FIRST LESSON Deuteronomy 30:15-20

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.

If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by

loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees,

and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless

you in the land that you are entering to possess.

But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other

gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the

land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death,

blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD

your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days,

so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to

Isaac, and to Jacob.

GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 7:1-14

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be

judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the

plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your

eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out

of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may

trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to

you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the

door will be opened.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will

give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your

children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So

in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law

and the Prophets.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to

destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to

life, and only a few find it.