The Vigil

from Matthew 5:45

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 5:45

That you may be the children of your Father in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

from Matthew 5:9 · a strong link

Romans 9:8

That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

from Romans 8:14


a thread opens

Leviticus 10:3

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.

II Samuel 16:10

And the king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Why have you done so?

from Psalms 39:9

II Samuel 19:22

And David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

from II Samuel 16:10 · a strong link

I Samuel 11:13

And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.

from II Samuel 19:22 · a strong link

I Samuel 19:5

For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel: you saw it, and did rejoice: why then will you sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

from I Samuel 11:13 · a strong link

Judges 9:17

(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

from I Samuel 19:5


a thread opens

Jude 1:24

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,

II Timothy 4:18

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

from Jude 1:24

Matthew 13:43

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.

from II Timothy 4:18

Matthew 25:34

Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

from Matthew 13:43

Galatians 5:21

Envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and such like: of which I tell you before, as I have also told you formerly, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

from Matthew 25:34

Romans 2:8

But to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

from Galatians 5:21


a thread opens

Jude 1:11

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.

I John 3:12

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And why he slew him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

from Jude 1:11 · a strong link

Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaks.

from I John 3:12 · a strong link

Genesis 4:10

And he said, What have you done? the voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.

from Hebrews 11:4 · a strong link

Psalms 72:14

He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

from Genesis 4:10 · a strong link


a thread opens

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 19:38

Saying, Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

from Luke 2:14 · a strong link

Psalms 72:17

His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

from Luke 19:38


a thread opens

Luke 18:7

And shall not God give justice to his own elect, which cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them?

I Timothy 5:5

Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusts in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

from Luke 18:7

Luke 2:37

And she was a widow of about eighty and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

from I Timothy 5:5 · a strong link

Acts 14:23

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

from Luke 2:37

I Peter 5:1

The elders among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

from Acts 14:23

Romans 8:17

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if perhaps we suffer with him, so that we may be also glorified together.

from I Peter 5:1

I Peter 4:13

But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.

from Romans 8:17


a thread opens

Luke 14:26

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.

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 Luke 14:26

Genesis 29:32

And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD has looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

from Deuteronomy 33:9

Exodus 4:31

And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

from Genesis 29:32 · a strong link

Exodus 3:16

Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

from Exodus 4:31

Ruth 1:6

Then she arose with her daughters in law, so that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

from Exodus 3:16

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 5:45 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