Martyr Paramon and Companions; Our Holy Father Pitirim of Egypt (4th c.); Our Righteous Father Nicholas, Archbishop of Thessolonica

But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, ¹²having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. ¹³Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. ¹⁴I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting. ¹⁵For already some have turned away after Satan. ¹⁶If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened, that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.

¹⁷Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. ¹⁸For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

¹⁹Don’t receive an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses. ²⁰Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. ²¹I command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.

He entered into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, ⁴⁶saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of robbers’!”

⁴⁷He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests, the scribes, and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him. ⁴⁸They couldn’t find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.