Bible Readings for March 7, 2011

Today our passages are Numbers 8:1 – 9:23; Mark 13:14-37; Psalm 50:1-23; and Proverbs 10:29-30. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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Numbers 8-9:23 (Contemporary English Version)

Numbers 8

Aaron Puts the Gold Lamps in Place

1The LORD said to Moses, 2" Tell Aaron to put the seven lamps on the lampstand so they shine toward the front."

3Aaron obeyed and placed the lamps as he was told. 4The lampstand was made of hammered gold from its base to the decorative flowers on top, exactly like the pattern the LORD had described to Moses.

Instructions for Ordaining the Levites

5The LORD said to Moses:

6The Levites must be acceptable to me before they begin working at the sacred tent. So separate them from the rest of the Israelites 7and sprinkle them with the water that washes away their sins. Then have them shave their entire bodies and wash their clothes.

8They are to bring a bull and its proper grain sacrifice of flour mixed with olive oil. And they must bring a second bull as a sacrifice for sin.

9Then you, Moses, will call together all the people of Israel and have the Levites go to my sacred tent, 10where the people will place their hands on them. 11Aaron will present the Levites to me as a gift from the people, so that the Levites will do my work.

12After this, the Levites are to place their hands on the heads of the bulls. Then one of the bulls will be sacrificed for the forgiveness of sin, and the other to make sure that I am pleased. 13The Levites will stand at my altar in front of Aaron and his sons, who will then dedicate the Levites to me.

14This ceremony will show that the Levites are different from the other Israelites and belong to me in a special way. 15After they have been made acceptable and have been dedicated, they will be allowed to work at my sacred tent. 16They are mine and will take the place of the first-born Israelite sons. 17When I killed the oldest sons of the Egyptians, I decided that the first-born sons in each Israelite family would be mine, as well as every first-born male from their flocks and herds. 18But now I have chosen these Levites as substitutes for the first-born sons, 19and I have given them as gifts to Aaron and his sons to serve at the sacred tent. I will hold them responsible for what happens to anyone who gets too close to the sacred tent. [a]

The Levites Are Dedicated to the LORD

20Moses, Aaron, and the other Israelites made sure that the Levites did everything the LORD had commanded. 21The Levites sprinkled themselves with the water of forgiveness and washed their clothes. Then Aaron brought them to the altar and offered sacrifices to forgive their sins and make them acceptable to the LORD. 22After this, the Levites worked at the sacred tent as assistants to Aaron and his sons, just as the LORD had commanded.

23The LORD also told Moses, 24-25" Levites who are between the ages of twenty-five and fifty can work at my sacred tent. But once they turn fifty, they must retire. 26They may help the other Levites in their duties, but they must no longer be responsible for any work themselves. Remember this when you assign their duties."

Numbers 9

Regulations for Celebrating Passover

1During the first month of Israel's second year in the Sinai Desert, [b] the LORD had told Moses 2to say to the people, " Celebrate Passover 3in the evening of the fourteenth day of this month [c] and do it by following all the regulations." 4-5Moses told the people what the LORD had said, and they celebrated Passover there in the desert in the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month. 6Some people in Israel's camp had touched a dead body and had become unfit to worship the LORD, and they could not celebrate Passover. But they asked Moses and Aaron, 7" Even though we have touched a dead body, why can't we celebrate Passover and offer sacrifices to the LORD at the same time as everyone else?"

8Moses said, " Wait here while I go into the sacred tent and find out what the LORD says about this."

9The LORD then told Moses 10to say to the community of Israel:

If any of you or your descendants touch a dead body and become unfit to worship me, or if you are away on a long journey, you may still celebrate Passover. 11But it must be done in the second month, [d] in the evening of the fourteenth day. Eat the Passover lamb with thin bread and bitter herbs, 12and don't leave any of it until morning or break any of the animal's bones. Be sure to follow these regulations. 13But if any of you refuse to celebrate Passover when you are not away on a journey, you will no longer belong to my people. You will be punished because you did not offer sacrifices to me at the proper time.

14Anyone, including foreigners who live among you, can celebrate Passover, if they follow all the regulations.

