The Vigil

from Matthew 21:16

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 21:16

And said to him, Do you hear what these say? And Jesus said to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise?

Matthew 12:3

But he said to them, Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him;

from Matthew 21:16

I Samuel 21:3

Now therefore what is under your hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or what there is present.

from Matthew 12:3 · a strong link

Judges 9:29

And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase your army, and come out.

from I Samuel 21:3

II Samuel 15:4

Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!

from Judges 9:29

Luke 14:8

When you are invited by anyone to a wedding, do not sit down in the place of honor; lest a more honorable man than you have been invited by him;

from II Samuel 15:4


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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.

Deuteronomy 4:39

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

Isaiah 44:8

Fear not, neither be afraid: have not I told you from that time, and have declared it? you are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yes, there is no God; I know not any.

from Deuteronomy 4:35


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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 16:4

Who have for my life laid down their own necks: to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

from I John 3:16

Micah 2:3

Therefore thus says the LORD; Look, against this family do I devise an evil, from which you shall not remove your necks; neither shall you go haughtily: for this time is evil.

from Romans 16:4

Lamentations 2:17

The LORD has done that which he had devised; he has fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he has thrown down, and has not pitied: and he has caused your enemy to rejoice over you, he has set up the horn of your adversaries.

from Micah 2:3


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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 Thessalonians 2:13

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

Acts 10:33

Immediately therefore I sent to you; and you have well done that you have come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded you of God.

from I Thessalonians 2:13

Acts 17:11

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

from Acts 10:33

Isaiah 34:16

Seek you out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it has commanded, and his spirit it has gathered them.

from Acts 17:11

Isaiah 58:14

Then shall you delight yourself in the LORD; and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.

from Isaiah 34:16

Job 22:26

For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God.

from Isaiah 58:14 · a strong link


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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 10:36

For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.

from II Timothy 2:6

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore seeing we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

from Hebrews 10:36 · a strong link

Ephesians 4:22

That you put off your old self, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

from Hebrews 12:1 · 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.

I Chronicles 28:9

And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.

from I Chronicles 29:17 · a strong link

Titus 2:11

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

from Acts 17:30 · a strong link

Mark 16:15

And he said to them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

from Titus 2:11


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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:

Mark 14:12

And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover, his disciples said to him, Where will you that we go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?

from I Corinthians 5:7

Deuteronomy 16:1

Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the LORD your God: for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you forth out of Egypt by night.

from Mark 14:12

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 21:16 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