Gospel Reading – Mark 10:35-45 (NLT)

Jesus Teaches about Serving Others
35  Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to
him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.”
36  “What is your request?” he asked.
37  They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in
places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
38  But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you
able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you
able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”
39  “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be
baptized with my baptism of suffering.  40  But I have no right to say who will
sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he
has chosen.”
41  When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked,
they were indignant.  42  So Jesus called them together and said, “You know
that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their
authority over those under them.  43  But among you it will be different.
Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,  44  and
whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone
else.  45  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 21:23-32
The Authority of Jesus Challenged

23  When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”24  “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied.  25  “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John.  26  But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.”  27  So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.

Parable of the Two Sons
28  “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’  29  The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway.  30  Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. 31  “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” [a] Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.  32  For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

Gospel Reading – Matthew 9:9-13,18-26

Jesus Calls Matthew
9  As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

10  Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.  11  But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum? [a] ”

12  When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”  13  Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ [b]  For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Jesus Heals in Response to Faith
18  As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.”

19  So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him.  20  Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe,  21  for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”

22  Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

23  When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music.  24  “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him.  25  After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!  26  The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.

Gospel Reading – Matthew 7:21-29

True Disciples
21  “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.  22  On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’  23  But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Building on a Solid Foundation
24  “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  25  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.  26  But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  27  When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” 28  When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,  29  for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.”