Matthew 22:15-33
[15]
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.
[16] And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians,
saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God
truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not
swayed by appearances. [17] Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful
to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” [18] But Jesus, aware of their malice,
said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? [19] Show me the coin for
the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. [20] And Jesus said to them,
“Whose likeness and inscription is this?” [21] They said, “Caesar’s.”
Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are
Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” [22] When they heard
it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
[23]
The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no
resurrection, and they asked him a question, [24] saying, “Teacher,
Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry
the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ [25] Now there were
seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no
offspring left his wife to his brother. [26] So too the second and
third, down to the seventh. [27] After them all, the woman died. [28] In
the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For
they all had her.”
[29]
But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the
Scriptures nor the power of God. [30] For in the resurrection they
neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
[31] And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was
said to you by God: [32] ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the
living.” [33] And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his
teaching.
Romans 3
[1]
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
[2] Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the
oracles of God. [3] What if some were unfaithful? Does their
faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? [4] By no means! Let God
be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,
“That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you are judged.”
[5] But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of
God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us?
(I speak in a human way.) [6] By no means! For then how could God judge
the world? [7] But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory,
why am I still being condemned as a sinner? [8] And why not do evil that
good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their
condemnation is just.
[9]
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have
already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, [10] as
it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
[11] no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
[12] All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
[13] “Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
[14] “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
[15] “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
[16] in their paths are ruin and misery,
[17] and the way of peace they have not known.”
[18] “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
[19] Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who
are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole
world may be held accountable to God. [20] For by works of the law no
human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes
knowledge of sin.
[21]
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the
law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—[22] the
righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
For there is no distinction: [23] for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a
propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show
God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed
over former sins. [26] It was to show his righteousness at the present
time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has
faith in Jesus.
[27]
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law?
By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. [28] For we hold that
one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. [29] Or is God
the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of
Gentiles also, [30] since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by
faith and the uncircumcised through faith. [31] Do we then overthrow
the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Psalm 51
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
[1] Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
[2] Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
[3] For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
[4] Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
[5] Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
[6] Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
[7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
[8] Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
[9] Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
[10] Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
[11] Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
[12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
[13] Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
[14] Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
[15] O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
[16] For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
[17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
[18] Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
[19] then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Numbers 7
[1]
On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had
anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed
and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, [2] the chiefs of
Israel, heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the chiefs of the
tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached [3] and brought
their offerings before the LORD, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for
every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them
before the tabernacle. [4] Then the LORD said to Moses, [5] “Accept
these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of
meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his
service.” [6] So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the
Levites. [7] Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon,
according to their service. [8] And four wagons and eight oxen he gave
to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction
of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. [9] But to the sons of Kohath he
gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy
things that had to be carried on the shoulder. [10] And the chiefs
offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was
anointed; and the chiefs offered their offering before the altar. [11]
And the LORD said to Moses, “They shall offer their offerings, one chief
each day, for the dedication of the altar.”
[12]
He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of
Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. [13] And his offering was one silver
plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels,
according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine
flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; [14] one golden dish of 10
shekels, full of incense; [15] one bull from the herd, one ram, one male
lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; [16] one male goat for a sin
offering; [17] and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five
rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the
offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
[18]
On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, the chief of Issachar, made
an offering. [19] He offered for his offering one silver plate whose
weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the
shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil
for a grain offering; [20] one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of
incense; [21] one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old,
for a burnt offering; [22] one male goat for a sin offering; [23] and
for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male
goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel
the son of Zuar.
[24]
On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, the chief of the people of
Zebulun: [25] his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130
shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the
sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain
offering; [26] one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; [27] one
bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt
offering; [28] one male goat for a sin offering; [29] and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and
five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of
Helon.
[30]
On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, the chief of the people of
Reuben: [31] his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130
shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the
sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain
offering; [32] one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; [33] one
bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt
offering; [34] one male goat for a sin offering; [35] and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and
five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of
Shedeur.
[36]
On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, the chief of the
people of Simeon: [37] his offering was one silver plate whose weight
was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel
of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a
grain offering; [38] one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
[39] one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a
burnt offering; [40] one male goat for a sin offering; [41] and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and
five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son
of Zurishaddai.
