Philippians 2:1-13

New International Version

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,^(A) if any tenderness and compassion,^(B) ²then make my joy complete^(C) by being like-minded,^(D) having the same love, being one^(E) in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.^(F) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,^(G) ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.^(H)

⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:^(I)

⁶Who, being in very nature^[a] God,^(J)
    did not consider equality with God^(K) something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷rather, he made himself nothing^(L)
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,^(M)
    being made in human likeness.^(N)
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death^(O)—
        even death on a cross!^(P)

⁹Therefore God exalted him^(Q) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,^(R)
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,^(S)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,^(T)
¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,^(U)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,^(V) ¹³for it is God who works in you^(W) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.^(X)

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Footnotes

Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
Philippians 2:7 Or the form

Matthew 21:23-32

New International Version

The Authority of Jesus Questioned^(A)

²³Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority^(B) are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

²⁴Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ²⁵John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ²⁶But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”^(C)

²⁷So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

²⁸“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’^(D)

²⁹“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

³⁰“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

³¹“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors^(E) and the prostitutes^(F) are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³²For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,^(G) and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors^(H) and the prostitutes^(I) did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent^(J) and believe him.