The Cloud over the Sacred Tent
(Exodus 40.34-38)

15-16As soon as the sacred tent was set up, [e] a thick cloud appeared and covered it. The cloud was there each day, and during the night, a fire could be seen in it. 17-19The LORD used this cloud to tell the Israelites when to move their camp and where to set it up again. As long as the cloud covered the tent, the Israelites did not break camp. But when the cloud moved, they followed it, and wherever it stopped, they camped and stayed there, 20-22whether it was only one night, a few days, a month, or even a year. As long as the cloud remained over the tent, the Israelites stayed where they were. But when the cloud moved, so did the Israelites. 23They obeyed the LORD's commands and went wherever he directed Moses.

Footnotes:
Numbers 8:19 I will hold. . . sacred tent: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Numbers 9:1 first month. . . Sinai Desert: The book of Numbers begins in the second month of the second year (see 1.1), so 9.1-5 refers to a Passover celebration that had already taken place.
Numbers 9:3 this month: Abib (also called Nisan), the first month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-March to mid-April.
Numbers 9:11 second month: See the note at 1.1.
Numbers 9:15 As soon as the sacred tent was set up: According to Exodus 40.17, this took place " on the first day of the first month of the second year" of the Israelites' stay in the desert.


Mark 13:14-37 (Contemporary English Version)

The Horrible Thing
(Matthew 24.15-21; Luke 21.20-24)

14Someday you will see that "Horrible Thing" where it should not be. [a] Everyone who reads this must try
to understand! If you are living in Judea at that time, run to the mountains. 15If you are on the roof [b] of your house, don't go inside to get anything. 16If you are out in the field, don't go back for your coat. 17It will be an awful time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children. 18Pray that it won't happen in winter. [c] 19This will be the worst time of suffering since God created the world, and nothing this terrible will ever happen again. 20If the Lord doesn't make the time shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of his chosen and special ones, he will make the time shorter.

21If someone should say, "Here is the Messiah!" or "There he is!" don't believe it. 22False messiahs and false prophets will come and work miracles and signs. They will even try to fool God's chosen ones. 23But be on your guard! That's why I am telling you these things now.

When the Son of Man Appears
(Matthew 24.29-31; Luke 21.25-28)

24In those days, right after that time of suffering,

"The sun will become dark,
and the moon
will no longer shine.
25The stars will fall,
and the powers in the sky [d]
will be shaken."

26Then the Son of Man will be seen coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27He will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the earth.

A Lesson from a Fig Tree
(Matthew 24.32-35; Luke 21.29-33)

28Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know summer is near. 29So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come. [e] 30You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens. 31The sky and the earth will not last forever, but my words will.

No One Knows the Day or Time
(Matthew 24.36-44)

32No one knows the day or the time. The angels in heaven don't know, and the Son himself doesn't know. Only the Father knows. 33So watch out and be ready! You don't know when the time will come. 34It is like what happens when a man goes away for a while and places his servants in charge of everything. He tells each of them what to do, and he orders the guard to keep alert. 35So be alert! You don't know when the master of the house will come back. It could be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or in the morning. 36But if he comes suddenly, don't let him find you asleep. 37I tell everyone just what I have told you. Be alert!

Footnotes:
Mark 13:14 where it should not be: Probably the holy place in the temple.
Mark 13:15 roof: See the note at 2.4.
Mark 13:18 in winter: In Palestine the winters are cold and rainy and make travel difficult.
Mark 13:25 the powers in the sky: In ancient times people thought that the stars were spiritual powers.
Mark 13:29 the time has almost come: Or "he (that is, the Son of Man) will soon be here."


Psalm 50:1-23 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 50
(A psalm by Asaph.)

What Pleases God

1From east to west,
the powerful LORD God
has been calling together
everyone on earth.

2God shines brightly from Zion,
the most beautiful city.

3Our God approaches,
but not silently;
a flaming fire comes first,
and a storm surrounds him.

4God comes to judge his people.

He shouts to the heavens
and to the earth,
5"Call my followers together!
They offered me a sacrifice,
and we made an agreement."

6The heavens announce,
"God is the judge,
and he is always honest."

7My people, I am God!

Israel, I am your God.

Listen to my charges
against you.

8Although you offer sacrifices
and always bring gifts,
9I won't accept your offerings
of bulls and goats.

10Every animal in the forest
belongs to me,
and so do the cattle
on a thousand hills.

