COMMENTARY

Old Testament: Jeremiah 17:5-10
The heart of a human determines good or bad conduct. Biblical scholars are not agreed whether this pericope is by Jeremiah because the material is wisdom rather than prophetic literature. Corresponding to the Gospel lesson, the passage gives the woes (curses) and beatitudes (blessed) of those who do or do not trust Yahweh. It is a contrast of the shrub in the desert and the tree by the riverside. Verses 8-10 consist of a proverb with theological interpretation. They provide a basis for self-understanding dealing with the nature of the human heart.

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
This is the second of four pericopes from 1 Corinthians. Last Sunday the Lesson ended with verse 11, and today we continue with verse 12. Paul in this passage writes th…