a thread opens
But whoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe in me to sin, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
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.
Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, That in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father in heaven.
from Matthew 18:6
He therefore that despises, despises not man, but God, who has also given to us his holy Spirit.
from Matthew 18:10
And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.
from I Thessalonians 4:8 · a strong link
If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you.
from I John 3:24
But is under guardians and managers until the time appointed of the father.
from John 15:7
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.
Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
from I Corinthians 8:4
To you it was shown, so that you might know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
from Deuteronomy 4:39 · a strong link
For thus says the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he has established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
from Deuteronomy 4:35 · a strong link
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping creature that creeps upon the earth.
from Isaiah 45:18
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
Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, struck of God, and afflicted.
from John 10:15
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, He took our weaknesses, and bore our sicknesses.
from Isaiah 53:4 · a strong link
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 the truth’s sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us for ever.
from I John 2:27
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
from II John 1:2
For there is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not.
from I John 1:8
If they sin against you, (for there is no man who sins not,) and you be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives to a land far off or near;
from Ecclesiastes 7:20 · a strong link
What is man, so that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, so that he should be righteous?
from II Chronicles 6:36
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
from Job 15:14 · a strong link
a thread opens
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.
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
Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.
from Hebrews 13:17
But he gives more grace. Therefore he said, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
from I Peter 5:5 · a strong link
A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.
from James 4:6
For all those things has my hand made, and all those things have been, says the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.
from Proverbs 29:23 · a strong link
a thread opens
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.
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conduct in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
from I Chronicles 29:17
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.
from II Corinthians 1:12
Now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of sincere faith:
from Acts 24:16
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith,
from I Timothy 1:5
a thread opens
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:
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
from I Corinthians 5:7
But cursed be the deceiver, which has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the pagans.
from Exodus 12:5
And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
from Malachi 1:14
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 18:6 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