11I know all the birds
in the mountains,
and every wild creature
is in my care.

12If I were hungry,
I wouldn't tell you,
because I own the world
and everything in it.

13I don't eat the meat of bulls
or drink the blood of goats.

14I am God Most High!

The only sacrifice I want
is for you to be thankful
and to keep your word.

15Pray to me in time of trouble.

I will rescue you,
and you will honor me.

16But to the wicked I say:
"You don't have the right
to mention my laws
or claim
to keep our agreement!

17You refused correction
and rejected my commands.

18You made friends
with every crook you met,
and you liked people who break
their wedding vows.

19You talked only about violence
and told nothing but lies;
20you sat around gossiping,
ruining the reputation
of your own relatives."

21When you did all of this,
I didn't say a word,
and you thought,
"God is just like us!"

But now I will accuse you.

22You have ignored me!

So pay close attention
or I will tear you apart,
and no one can help you.

23The sacrifice that honors me
is a thankful heart.
Obey me, [a]
and I, your God,
will show my power to save.

Footnotes:
Psalm 50:23 Obey me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.


Proverbs 10:29-30 (Contemporary English Version)

29The LORD protects everyone
who lives right,
but he destroys anyone
who does wrong.

30Good people will stand firm,
but the wicked
will lose their land.

Bible Readings for March 6, 2011

Today our passages are Numbers 6:1 – 7:89; Mark 12:38 – 13:13; Psalm 49:1-20; and Proverbs 10:27-28. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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Numbers 6-7:89 (Contemporary English Version)

Numbers 6

Rules for Nazirites

1The LORD told Moses 2to say to the people of Israel:

If any of you want to dedicate yourself to me by vowing to become a Nazirite, 3you must no longer drink any wine or beer or use any kind of vinegar. Don't drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins-- 4not even the seeds or skins.

5Even the hair of a Nazirite is sacred to me, and as long as you are a Nazirite, you must never cut your hair.

6During the time that you are a Nazirite, you must never go close to a dead body, 7-8not even that of your father, mother, brother, or sister. That would make you unclean. Your hair is the sign that you are dedicated to me, so remain holy.

9If someone suddenly dies near you, your hair is no longer sacred, and you must shave it seven days later during the ceremony to make you clean. 10Then on the next day, bring two doves or two pigeons to the priest at the sacred tent. 11He will offer one of the birds as a sacrifice for sin and the other as a sacrifice to please me. [a] You will then be forgiven for being too near a dead body, and your hair will again become sacred. 12But the dead body made you unacceptable, so you must make another vow to become a Nazirite and be dedicated once more. Finally, a year-old ram must be offered as the sacrifice to make things right. 13When you have completed your promised time of being a Nazirite, go to the sacred tent 14and offer three animals that have nothing wrong with them: a year-old ram as a sacrifice to please me, a year-old female lamb as a sacrifice for sin, and a full-grown ram as a sacrifice to ask my blessing. [b] 15Wine offerings and grain sacrifices must also be brought with these animals. Finally, you are to bring a basket of bread made with your finest flour and olive oil, but without yeast. Also bring some thin wafers brushed with oil. 16The priest will take these gifts to my altar and offer them, so that I will be pleased and will forgive you. 17Then he will sacrifice the ram and offer the wine, grain, and bread.

18After that, you will stand at the entrance to the sacred tent, shave your head, and put the hair in the fire where the priest has offered the sacrifice to ask my blessing.

19Once the meat from the ram's shoulder has been boiled, the priest will take it, along with one loaf of bread and one wafer brushed with oil, and give them to you. 20You will hand them back to the priest, who will lift them up [c] in dedication to me. Then he can eat the meat from the ram's shoulder, its choice ribs, and its hind leg, because this is his share of the sacrifice. After this, you will no longer be a Nazirite and will be free to drink wine. 21These are the requirements for Nazirites. However, if you can afford to offer more, you must do so.

The Blessing for the People

22The LORD told Moses, 23" When Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel, they must say:

24I pray that the LORD
will bless and protect you,
25and that he will show you mercy
and kindness.
26May the LORD be good to you
and give you peace."

27Then the LORD said, " If Aaron and his sons ask me to bless the Israelites, I will give them my blessing."

