Feb.17

1 "If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;

2 or if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean wild animal or a carcass of unclean livestock or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him and he has become unclean, and he realizes his guilt;

3 or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt;

4 or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these;

5 when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed,

6 he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.

7 "But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.

8 He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering. He shall wring its head from its neck but shall not sever it completely,

9 and he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering.

10 Then he shall offer the second for a burnt offering according to the rule. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.

11 "But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for the sin that he has committed a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it and shall put no frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.

12 And he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take a handful of it as its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, on the LORD's food offerings; it is a sin offering.

13 Thus the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed in any one of these things, and he shall be forgiven. And the remainder shall be for the priest, as in the grain offering."

14 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

15 "If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the LORD, he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued in silver shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering.

16 He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.

17 "If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity.

18 He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven.

19 It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the LORD." - Leviticus 5

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor

3 or has found something lost and lied about it, swearing falsely-in any of all the things that people do and sin thereby-

4 if he has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found

5 or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt.

6 And he shall bring to the priest as his compensation to the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering.

7 And the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he shall be forgiven for any of the things that one may do and thereby become guilty."

8 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

9 "Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.

10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen undergarment on his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar.

11 Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.

12 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.

13 Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.

14 "And this is the law of the grain offering. The sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD in front of the altar.

15 And one shall take from it a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering and its oil and all the frankincense that is on the grain offering and burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

16 And the rest of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten unleavened in a holy place. In the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it.

17 It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their portion of my food offerings. It is a thing most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering.

18 Every male among the children of Aaron may eat of it, as decreed forever throughout your generations, from the LORD's food offerings. Whatever touches them shall become holy."

19 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

20 "This is the offering that Aaron and his sons shall offer to the LORD on the day when he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening.

21 It shall be made with oil on a griddle. You shall bring it well mixed, in baked pieces like a grain offering, and offer it for a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

22 The priest from among Aaron's sons, who is anointed to succeed him, shall offer it to the LORD as decreed forever. The whole of it shall be burned.

23 Every grain offering of a priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be eaten."

24 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

25 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering. In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD; it is most holy.

26 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. In a holy place it shall be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.

27 Whatever touches its flesh shall be holy, and when any of its blood is splashed on a garment, you shall wash that on which it was splashed in a holy place.

28 And the earthenware vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken. But if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, that shall be scoured and rinsed in water.

29 Every male among the priests may eat of it; it is most holy.

30 But no sin offering shall be eaten from which any blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place; it shall be burned up with fire. - Leviticus 6

1 "This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy.

2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the guilt offering, and its blood shall be thrown against the sides of the altar.

3 And all its fat shall be offered, the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails,

4 the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys.

5 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering to the LORD; it is a guilt offering.

6 Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy.

7 The guilt offering is just like the sin offering; there is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with it shall have it.

8 And the priest who offers any man's burnt offering shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering that he has offered.

9 And every grain offering baked in the oven and all that is prepared on a pan or a griddle shall belong to the priest who offers it.

10 And every grain offering, mixed with oil or dry, shall be shared equally among all the sons of Aaron.

11 "And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the LORD.

12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour well mixed with oil.

13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread.

14 And from it he shall offer one loaf from each offering, as a gift to the LORD. It shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings.

15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning.

16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten.

17 But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire.

18 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.

19 "Flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned up with fire. All who are clean may eat flesh,

20 but the person who eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of the LORD's peace offerings while an uncleanness is on him, that person shall be cut off from his people.

21 And if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether human uncleanness or an unclean beast or any unclean detestable creature, and then eats some flesh from the sacrifice of the LORD's peace offerings, that person shall be cut off from his people."

22 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

23 "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, You shall eat no fat, of ox or sheep or goat.

24 The fat of an animal that dies of itself and the fat of one that is torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but on no account shall you eat it.

25 For every person who eats of the fat of an animal of which a food offering may be made to the LORD shall be cut off from his people.

26 Moreover, you shall eat no blood whatever, whether of fowl or of animal, in any of your dwelling places.

27 Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people."

28 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

29 "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the LORD shall bring his offering to the LORD from the sacrifice of his peace offerings.

30 His own hands shall bring the LORD's food offerings. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the LORD.

31 The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons.

32 And the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifice of your peace offerings.

33 Whoever among the sons of Aaron offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat shall have the right thigh for a portion.

34 For the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed I have taken from the people of Israel, out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons, as a perpetual due from the people of Israel.

35 This is the portion of Aaron and of his sons from the LORD's food offerings, from the day they were presented to serve as priests of the LORD.

