EXODUS 28:1-43
MATTHEW 25:31-26:13
PSALM 31:9-18
PROVERBS 8:12-13
EXODUS 28:1-43
" Your [Moses'] brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, will be set apart from the common people. They will be my priests and will minister to me. 2 Make special clothing for Aaron to show his separation to God--beautiful garments that will lend dignity to his work. 3 Instruct all those who have special skills as tailors to make the garments that will set Aaron apart from everyone else, so he may serve me as a priest. 4 They are to make a chestpiece, an ephod, a robe, an embroidered tunic, a turban, and a sash. They will also make special garments for Aaron's sons to wear when they serve as priests before me. 5 These items must be made of fine linen cloth and embroidered with gold thread and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 6 " The ephod must be made of fine linen cloth and skillfully embroidered with gold thread and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 7 It will consist of two pieces, front and back, joined at the shoulders with two shoulder-pieces. 8 And the sash will be made of the same materials: fine linen cloth embroidered with gold thread and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 9 Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the tribes of Israel. 10 Six names will be on each stone, naming all the tribes in the order of their ancestors' births. 11 Engrave these names in the same way a gemcutter engraves a seal. Mount the stones in gold settings. 12 Fasten the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the people of Israel. Aaron will carry these names before the LORD as a constant reminder. 13 The settings are to be made of gold filigree, 14 and two cords made of pure gold will be attached to the settings on the shoulders of the ephod. 15 " Then, with the most careful workmanship, make a chestpiece that will be used to determine God's will. Use the same materials as you did for the ephod: fine linen cloth embroidered with gold thread and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 16 This chestpiece will be made of two folds of cloth, forming a pouch nine inches square. 17 Four rows of gemstones will be attached to it. The first row will contain a red carnelian, a chrysolite, and an emerald. 18 The second row will contain a turquoise, a sapphire, and a white moonstone. 19 The third row will contain a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. 20 The fourth row will contain a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. All these stones will be set in gold. 21 Each stone will represent one of the tribes of Israel, and the name of that tribe will be engraved on it as though it were a seal. 22 " To attach the chestpiece to the ephod, make braided cords of pure gold. 23 Then make two gold rings and attach them to the top corners of the chestpiece. 24 The two gold cords will go through the rings on the chestpiece, 25 and the ends of the cords will be tied to the gold settings on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. 26 Then make two more gold rings, and attach them to the two lower inside corners of the chestpiece next to the ephod. 27 And make two more gold rings and attach them to the ephod near the sash. 28 Then attach the bottom rings of the chestpiece to the rings on the ephod with blue cords. This will hold the chestpiece securely to the ephod above the beautiful sash. 29 In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the presence of the LORD in the Holy Place. Thus, the LORD will be reminded of his people continually. 30 Insert into the pocket of the chestpiece the Urim and Thummim, to be carried over Aaron's heart when he goes into the LORD's presence. Thus, Aaron will always carry the objects used to determine the LORD's will for his people whenever he goes in before the LORD. 31 " Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, 32 with an opening for Aaron's head in the middle of it. The opening will be reinforced by a woven collar so it will not tear. 33 Make pomegranates out of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attach them to the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. 34 The gold bells and pomegranates are to alternate all the way around the hem. 35 Aaron will wear this robe whenever he enters the Holy Place to minister to the LORD, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the LORD's presence. If he wears it, he will not die. 36 " Next make a medallion of pure gold. Using the techniques of an engraver, inscribe it with these words: SET APART AS HOLY TO THE LORD. 37 This medallion will be attached to the front of Aaron's turban by means of a blue cord. 38 Aaron will wear it on his forehead, thus bearing the guilt connected with any errors regarding the sacred offerings of the people of Israel. He must always wear it so the LORD will accept the people. 39 " Weave Aaron's patterned tunic from fine linen cloth. Fashion the turban out of this linen as well. Also make him an embroidered sash. 40 " Then for Aaron's sons, make tunics, sashes, and headdresses to give them dignity and respect. 41 Clothe Aaron and his sons with these garments, and then anoint and ordain them. Set them apart as holy so they can serve as my priests. 42 Also make linen underclothes for them, to be worn next to their bodies, reaching from waist to thigh. 43 These must be worn whenever Aaron and his sons enter the Tabernacle or approach the altar in the Holy Place to perform their duties. Thus they will not incur guilt and die. This law is permanent for Aaron and his descendants."
MATTHEW 25:31-26:13
" But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 Then the King will say to those on the right, ` Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' 37 " Then these righteous ones will reply, ` Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40 And the King will tell them, ` I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,* you were doing it to me!' 41 " Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ` Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! 42 For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' 44 " Then they will reply, ` Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?' 45 And he will answer, ` I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."26:1 WHEN Jesus had finished saying these things, he said to his disciples, 2 " As you know, the Passover celebration begins in two days, and I, the Son of Man, will be betrayed and crucified." 3 At that same time the leading priests and other leaders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4 to discuss how to capture Jesus secretly and put him to death. 5 " But not during the Passover," they agreed, " or there will be a riot." 6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had leprosy. 7 During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. 8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. " What a waste of money," they said. 9 " She could have sold it for a fortune and given the money to the poor." 10 But Jesus replied, " Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I assure you, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be talked about in her memory."
PSALM 31:9-18
Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress.
My sight is blurred because of my tears.
My body and soul are withering away.
10 I am dying from grief;
my years are shortened by sadness.
Misery has drained my strength;
I am wasting away from within.
11 I am scorned by all my enemies
and despised by my neighbors--
even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street,
they turn the other way.
12 I have been ignored as if I were dead,
as if I were a broken pot.
13 I have heard the many rumors about me,
and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me,
plotting to take my life.
14 But I am trusting you, O LORD,
saying, " You are my God!"
15 My future is in your hands.
Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
16 Let your favor shine on your servant.
In your unfailing love, save me.
17 Don't let me be disgraced,O LORD,
for I call out to you for help.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
let them lie silent in the grave.
18 May their lying lips be silenced--
those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.
PROVERBS 8:12-13
" I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. All who fear the LORD will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech."
