
so that they may be saved. [2THES 2:7-10]
We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus
Christ, to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly
way and not according to the tradition they received from us. For
you know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a
disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from
anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we
worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have
the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for
you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you,
we instructed you that if [any man] was unwilling to work, neither
should that one eat. We hear that some are conducting themselves
among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the
business of others. Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord
Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food. But you,
brothers, do not be remiss in doing good. If anyone does not obey
our word as expressed in this letter, take note of this person not
to associate with him, that he may be put to shame. Do not regard
him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother. [2THES
3:6-15]
Presbyters who preside well deserve double honor, especially
those who toil in preaching and teaching. For the scripture says,
"You shall not muzzle an ox when it is threshing," and,
"A worker deserves his pay." Do not accept an accusation
against a presbyter unless it is supported by two or three
witnesses. Reprimand publicly those who do sin, so that the rest
also will be afraid. I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and
the elect angels to keep these rules without prejudice, doing
nothing out of favoritism. [1TM 5:17-21]
The hardworking farmer ought to have the first share of the
crop. [2TM 2:6]
Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman
who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without
deviation. [2TM 2:15]
If anyone cleanses himself of these things, he will be a vessel
for lofty use, dedicated, beneficial to the master of the house,
ready for every good work. [2TM 2:21]
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
[2TM 3:16-17]
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who
will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his
kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is
convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through
all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will
not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and
insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop
listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be
self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform
the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. [2TM 4:1-5]
Therefore, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God.
And whoever enters into God's rest, rests from his own works as
God did from his. Therefore, let us strive to enter into that
rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of
disobedience. Indeed, the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul
and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and
thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but
everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must
render an account. [HEB 4:9-13]
For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been
enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit
and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again,
since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves and
holding him up to contempt. Ground that has absorbed the rain
falling upon it repeatedly and brings forth crops useful to those
for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. But if it
produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected; it will soon be
cursed and finally burned. But we are sure in your regard,
beloved, of better things related to salvation, even though we
speak in this way. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your
work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having
served and continuing to serve the holy ones. [HEB 6:4-10]
Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten,
your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a
testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You
have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you
withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying
aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of
the Lord of hosts. [JMS 5:1-4]
Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but
may receive a full recompense. Anyone who is so
"progressive" as not to remain in the teaching of the
Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the
Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this
doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for
whoever greets him shares in his evil works. Although I have much
to write to you, I do not intend to use paper and ink. Instead, I
hope to visit you and to speak face to face so that our joy may be
complete. [2JN 1:8-12]
Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are
walking in the truth. Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for
the brothers, especially for strangers; they have testified to
your love before the church. Please help them in a way worthy of
God to continue their journey. For they have set out for the sake
of the Name and are accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore,
we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in
the truth. [3JN 1:4-8]
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write this: 'The
one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the
midst of the seven gold lampstands says this: "I know your
works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot
tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves
apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors.
Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and
you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have
lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen.
Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come
to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you
repent."'" [RV 2:1-5]
By these three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that came out
of their mouths a third of the human race was killed. For the
power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for
their tails are like snakes, with heads that inflict harm. The
rest of the human race, who were not killed by these plagues, did
not repent of the works of their hands, to give up the worship of
demons and idols made from gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood,
which cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their
murders, their magic potions, their unchastity, or their
robberies. [RV 9:18-21]
I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write this: Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes,"
said the Spirit, "let them find rest from their labors, for
their works accompany them." [RV 14:13]
Also try:
labor
/ laborer [L1]
deeds
/ works [D3a]
Lord's
Day [L]
rest
/ rested [R6]
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