36 The LORD commanded this to be given them by the people of Israel, from the day that he anointed them. It is a perpetual due throughout their generations."

37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the ordination offering, and of the peace offering,

38 which the LORD commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, on the day that he commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai. - Leviticus 7

1 I said, "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence." 

2 I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. 

3 My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: 

4 "O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! 

5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah 

6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! 

7 "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. 

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool! 

9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it. 

10 Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of your hand. 

11 When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah 

12 "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. 

13 Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!"  - Psalms 39

1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.

2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 

3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.

4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.

5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.

8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him."

9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 

11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,

12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.

13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.

14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,

15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.

18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia-

19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me.

20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,

21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: 'It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.'"

22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case."

23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, "Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you."

26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.

27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. - Acts 24

14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him,

15 said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.

16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him."

17 And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me."

18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"

20 He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

22 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men,

23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed.

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?"

25 He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?"

26 And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free.

27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself." - Matthew 17:14-27

Jesus Sees Right Through the Darkness

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea…”... 

(Mark 6:47-48)

 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A miracle occurred that day, and more than 5,000 people witnessed it. With no more than five small loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus prayed over it and instructed His disciples to begin dividing it among the crowd. Not only did everyone have enough to eat, but the Bible also records the leftovers amounted to twelve baskets full. What a day—to have seen that!

As the day drew to an end, Jesus sent His disciples on ahead in the boat while He withdrew to spend time alone with His Father in prayer. The disciples were way out in the Sea of Galilee. But He saw them toiling and rowing in the midst of a storm. He was never unaware of where they were or what they were experiencing.

Are you in the midst of a storm? Do you know He sees you right now? You say, “He doesn’t know where I am. He doesn’t know this difficulty. Why is He so far away? Why am I in the storm, and He is on the shore?” Friend, He is there, and He’s praying for you. He sees right through the dark. You can’t see Him, but He sees you.

ACTION POINT:

My advice for you in the midst of your storm is to see Jesus, the great I AM, and see Him walking on the water. That situation that looks like it’s going to be over your head is already under His feet. You’re seated in the heavenlies with Him. And you can’t drown with your head above water. He is the great I AM. You can put it down: you are guarded by His power.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When Obedience Feels Impossible

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. (Hebrews 11:17)

For many of you right now — and for others of you the time is coming — obedience feels like the end of a dream. You feel that if you do what the word of God or the Spirit of God is calling you to do, it will make you miserable and that there is no way that God could turn it all for good.

Perhaps the command or call of God you hear just now is to stay married or stay single, to stay in that job or leave that job, to get baptized, to speak up at work about Christ, to refuse to compromise your standards of honesty, to confront a person in sin, to venture a new vocation, to be a missionary. And as you see it in your limited mind, the prospect of doing this is terrible — it’s like the loss of Isaac, the only son who can be an heir.

You have considered every human angle, and it is impossible that it could turn out well.

Now you know what it was like for Abraham. This story is in the Bible for you.

Do you desire God and his way and his promises more than anything, and do you believe that he can and will honor your faith and obedience by being unashamed to call himself your God, and to use all his wisdom and power and love to turn the path of obedience into the path of life and joy?

That is the crisis you face now: Do you desire him? Will you trust him? The word of God to you is: God is worthy and God is able.

John Piper 

Feb.16

1 The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying,

2 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.

3 "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD.

4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

5 Then he shall kill the bull before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

6 Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces,

7 and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.

8 And Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar;

9 but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

10 "If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he shall bring a male without blemish,

11 and he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar.

12 And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar,

13 but the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

14 "If his offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or pigeons.

15 And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.

16 He shall remove its crop with its contents and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes.

17 He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it completely. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. - Leviticus 1

1 "When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it

2 and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

3 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD's food offerings.

4 "When you bring a grain offering baked in the oven as an offering, it shall be unleavened loaves of fine flour mixed with oil or unleavened wafers smeared with oil.

5 And if your offering is a grain offering baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil.

6 You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.

7 And if your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.

8 And you shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the LORD, and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar.

9 And the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

10 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD's food offerings.

11 "No grain offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey as a food offering to the LORD.

12 As an offering of firstfruits you may bring them to the LORD, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing aroma.

13 You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.

14 "If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain.

15 And you shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering.

16 And the priest shall burn as its memorial portion some of the crushed grain and some of the oil with all of its frankincense; it is a food offering to the LORD. - Leviticus 2

1 "If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.

2 And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw the blood against the sides of the altar.

3 And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the LORD, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,

4 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys.

