a thread opens
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If you are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
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.
And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
from Matthew 4:3
But they rebelled, and troubled his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
from Psalms 78:17
And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.
from Isaiah 63:10
a thread opens
Then Moses said to Aaron, This is it that the LORD spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.
from Leviticus 10:3
And you shall not let any of your seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.
from Leviticus 21:6 · a strong link
Neither shall you profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you,
from Leviticus 18:21
You shall sanctify him therefore; for he offers the bread of your God: he shall be holy to you: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.
from Leviticus 22:32
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy: for I am the LORD your God.
from Leviticus 21:8
According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, so that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
from Leviticus 20:7
a thread opens
Now to him that is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
from Jude 1:24
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Whom we preach, admonishing everyone, and teaching everyone in all wisdom; that we may present everyone mature in Christ Jesus:
from Ephesians 5:27
And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
from Colossians 1:28
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
from Jeremiah 3:15 · a strong link
a thread opens
Woe to them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
from Jude 1:11
And now, look, I go to my people: come therefore, and I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.
O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Acacia to Gilgal; that you may know the righteousness of the LORD.
from Numbers 24:14
And Israel remained in Acacia, and the people began to commit prostitution with the daughters of Moab.
from Micah 6:5 · a strong link
a thread opens
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
from Luke 2:14
And the angel of the LORD said to him, Why do you ask thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
from Isaiah 9:6 · a strong link
And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, please, your name. And he said, Why is it that you do ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
from Judges 13:18
a thread opens
And shall not God give justice to his own elect, which cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them?
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies.
from Luke 18:7
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
from Romans 8:33
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
from Romans 8:1 · a strong link
And into whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
from Romans 5:1
And thus shall you say to him that lives in prosperity, Peace be both to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.
from Luke 10:5
And when you come into a house, greet it.
from I Samuel 25:6
a thread opens
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Whom have I in heaven but you? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside you.
from Luke 14:26 · a strong link
Because your loving devotion is better than life, my lips shall praise you.
from Psalms 73:25 · a strong link
For his anger endures but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
from Psalms 63:3
And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
from Psalms 30:5
Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its offices.
from Isaiah 38:3
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 4:3 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