The Vigil

from Matthew 12:48

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.

a thread opens

Matthew 12:48

But he answered him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brothers?

Deuteronomy 33:9

Who said to his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brothers, nor knew his own children: for they have observed your word, and kept your covenant.

from Matthew 12:48

Galatians 1:10

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

from Deuteronomy 33:9

II Peter 3:14

Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

from II Corinthians 5:9

Philippians 1:10

That you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ;

from II Peter 3:14


a thread opens

I Corinthians 8:4

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.

I Corinthians 8:6

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

from I Timothy 2:5 · a strong link

Malachi 2:10

Have we not all one father? has not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

from I Corinthians 8:6 · a strong link

Jeremiah 9:4

Take heed every one of his neighbor, and do not trust in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will walk with slanders.

from Malachi 2:10


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I John 3:16

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.

Romans 5:8

But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

from I John 3:16 · a strong link

Romans 4:25

Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

from Romans 5:8 · a strong link

Matthew 20:28

Even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

from Romans 4:25


a thread opens

I John 2:27

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.

I Corinthians 2:13

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

from I John 2:27

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

from I Corinthians 2:13

Ephesians 5:19

Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

from Colossians 3:16 · a strong link

I Corinthians 14:26

How is it then, brothers? when you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to building up.

from Ephesians 5:19 · a strong link

Ephesians 4:16

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the effective working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body to the building up of itself in love.

from I Corinthians 14:26


a thread opens

I Corinthians 12:28

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.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey your leaders, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

from I Corinthians 12:28 · a strong link

I Peter 5:2

Shepherd the flock of God among you, taking its oversight, not by constraint, but willingly; not for dishonest gain, but of a ready mind;

from Hebrews 13:17 · a strong link

Revelation of John 18:12

The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of bronze, and iron, and marble,

from I Peter 5:2

Revelation of John 17:4

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and obscenity of her sexual immorality:

from Revelation of John 18:12

Jeremiah 51:7

Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

from Revelation of John 17:4 · a strong link


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I Chronicles 29:17

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.

II Chronicles 31:20

And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and worked that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

from Psalms 119:1


a thread opens

I Corinthians 5:7

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:

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

from John 1:36 · a strong link

Revelation of John 21:9

And there came to me one of the seven angels which had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

from John 1:29

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 12:48 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