5 Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

6 "If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the LORD is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.

7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the LORD,

8 lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it in front of the tent of meeting; and Aaron's sons shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar.

9 Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering he shall offer as a food offering to the LORD its fat; he shall remove the whole fat tail, cut off close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails

10 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys.

11 And the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering to the LORD.

12 "If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD

13 and lay his hand on its head and kill it in front of the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar.

14 Then he shall offer from it, as his offering for a food offering to the LORD, the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails

15 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys.

16 And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the LORD's.

17 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood." - Leviticus 3

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the LORD's commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them,

3 if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the LORD for a sin offering.

4 He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD and lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull before the LORD.

5 And the anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it into the tent of meeting,

6 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle part of the blood seven times before the LORD in front of the veil of the sanctuary.

7 And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before the LORD that is in the tent of meeting, and all the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

8 And all the fat of the bull of the sin offering he shall remove from it, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails

9 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys

10 (just as these are taken from the ox of the sacrifice of the peace offerings); and the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.

11 But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung-

12 all the rest of the bull-he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, to the ash heap, and shall burn it up on a fire of wood. On the ash heap it shall be burned up.

13 "If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt,

14 when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting.

15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD, and the bull shall be killed before the LORD.

16 Then the anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the tent of meeting,

17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil.

18 And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is in the tent of meeting before the LORD, and the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

19 And all its fat he shall take from it and burn on the altar.

20 Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.

21 And he shall carry the bull outside the camp and burn it up as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly.

22 "When a leader sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by the commandments of the LORD his God ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt,

23 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish,

24 and shall lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD; it is a sin offering.

25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.

26 And all its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings. So the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin, and he shall be forgiven.

27 "If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt,

28 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.

29 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering.

30 And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.

31 And all its fat he shall remove, as the fat is removed from the peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma to the LORD. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.

32 "If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish

33 and lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.

34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.

35 And all its fat he shall remove as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on top of the LORD's food offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven. - Leviticus 4

1 O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! 

2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. 

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. 

4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. 

5 My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, 

6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. 

7 For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. 

8 I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. 

9 O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. 

10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes-it also has gone from me. 

11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off. 

12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long. 

13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth. 

14 I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes. 

15 But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer. 

16 For I said, "Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!" 

17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me. 

18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. 

19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. 

20 Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good. 

21 Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me! 

22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!  - Psalms 38

12 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.

14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.

15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near."

16 Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.

17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him."

18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, "Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you."

19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"

20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him.

21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent."

22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, "Tell no one that you have informed me of these things."

23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, "Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.

24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor."

25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26 "Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.

27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.

28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council.

29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.

30 And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him."

31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him.

33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.

34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia,

35 he said, "I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive." And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium. - Acts 23:12-35

1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

4 And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."

5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear."

8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

10 And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?"

11 He answered, "Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.

12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands."

13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. - Matthew 17:1-13

Why Are You Running From God?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You”... 

(Psalm 51:10-13)

 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The most miserable person on Earth is not an unsaved person, but someone who knows God, who has experienced salvation and what it means to have a relationship with Him, yet is out of fellowship with God. Stop and think about that. It is absolutely true.

If you are truly a child of God and out of fellowship with Him, I can state right now—you’re carrying a big burden. Now, if you’re not saved, you’re not carrying this burden at all. But if you’re truly saved and out of fellowship with God, that’s a different story completely.

When David got out of fellowship with God, he came to the point that he cried out to the Lord, “Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation.” He didn’t say, “Lord, restore unto me Your salvation,” but “restore unto me the joy of Your salvation.” He was miserable when he was running from God.

ACTION POINT:

Are you running from God? Or perhaps you know someone who is. Pray for restoration. Today’s passage is a good one to pray for them, inserting your name or their name into the verse, asking God to restore and renew them.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Every Calvary Step Was Love

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us. (1 John 3:16)

The love of Christ for us in his dying was as conscious as his suffering was intentional. If he was intentional in laying down his life, it was for us. It was love.

“When Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1).

Every step on the Calvary road meant, “I love you.”

Therefore, to feel the love of Christ in the laying down of his life, it helps to see how utterly intentional it was.

Look at what Jesus said just after that violent moment when Peter tried to cleave the skull of the servant, but only cut off his ear.

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matthew 26:52–54)

It is one thing to say that the details of Jesus’s death were predicted in the Old Testament. But it is much more to say that Jesus himself was making his choices precisely to see to it that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.