Numbers 7

The Leaders Bring Gifts to the Sacred Tent

1When Moses had finished setting up the sacred tent, he dedicated it to the LORD, together with its furnishings, the altar, and its equipment. 2Then the twelve tribal leaders of Israel, the same men who had been in charge of counting the people, [d] came to the tent 3with gifts for the LORD. They brought six strong carts and twelve oxen--one ox from each leader and a cart from every two. 4The LORD said to Moses, 5" Accept these gifts, so the Levites can use them here at the sacred tent for carrying the sacred things."

6Then Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites, 7-8who were under the leadership of Ithamar son of Aaron. Moses gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites for their work, and four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites for their work. 9But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were in charge of the sacred objects that had to be carried on their shoulders.

10On the day the altar was dedicated, the twelve leaders brought offerings for its dedication. 11The LORD said to Moses, " Each day one leader is to give his offering for the dedication."

12-83So each leader brought the following gifts:

a silver bowl that weighed over three pounds and a silver sprinkling bowl weighing almost two pounds, both of them filled with flour and olive oil as grain sacrifices and weighed according to the official standards;

a small gold dish filled with incense;

a young bull, a full-grown ram, and a year-old ram as sacrifices to please the LORD; [e] a goat [f] as a sacrifice for sin; and two bulls, five full-grown rams, five goats, and five rams a year old as sacrifices to ask the LORD's blessing. [g] The tribal leaders brought their gifts and offerings in the following order:

On the first day
Nahshon from Judah,
on the second day
Nethanel from Issachar,
on the third day
Eliab from Zebulun,
on the fourth day
Elizur from Reuben,
on the fifth day
Shelumiel from Simeon,
on the sixth day
Eliasaph from Gad,
on the seventh day
Elishama from Ephraim,
on the eighth day
Gamaliel from Manasseh,
on the ninth day
Abidan from Benjamin,
on the tenth day
Ahiezer from Dan,
on the eleventh day
Pagiel from Asher,
on the twelfth day
Ahira from Naphtali.

84-88And so when the altar was dedicated to the LORD, these twelve leaders brought the following gifts:

twelve silver bowls and twelve silver sprinkling bowls, weighing a total of about sixty pounds, according to the official standards;

twelve gold dishes filled with incense and weighing about three pounds;

twelve bulls, twelve full-grown rams, and twelve rams a year old as sacrifices to please the LORD, along with the proper grain sacrifices;

twelve goats as sacrifices for sin;

and twenty-four bulls, sixty full-grown rams, sixty goats, and sixty rams a year old as sacrifices to ask the LORD's blessing.

89Whenever Moses needed to talk with the LORD, he went into the sacred tent, where he heard the LORD's voice coming from between the two winged creatures above the lid of the sacred chest.

Footnotes:
Numbers 6:11 sacrifice to please me: This sacrifice has traditionally been called a " whole burnt offering," because the whole animal was burned on the altar. A main purpose of such a sacrifice was to please the LORD with the smell of the sacrifice, and so in the CEV it is often called " a sacrifice to please the LORD."
Numbers 6:14 sacrifice to ask my blessing: This sacrifice has traditionally been called a " peace offering" or an " offering of well-being." A main purpose of such a sacrifice was to ask the LORD's blessing, and so in the CEV it is often called a " sacrifice to ask the LORD's blessing."
Numbers 6:20 lift them up: See the note at 5.25.
Numbers 7:2 the same men. . . the people: See 1.1-19.
Numbers 7:12 sacrifices to please the LORD: See the note at 6.11.
Numbers 7:12 goat: Hebrew " male goat."
Numbers 7:12 sacrifices to ask the LORD's blessing: See the note at 6.14.


Mark 12:38-13:13 (Contemporary English Version)

Jesus Condemns the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law of Moses
(Matthew 23.1-36; Luke 20.45-47)

38As Jesus was teaching, he said:

Guard against the teachers of the Law of Moses! They love to walk around in long robes and be greeted in the market. 39They like the front seats in the meeting places and the best seats at banquets. 40But they cheat widows out of their homes and pray long prayers just to show off. They will be punished most of all.

