Lessons Bread of Life 1 August 2020

Isaiah 55:1–5

₁“Come, everyone who thirsts,

         come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

         come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

         without money and without price.

₂Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

₃Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

₄Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.

₅Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.”

Psalm 136:1–9

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

₁Give thanks to the Lord, for | he is good,*

          for his steadfast love endures for- | ever.

₂Give thanks to the | God of gods,*

          for his steadfast love endures for- | ever.

₃Give thanks to the | Lord of lords,*

          for his steadfast love endures for- | ever;

₄to him who alone does great | wonders,*

          for his steadfast love endures for- | ever;

₅to him who by understanding made the | heavens,*

          for his steadfast love endures for- | ever;

₆to him who spread out the earth above the | waters,*

          for his steadfast love endures for- | ever;

₇to him who made the | great lights,*

          for his steadfast love endures for- | ever;

₈the sun to rule o- | ver the day,*

          for his steadfast love endures for- | ever;

₉the moon and stars to rule o- | ver the night,*

          for his steadfast love endures for- | ever;

Romans 9:1–13

         ₁I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— ₂that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ₃For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. ₄They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. ₅To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

         ₆But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, ₇and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” ₈This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. ₉For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return and Sarah shall have a son.” ₁₀And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ₁₁though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call— ₁₂she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ₁₃As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

Matthew 14:13–21

         ₁₃Now when Jesus heard [about the death of John], he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. ₁₄When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. ₁₅Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” ₁₆But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” ₁₇They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” ₁₈And he said, “Bring them here to me.” ₁₉Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ₂₀And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. ₂₁And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.