a thread opens
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said to them, Do business till I come.
The Vigil
Today’s scroll, one verse at a time — each linked to the last by the cross-references rather than by any model of you. The same vigil for everyone, and a different one tomorrow.
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods.
from Luke 19:13
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it all around, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to farmers, and went into a far country:
from Matthew 25:14 · a strong link
And he began to speak to them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and dug a pit for the winepress, and built a tower, and let it out to farmers, and went into a far country.
from Matthew 21:33
And he said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
from Mark 12:1
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not you judge them that are within?
from Mark 4:11
a thread opens
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
Thus says the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
from I Corinthians 8:4
Listen to me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
from Isaiah 44:6 · a strong link
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
from Isaiah 48:12
And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely.
from Revelation of John 22:13 · a strong link
a thread opens
By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
from I John 3:16
No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
from John 10:15
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
from John 1:18
a thread opens
But the anointing which you have received of him remains in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall remain in him.
For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which is at work also in you that believe.
from I John 2:27
And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
from I Thessalonians 2:13
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
from I John 3:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
from Colossians 1:5
Now to him that is able to do immeasurably more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
from I Peter 1:3
My Father, who gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
from Ephesians 3:20 · a strong link
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And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, varieties of tongues.
Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
from I Corinthians 12:28
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is after godliness;
from Ephesians 3:5
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God perhaps will give them repentance to the knowledge of the truth;
from Titus 1:1
But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that you might be saved.
from II Timothy 2:25
But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.
from John 5:34
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I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and says of him, Look, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
from I Chronicles 29:17
Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed;
from John 1:47
For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
from John 8:31
If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
from John 6:55
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Clean out therefore the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is mute, so he opens not his mouth.
from I Corinthians 5:7
And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
from Isaiah 53:7
But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered him, I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you be the Christ, the Son of God.
from Matthew 27:12 · a strong link
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Luke 19:13 along this chain. Today’s own vigil is laid separately.
Each verse follows the one before it along the chain a study Bible draws — a century old, public, and compiled by people arguing about Scripture rather than about how long you stay. Every card says which verse it came from and opens the chapter it belongs to. Today’s vigil is the same for every reader and is worked out from the date alone, so there is no account, no counter, and nothing stored in your browser or ours.
The text is the Lantern Modern Standard. The links are openbible.info’s cross-reference set (CC BY), the same apparatus behind the reader’s Echoes drawer. Read a whole book · Today’s table