[42]
On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, the chief of the people of
Gad: [43] his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130
shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the
sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain
offering; [44] one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; [45] one
bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt
offering; [46] one male goat for a sin offering; [47] and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and
five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of
Deuel.
[48]
On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, the chief of the people
of Ephraim: [49] his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130
shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the
sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain
offering; [50] one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; [51] one
bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt
offering; [52] one male goat for a sin offering; [53] and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and
five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of
Ammihud.
[54]
On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, the chief of the people
of Manasseh: [55] his offering was one silver plate whose weight was
130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of
the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a
grain offering; [56] one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
[57] one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a
burnt offering; [58] one male goat for a sin offering; [59] and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and
five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of
Pedahzur.
[60]
On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, the chief of the people of
Benjamin: [61] his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130
shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the
sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain
offering; [62] one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; [63] one
bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt
offering; [64] one male goat for a sin offering; [65] and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and
five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of
Gideoni.
[66]
On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, the chief of the
people of Dan: [67] his offering was one silver plate whose weight was
130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of
the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a
grain offering; [68] one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
[69] one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a
burnt offering; [70] one male goat for a sin offering; [71] and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and
five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of
Ammishaddai.
[72]
On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, the chief of the people
of Asher: [73] his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130
shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the
sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain
offering; [74] one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; [75] one
bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt
offering; [76] one male goat for a sin offering; [77] and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and
five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of
Ochran.
[78]
On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, the chief of the people of
Naphtali: [79] his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130
shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the
sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain
offering; [80] one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; [81] one
bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt
offering; [82] one male goat for a sin offering; [83] and for the
sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and
five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of
Enan.
[84]
This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was
anointed, from the chiefs of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver
basins, twelve golden dishes, [85] each silver plate weighing 130
shekels and each basin 70, all the silver of the vessels 2,400 shekels
according to the shekel of the sanctuary, [86] the twelve golden dishes,
full of incense, weighing 10 shekels apiece according to the shekel of
the sanctuary, all the gold of the dishes being 120 shekels; [87] all
the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve male
lambs a year old, with their grain offering; and twelve male goats for a
sin offering; [88] and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace
offerings twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the
male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication offering for the
altar after it was anointed.
[89]
And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he
heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on
the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to
him.
Numbers 8
[1]
Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to Aaron and say to
him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in
front of the lampstand.” [3] And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in
front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses. [4] And this was
the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base
to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the
LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.
[5]
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [6] “Take the Levites from among
the people of Israel and cleanse them. [7] Thus you shall do to them to
cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification upon them, and let them
go with a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and cleanse
themselves. [8] Then let them take a bull from the herd and its grain
offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another bull
from the herd for a sin offering. [9] And you shall bring the Levites
before the tent of meeting and assemble the whole congregation of the
people of Israel. [10] When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the
people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, [11] and Aaron
shall offer the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the
people of Israel, that they may do the service of the LORD.
[12]
Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and
you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt
offering to the LORD to make atonement for the Levites. [13] And you
shall set the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and shall offer them as
a wave offering to the LORD.
[14]
“Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel,
and the Levites shall be mine. [15] And after that the Levites shall go
in to serve at the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed them and
offered them as a wave offering. [16] For they are wholly given to me
from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the womb, the
firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself.
[17] For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of
man and of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself, [18] and I have taken the
Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel. [19]
And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among
the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the
tent of meeting and to make atonement for the people of Israel, that
there may be no plague among the people of Israel when the people of
Israel come near the sanctuary.”
[20]
Thus did Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the people of
Israel to the Levites. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses
concerning the Levites, the people of Israel did to them. [21] And the
Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, and Aaron
offered them as a wave offering before the LORD, and Aaron made
atonement for them to cleanse them. [22] And after that the Levites went
in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and his
sons; as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they
did to them.
[23]
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [24] “This applies to the Levites:
from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the
service of the tent of meeting. [25] And from the age of fifty years
they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more. [26]
They minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping
guard, but they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in
assigning their duties.”