A Widow's Offering
(Luke 21.1-4)

41Jesus was sitting in the temple near the offering box and watching people put in their gifts. He noticed that many rich people were giving a lot of money. 42Finally, a poor widow came up and put in two coins that were worth only a few pennies. 43Jesus told his disciples to gather around him. Then he said:
I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 44Everyone else gave what they didn't need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had. Now she doesn't have a cent to live on.

Mark 13

The Temple Will Be Destroyed
(Matthew 24.1,2; Luke 21.5,6)

1As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look at these beautiful stones and wonderful buildings!"

2Jesus replied, "Do you see these huge buildings? They will certainly be torn down! Not one stone will be left in place."

Warning about Trouble
(Matthew 24.3-14; Luke 21.7-19)

3Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him in private. 4They asked, "When will these things happen? What will be the sign that they are about to take place?"

5Jesus answered:

Watch out and don't let anyone fool you! 6Many will come and claim to be me. They will use my name and fool many people.

7When you hear about wars and threats of wars, don't be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn't the end. 8Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. There will be earthquakes in many places, and people will starve to death. But this is just the beginning of troubles.

9Be on your guard! You will be taken to courts and beaten with whips in their meeting places. And because of me, you will have to stand before rulers and kings to tell about your faith. 10But before the end comes, the good news must be preached to all nations.

11When you are arrested, don't worry about what you will say. You will be given the right words when the time comes. But you will not really be the ones speaking. Your words will come from the Holy Spirit.

12Brothers and sisters will betray each other and have each other put to death. Parents will betray their own children, and children will turn against their parents and have them killed. 13Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved.


Psalm 49:1-20 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 49
(A psalm for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)

Don't Depend on Wealth

1Everyone on this earth,
now listen to what I say!

2Listen, no matter who you are,
rich or poor.

3I speak words of wisdom,
and my thoughts make sense.

4I have in mind a mystery
that I will explain
while playing my harp.

5Why should I be afraid
in times of trouble,
when I am surrounded
by vicious enemies?

6They trust in their riches
and brag about
all of their wealth.

7You cannot buy back your life
or pay off God!

8It costs far too much
to buy back your life.

You can never pay God enough
9to stay alive forever
and safe from death.

10We see that wise people die,
and so do stupid fools.

Then their money is left
for someone else.

11The grave [a] will be their home forever and ever,
although they once had land
of their own.

12Our human glory disappears,
and, like animals, we die.

13Here is what happens to fools
and to those who trust
the words of fools:

14They are like sheep
with death as their shepherd,
leading them to the grave. [b]

In the morning God's people
will walk all over them,
as their bodies lie rotting
in their home, the grave.

15But God will rescue me
from the power of death.

16Don't let it bother you
when others get rich
and live in luxury.

17Soon they will die
and all of their wealth
will be left behind.

18We humans are praised
when we do well,
and all of us are glad
to be alive.

19But we each will go down
to our ancestors,
never again to see
the light of day.

20Our human glory disappears,
and, like animals, we die.

Footnotes:
Psalm 49:11 The grave: Some ancient translations; Hebrew " Their inward thoughts."
Psalm 49:14 as their. . . grave: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.


Proverbs 10:27-28 (Contemporary English Version)

27If you respect the LORD,
you will live longer;
if you keep doing wrong,
your life will be cut short.

28If you obey the Lord,
you will be happy,
but there is no future
for the wicked.

Bible Readings for March 5, 2011

Today our passages are Numbers 4:1 – 5:31; Mark 12:18-37; Psalm 48:1-14; and Proverbs 10:26. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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Numbers 4-5:31 (Contemporary English Version)

Numbers 4

The Duties of the Kohathite Clans

1The LORD told Moses and Aaron:

2-3Find out how many men between the ages of thirty and fifty are in the four Levite clans of Kohath. Count only those who are able to work at the sacred tent.

4The Kohathites will be responsible for carrying the sacred objects used in worship at the sacred tent. 5When the Israelites are ready to move their camp, Aaron and his sons will enter the tent and take down the curtain that separates the sacred chest from the rest of the tent. They will cover the chest with this curtain, 6and then with a piece of fine leather, and cover it all with a solid blue cloth. After this they will put the carrying poles in place.

