Bible Readings for February 10, 2017

Today our passages are Exodus 30:11–31:18; Matthew 26:47-68; Psalm 32:1-11; and Proverbs 8:27-32. The readings are the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal by using the link below.

 

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Exodus 30:11-31:18 (Contemporary English Version)

The Money for the Sacred Tent

¹¹The LORD said to Moses: ¹²Find out how many grown men there are in Israel and require each of them to pay me to keep him safe from danger while you are counting them. ^13-15Each man over nineteen, whether rich or poor, must pay me the same amount of money, weighed according to the official standards. ¹⁶This money is to be used for the upkeep of the sacred tent, and because of it, I will never forget my people.

The Large Bronze Bowl

(Exodus 38.8)

¹⁷The LORD said to Moses: ^18-21Make a large bronze bowl and a bronze stand for it. Then put them between the altar for sacrifice and the sacred tent, so the priests can wash their hands and feet before entering the tent or offering a sacrifice on the altar. Each priest in every generation must wash himself in this way, or else he will die right there.

The Oil for Dedication and Ordination

(Exodus 37.29)

²²The LORD said to Moses: ^23-25Mix a gallon of olive oil with the following costly spices: twelve pounds of myrrh, six pounds of cinnamon, six pounds of cane, and twelve pounds of cassia. Measure these according to the official standards. Then use this sacred mixture ²⁶for dedicating the tent and chest, ²⁷the table with its equipment, the lampstand with its equipment, the incense altar with all its utensils, ²⁸the altar for sacrifices, and the large bowl with its stand. ²⁹By dedicating them in this way, you will make them so holy that anyone who even touches them will become holy.
³⁰When you ordain Aaron and his sons as my priests, sprinkle them with some of this oil, ³¹and say to the people of Israel: " This oil must always be used in the ordination service of a priest. It is holy because it is dedicated to the LORD. ³²So treat it as holy! Don't ever use it for everyday purposes or mix any for yourselves. ³³If you do, you will no longer belong to the LORD's people."

The Sweet-Smelling Incense

^34-35Mix equal amounts of the costly spices stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, then add salt to make the mixture pure and holy. ³⁶Pound some of it into powder and sprinkle it in front of the sacred chest, where I meet with you. Be sure to treat this incense as something very holy. ³⁷It is truly holy because it is dedicated to me, so don't ever make any for yourselves. ³⁸If you ever make any of it to use as perfume, you will no longer belong to my people.

Exodus 31

The LORD Chooses Bezalel and Oholiab

(Exodus 35.30--36.1)

¹The LORD said to Moses: ²I have chosen Bezalel ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} from the Judah tribe to make the sacred tent and its furnishings. ^3-5Not only have I filled him with my Spirit, but I have given him wisdom and made him a skilled craftsman who can create objects of art with gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood. ⁶I have appointed Oholiab ^[b<="">] from the tribe of Dan to work with him, and I have also given skills to those who will help them make everything exactly as I have commanded you: ^7-11the sacred tent with its furnishings, the sacred chest with its place of mercy, the table with all that is on it, the lamp with its equipment, the incense altar, the altar for sacrifices with its equipment, the bronze bowl with its stand, the beautiful priestly clothes for Aaron and his sons, the oil for dedication and ordination services, and the sweet-smelling incense for the holy place.

Laws for the Sabbath

^12-13Moses told the Israelites that the LORD had said: The Sabbath belongs to me. Now I command you and your descendants to always obey the laws of the Sabbath. By doing this, you will know that I have chosen you as my own. ^14-15Keep the Sabbath holy. You have six days to do your work, but the Sabbath is mine, and it must remain a day of rest. If you work on the Sabbath, you will no longer be part of my people, and you will be put to death.
¹⁶Every generation of Israelites must respect the Sabbath. ¹⁷This day will always serve as a reminder, both to me and to the Israelites, that I made the heavens and the earth in six days, then on the seventh day I rested and relaxed.
¹⁸When God had finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two flat stones on which he had written all of his laws with his own hand.

Footnotes:

1. Exodus 31:2Bezalel: Hebrew " Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur."
2. Exodus 31:6Oholiab: Hebrew " Oholiab son of Ahisamach."

