whores

¹Therefore, as most beloved sons, be imitators of God. ²And walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and delivered himself for us, as an oblation and a sacrifice to God, with a fragrance of sweetness. ³But let not any kind of fornication, or impurity, or rapacity so much as be named among you, just as is worthy of the saints, ⁴nor any indecent, or foolish, or abusive talk, for this is without purpose; but instead, give thanks. ⁵For know and understand this: no one who is a fornicator, or lustful, or rapacious (for these are a kind of service to idols) holds an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶Let no one seduce you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God was sent upon the sons of unbelief.

¹And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ²“Son of man, two women were daughters of one mother, ³and they fornicated in Egypt; they committed fornication in their youth. In that place, their breasts were conquered; the breasts of their adolescence were subdued. ⁴Now their names were Oholah, the elder, and Oholibah, her younger sister. And I held them, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names: Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. ⁵And then, Oholah committed fornication against me, and she acted madly with her lovers, with the Assyrians who approached her, ⁶who were clothed with hyacinth: rulers and magistrates, passionate youths and all of the horsemen, mounted on horses.

⁵So may she guard you from the woman who is an outsider, and from the stranger who sweetens her words. ⁶For I gaze from the window of my house, through the lattice, ⁷and I see little ones. I consider a frenzied youth, ⁸who crosses the street at the corner and close to the way of that house. ⁹He steps into shadows, as day becomes evening, into the darkness and gloom of the night. ¹⁰And behold, a woman meets him, dressed like a harlot, prepared to captivate souls: chattering and rambling,

¹⁷So then, every good tree produces good fruit, and the evil tree produces evil fruit. ¹⁸A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, and an evil tree is not able to produce good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree which does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire. ²⁰Therefore, by their fruits you will know them. ²¹Not all who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. ²²Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and perform many powerful deeds in your name?’

¹²And because iniquity has abounded, the charity of many will grow cold.

⁴³where their worm does not die, and the fire is not extinguished. ⁴⁴But if your foot causes you to sin, chop it off: it is better for you to enter into eternal life lame, than having two feet to be cast into the Hell of unquenchable fire, ⁴⁵where their worm does not die, and the fire is not extinguished.

¹The just man perishes, and there is no one who acknowledges it in his heart; and men of mercy are taken away, for there is no one who understands. For the just man has been taken away before the face of malice. ²Let peace arrive. Let he who has walked in his righteousness find rest on his bed. ³But come here, you sons of the prophetess, you offspring of an adulterous man and a fornicating woman. ⁴Whom are you mocking? Against whom have you opened your mouth wide and wagged your tongue? Are you not sons of wickedness, a lying offspring, ⁵who are being consoled by idols under every leafy tree, immolating little children at the torrents, under the high rocks? ⁶Your portion is in the currents of the torrent; this is your lot! And you yourselves have poured out libations to them; you have offered sacrifice. Should I not be angry over these things?

²“Thus says the Lord: Stand in the atrium of the house of the Lord, and speak to all the cities of Judah, from which they come to adore in the house of the Lord, all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not choose to subtract any word.

¹Let every soul be subject to higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those who have been ordained by God. ²And so, whoever resists authority, resists what has been ordained by God. And those who resist are acquiring damnation for themselves. ³For leaders are not a source of fear to those who work good, but to those who work evil. And would you prefer not to be afraid of authority? Then do what is good, and you shall have praise from them. ⁴For he is a minister of God for you unto good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid. For it is not without reason that he carries a sword. For he is a minister of God; an avenger to execute wrath upon whomever does evil. ⁵For this reason, it is necessary to be subject, not solely because of wrath, but also because of conscience. ⁶Therefore, you must also offer tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving him in this.

⁴For they have destroyed the things that you have completed. But what has the just one done?

¹Therefore, interrupting an explanation of the basics of Christ, let us consider what is more advanced, not presenting again the fundamentals of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,