7Next, Aaron and his sons will use another blue cloth to cover the table for the sacred bread. [a] On the cloth they will place the dishes, the bowls for incense, the cups, the jugs for wine, as well as the bread itself. 8They are to cover all of this with a bright red cloth, and then with a piece of fine leather, before putting the carrying poles in place. 9With another blue cloth they will cover the lampstand, along with the lamps, the lamp snuffers, the fire pans, and the jars of oil for the lamps. 10All of this will then be covered with a piece of fine leather and placed on a carrying frame.

11The gold incense altar [b] is to be covered with a blue cloth, and then with a piece of fine leather, before its carrying poles are put in place. 12Next, Aaron and his sons will take blue cloth and wrap all the objects used in worship at the sacred tent. These will need to be covered with a piece of fine leather, then placed on a carrying frame.

13They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and cover it with a purple cloth. 14On that cloth will be placed the utensils used at the altar, including the fire pans, the meat forks, the shovels, and the sprinkling bowls. All of this will then be covered with a piece of fine leather, before the carrying poles are put in place.

15When the camp is ready to be moved, the Kohathites will be responsible for carrying the sacred objects and the furnishings of the sacred tent. But Aaron and his sons must have already covered those things so the Kohathites won't touch them and die.

16Eleazar son of Aaron the priest will be in charge of the oil for the lamps, the sweet-smelling incense, the grain for the sacrifices, and the olive oil used for dedications and ordinations. Eleazar is responsible for seeing that the sacred tent, its furnishings, and the sacred objects are taken care of.

17-20The Kohathites must not go near or even look at the sacred objects until Aaron and his sons have covered those objects. If they do, their entire clan will be wiped out. So make sure that Aaron and his sons go into the tent with them and tell them what to carry.

The Duties of the Gershonite Clans

21The LORD said to Moses:

22-23Find out how many men between the ages of thirty and fifty are in the two Levite clans of Gershon. Count only those who are able to work at the sacred tent.

24The Gershonites will be responsible 25for carrying the curtains of the sacred tent, its two outer coverings, [c] the curtain for the entrance to the tent, 26the curtains hanging around the courtyard of the tent, and the curtain and ropes for the entrance to the courtyard. The Gershonites are to do whatever needs to be done to take care of these things, 27and they will carry them wherever Aaron and his sons tell them to. 28These are the duties of the Gershonites at the sacred tent, and Ithamar son of Aaron will make sure they do their work.

The Duties of the Merarite Clans

29-30The LORD said:

Moses, find out how many men between thirty and fifty are in the two Levite clans of Merari, but count only those who are able to work at the sacred tent.

31The Merarites will be responsible for carrying the frames of the tent and its other pieces, including the bars, the posts, the stands, 32as well as the posts that support the courtyard, together with their stands, tent pegs, and ropes. The Merarites are to be told exactly what objects they are to carry, 33and Ithamar son of Aaron will make sure they do their work.

The Levites Are Counted Again

34-49Moses, Aaron, and the other Israelite leaders obeyed the LORD and counted the Levi tribe by families and clans, to find out how many men there were between the ages of thirty and fifty who could work at the sacred tent. There were two thousand seven hundred fifty Kohathites, two thousand six hundred thirty Gershonites, and three thousand two hundred Merarites, making a total of eight thousand five hundred eighty. Then they were all assigned their duties.

Numbers 5

People Are Sent Outside the Camp

1The LORD told Moses 2-3to say to the people of Israel, " Put out of the camp everyone who has leprosy [d] or a bodily discharge or who has touched a dead body. Now that I live among my people, their camp must be kept clean." 4The Israelites obeyed the LORD's instructions.

The Penalty for Committing a Crime
(Leviticus 6.1-7)

5The LORD told Moses 6to say to the community of Israel:

If any of you commit a crime against someone, you have sinned against me. 7You must confess your guilt and pay the victim in full for whatever damage has been done, plus a fine of twenty percent. 8If the victim has no relative who can accept this money, it belongs to me and will be paid to the priest. In addition to that payment, you must take a ram for the priest to sacrifice so your sin will be forgiven.

9-10When you make a donation to the sacred tent, that money belongs only to the priest, and each priest will keep what is given to him.

A Suspicious Husband

11The LORD told Moses 12-14to say to the people of Israel:

Suppose a man becomes jealous and suspects that his wife has been unfaithful, but he has no proof. 15He must take his wife to the priest, together with two pounds of ground barley as an offering to find out if she is guilty. No olive oil or incense is to be put on that offering.