That is what Jesus said he was doing in Matthew 26:54. “I could escape this misery, but how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

In other words, I am not choosing to take the way out that I could take, because I know the Scriptures. I know what must take place for my people to be saved. It is my choice to fulfill all that is predicted of me in the word of God. It is my choice — every step of the way — to love my people to the uttermost. And I want them to feel this. And be utterly secure and free and radically different from the world.

John Piper 

Feb.15

I accidentally put today's reading on yesterday's post, sorry. 

1 Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them, "These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do.

2 Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.

3 You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day."

4 Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, "This is the thing that the LORD has commanded.

5 Take from among you a contribution to the LORD. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze;

6 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats' hair,

7 tanned rams' skins, and goatskins; acacia wood,

8 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,

9 and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.

10 "Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the LORD has commanded:

11 the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases;

12 the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil of the screen;

13 the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence;

14 the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light;

15 and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle;

16 the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand;

17 the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court;

18 the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords;

19 the finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests."

20 Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.

21 And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.

22 So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the LORD.

23 And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them.

24 Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD's contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it.

25 And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.

26 All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats' hair.

27 And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece,

28 and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

29 All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.

30 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;

31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship,

32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze,

33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft.

34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan.

35 He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver-by any sort of workman or skilled designer. - Exodus 35

1 "Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded."

2 And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.

3 And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning,

4 so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing,

5 and said to Moses, "The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do."

6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, "Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary." So the people were restrained from bringing,

7 for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

8 And all the craftsmen among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains. They were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns, with cherubim skillfully worked.

9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains were the same size.

10 He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.

11 He made loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain of the first set. Likewise he made them on the edge of the outermost curtain of the second set.

12 He made fifty loops on the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set. The loops were opposite one another.

13 And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to the other with clasps. So the tabernacle was a single whole.

14 He also made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle. He made eleven curtains.

15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains were the same size.

16 He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.

17 And he made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain of the one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the other connecting curtain.

18 And he made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together that it might be a single whole.

19 And he made for the tent a covering of tanned rams' skins and goatskins.

20 Then he made the upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood.

21 Ten cubits was the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame.

22 Each frame had two tenons for fitting together. He did this for all the frames of the tabernacle.

23 The frames for the tabernacle he made thus: twenty frames for the south side.

24 And he made forty bases of silver under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under the next frame for its two tenons.

25 For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty frames

26 and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame and two bases under the next frame.

27 For the rear of the tabernacle westward he made six frames.

28 He made two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear.

29 And they were separate beneath but joined at the top, at the first ring. He made two of them this way for the two corners.

30 There were eight frames with their bases of silver: sixteen bases, under every frame two bases.

31 He made bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle,

32 and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the tabernacle at the rear westward.

33 And he made the middle bar to run from end to end halfway up the frames.

34 And he overlaid the frames with gold, and made their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

35 He made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; with cherubim skillfully worked into it he made it.

36 And for it he made four pillars of acacia and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold, and he cast for them four bases of silver.

37 He also made a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework,

38 and its five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals, and their fillets were of gold, but their five bases were of bronze. - Exodus 36

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.

2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it.

3 And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side.

4 And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold

5 and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.

6 And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.

7 And he made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat,

8 one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends.

9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.

10 He also made the table of acacia wood. Two cubits was its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.

11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it.

12 And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and made a molding of gold around the rim.

13 He cast for it four rings of gold and fastened the rings to the four corners at its four legs.

14 Close to the frame were the rings, as holders for the poles to carry the table.

15 He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table, and overlaid them with gold.

16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings.

17 He also made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work. Its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers were of one piece with it.

18 And there were six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it;

19 three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch-so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.

20 And on the lampstand itself were four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers,

21 and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out of it.

22 Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole of it was a single piece of hammered work of pure gold.

23 And he made its seven lamps and its tongs and its trays of pure gold.

24 He made it and all its utensils out of a talent of pure gold.

25 He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit, and its breadth was a cubit. It was square, and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it.

26 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And he made a molding of gold around it,

27 and made two rings of gold on it under its molding, on two opposite sides of it, as holders for the poles with which to carry it.

28 And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

29 He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer. - Exodus 37

23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; 

24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. 

25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. 

26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. 

27 Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. 

28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 

29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. 

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. 

31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. 

32 The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. 

33 The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. 

34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. 

35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. 

36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. 

37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. 

38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. 

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 

40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.  - Psalm 37:23-40

1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day."

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?"

4 Those who stood by said, "Would you revile God's high priest?"

5 And Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"

6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial."

7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?"

10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.

11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome." - Acts 23:1-11

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."

23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." - Matthew 16:13-28