The Vigil

from Matthew 6:4

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 6:4

That your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward you openly.

Jeremiah 23:24

Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? says the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? says the LORD.

from Matthew 6:4

Isaiah 66:1

Thus says the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that you build to me? and where is the place of my rest?

from Jeremiah 23:24

Matthew 5:34

But I say to you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

from Isaiah 66:1 · a strong link


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.

Exodus 19:22

And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

from Leviticus 10:3

Exodus 24:5

And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD.

from Exodus 19:22

Exodus 18:12

And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

from Exodus 24:5

Genesis 31:54

Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brothers to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and stayed all night in the mount.

from Exodus 18:12

Genesis 37:25

And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and indeed, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

from Genesis 31:54

Jeremiah 8:22

Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

from Genesis 37:25


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,

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 Jude 1:24

James 1:2

My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations;

from I Peter 4:13 · a strong link

Philippians 1:29

For to you it is given for the sake of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

from James 1:2 · a strong link

Acts 14:22

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

from Philippians 1:29

Acts 15:32

And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brothers with many words, and confirmed them.

from Acts 14:22


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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.

Genesis 4:3

And in process of time it happened, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the LORD.

from Jude 1:11

Numbers 18:12

All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer to the LORD, them have I given you.

from Genesis 4:3

Deuteronomy 18:4

The firstfruit also of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, shall you give him.

from Numbers 18:12

Leviticus 23:17

You shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven; they are the firstfruits to the LORD.

from Deuteronomy 18:4


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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

Luke 13:35

Look, your house is left to you desolate: and truly I say to you, You shall not see me, until the time come when you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

from Luke 19:38 · a strong link

Psalms 118:26

Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

from Luke 13:35 · a strong link


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?

Matthew 5:12

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so they persecuted the prophets before you.

from Hebrews 10:35

Matthew 21:34

And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, so that they might receive the fruits of it.

from Matthew 5:12

Mark 12:2

And at the season he sent to the farmers a servant, so that he might receive from the farmers of the fruit of the vineyard.

from Matthew 21:34

Luke 20:10

And at the season he sent a servant to the farmers, so that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty.

from Mark 12:2

II Chronicles 36:15

And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up early, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

from Luke 20:10


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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.

Psalms 73:25

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

Philippians 3:8

Yes doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them as rubbish, so that I may win Christ,

from Psalms 73:25 · a strong link

II Peter 1:3

According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue:

from Philippians 3:8 · a strong link

Romans 14:9

To this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, so that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

from Matthew 28:18 · a strong link

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 6:4 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