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Matthew 26:47-68 (Contemporary English Version)

Jesus Is Arrested

(Mark 14.43-50; Luke 22.47-53; John 18.3-12)

⁴⁷Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a large mob armed with swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and the nation's leaders. ⁴⁸Judas had told them ahead of time, "Arrest the man I greet with a kiss." ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]49}Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, "Hello, teacher." Then Judas kissed him. ⁵⁰Jesus replied, "My friend, why are you here?" ^[b<="">] The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹One of Jesus' followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
⁵²But Jesus told him, "Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting. ⁵³Don't you know that I could ask my Father, and right away he would send me more than twelve armies of angels? ⁵⁴But then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say that this must happen?"
⁵⁵Jesus said to the mob, "Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day after day I sat and taught in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. ⁵⁶But all this happened, so that what the prophets wrote would come true."
All of Jesus' disciples left him and ran away.

Jesus Is Questioned by the Council

(Mark 14.53-65; Luke 22.54,55,63-71; John 18.13,14,19-24)

⁵⁷After Jesus had been arrested, he was led off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The nation's leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses were meeting there. ⁵⁸But Peter followed along at a distance and came to the courtyard of the high priest's palace. He went in and sat down with the guards to see what was going to happen. ⁵⁹The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Jesus to death. So they tried to find some people who would tell lies about him in court. ^[c<="">]60But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell lies. At last, two men came forward ⁶¹and said, "This man claimed that he would tear down God's temple and build it again in three days." ⁶²The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, "Why don't you say something in your own defense? Don't you hear the charges they are making against you?" ⁶³But Jesus did not answer. So the high priest said, "With the living God looking on, you must tell the truth. Tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?" ^[d<="">]64"That is what you say!" Jesus answered. "But I tell all of you,
`Soon you will see
the Son of Man
sitting at the right side ^[e<="">] of God All-Powerful
and coming on the clouds
of heaven.' "
⁶⁵The high priest then tore his robe and said, "This man claims to be God! We don't need any more witnesses! You have heard what he said. ⁶⁶What do you think?"
They answered, "He is guilty and deserves to die!" ⁶⁷Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him ⁶⁸and said, "You think you are the Messiah! So tell us who hit you!"

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 26:48the man I greet with a kiss: It was the custom for people to greet each other with a kiss on the cheek.
2. Matthew 26:50Why are you here: Or "do what you came for."
3. Matthew 26:59some people who would tell lies about him in court: The Law of Moses taught that two witnesses were necessary before a person could be put to death (see verse 60).
4. Matthew 26:63Son of God: One of the titles used for the kings of Israel.
5. Matthew 26:64right side: See the note at 22.44.

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Psalm 32:1-11 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 32

(A special psalm by David.)

The Joy of Forgiveness

¹Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive
and wipe away.
²You bless them by saying,
"You told me your sins,
without trying to hide them,
and now I forgive you."
³Before I confessed my sins,
my bones felt limp,
and I groaned all day long.
⁴Night and day your hand
weighed heavily on me,
and my strength was gone
as in the summer heat.
⁵So I confessed my sins
and told them all to you.
I said, "I'll tell the LORD
each one of my sins."
Then you forgave me
and took away my guilt.
⁶We worship you, Lord,
and we should always pray
whenever we find out
that we have sinned. ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} Then we won't be swept away
by a raging flood.
⁷You are my hiding place!
You protect me from trouble,
and you put songs in my heart
because you have saved me.
⁸You said to me,
"I will point out the road
that you should follow.
I will be your teacher
and watch over you.
⁹Don't be stupid
like horses and mules
that must be led with ropes
to make them obey."
¹⁰All kinds of troubles
will strike the wicked,
but your kindness shields those
who trust you, LORD.
¹¹And so your good people
should celebrate and shout.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 32:6whenever. . . sinned: Hebrew " at a time of finding only."

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Proverbs 8:27-32 (Contemporary English Version)

²⁷I was there when the LORD
put the heavens in place
and stretched the sky
over the surface of the sea.
²⁸I was with him when he placed
the clouds in the sky
and created the springs
that fill the ocean.
²⁹I was there when he set
boundaries for the sea
to make it obey him,
and when he laid foundations
to support the earth.
³⁰I was right beside the LORD,
helping him plan and build. ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} I made him happy each day,
and I was happy at his side.
³¹I was pleased with his world
and pleased with its people.
³²Pay attention, my children!
Follow my advice,
and you will be happy.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 8:30helping. . . build: Or " like his own child."

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Verse of the Day

 

“[Love]What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others. What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive? I would gain nothing, unless I loved others.” - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought For the Day

Soviet Russian poet, novelist, and literary translator, Boris Pasternak wrote, “I think that if the beast who sleeps in man could be held down by threats — any kind of threat, whether of jail or of retribution after death — then the highest emblem of humanity would be the lion tamer in the circus with his whip, not the prophet who sacrificed himself. … What has for centuries raised man above the beast is not the cudgel but an inward music: the irresistible power of unarmed truth, the powerful attraction of its example.”