16The priest is to have the woman stand at my altar, 17where he will pour sacred water into a clay jar and stir in some dust from the floor of the sacred tent. 18-22Next, he will remove her veil, then hand her the barley offering, and say, " If you have been faithful to your husband, this water won't harm you. But if you have been unfaithful, it will bring down the LORD's curse--you will never be able to give birth to a child, and everyone will curse your name."

Then the woman will answer, " If I am guilty, let it happen just as you say."

23The priest will write these curses on special paper and wash them off into the bitter water, 24so that when the woman drinks this water, the curses will enter her body. 25He will take the barley offering from her and lift it up [e] in dedication to me, the LORD. Then he will place it on my altar 26and burn part of it as a sacrifice. After that, the woman must drink the bitter water. 27If the woman has been unfaithful, the water will immediately make her unable to have children, and she will be a curse among her people. 28But if she is innocent, her body will not be harmed, and she will still be able to have children.

29-30This is the ceremony that must take place at my altar when a husband suspects that his wife has been unfaithful. The priest must have the woman stand in my presence and carefully follow these instructions. 31If the husband is wrong, he will not be punished; but if his wife is guilty, she will be punished.

Footnotes:
Numbers 4:7 sacred bread: This bread was offered to the LORD and was a symbol of his presence in the sacred tent. It was put out on a special table and was replaced with fresh bread each Sabbath (Leviticus 24.5-9).
Numbers 4:11 gold incense altar: This altar for offering incense was inside the sacred tent; it was made of acacia wood covered with gold. A large altar for offering sacrifices was in front of the entrance to the tent; it was made of acacia wood covered with bronze (see verse 13).
Numbers 4:25 two outer coverings: See Exodus 26.14.
Numbers 5:2 leprosy: The word translated " leprosy" was used for many different kinds of skin diseases.
Numbers 5:25 lift it up: Or " wave it."


Mark 12:18-37 (Contemporary English Version)

Life in the Future World
(Matthew 22.23-33; Luke 20.27-40)

18The Sadducees did not believe that people would rise to life after death. So some of them came to Jesus and said:

19Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry the widow. Their first son would then be thought of as the son of the dead brother. 20There were once seven brothers. The first one married, but died without having any children. 21The second brother married his brother's widow, and he also died without having children. The same thing happened to the third brother, 22and finally to all seven brothers. At last the woman died. 23When God raises people from death, whose wife will this woman be? After all, she had been married to all seven brothers.

24Jesus answered:

You are completely wrong! You don't know what the Scriptures teach. And you don't know anything about the power of God. 25When God raises people to life, they won't marry. They will be like the angels in heaven. 26You surely know about people being raised to life. You know that in the story about Moses and the burning bush, God said, "I am the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." [a] 27He isn't the God of the dead, but of the living. You Sadducees are all wrong.

The Most Important Commandment
(Matthew 22.34-40; Luke 10.25-28)

28One of the teachers of the Law of Moses came up while Jesus and the Sadducees were arguing. When he heard Jesus give a good answer, he asked him, "What is the most important commandment?"

29Jesus answered, "The most important one says: `People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God. 30You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.' 31The second most important commandment says: `Love others as much as you love yourself.' No other commandment is more important than these."

32The man replied, "Teacher, you are certainly right to say there is only one God. 33It is also true that we must love God with all our heart, mind, and strength, and that we must love others as much as we love ourselves. These commandments are more important than all the sacrifices and offerings that we could possibly make."

34When Jesus saw that the man had given a sensible answer, he told him, "You are not far from God's kingdom." After this, no one dared ask Jesus any more questions.

About David's Son
(Matthew 22.41-46; Luke 20.41-44)

35As Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, "How can the teachers of the Law of Moses say that the Messiah will come from the family of King David? 36The Holy Spirit led David to say,
`The Lord said to my Lord:

Sit at my right side [b]
until I make your enemies
into a footstool for you.'

37If David called the Messiah his Lord, how can the Messiah be his son?" [c]

The large crowd enjoyed listening to Jesus teach.

Footnotes
Mark 12:26 "I am the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob": Jesus argues that if God is worshiped by these three, they must still be alive, because he is the God of the living.
Mark 12:36 right side: The place of power and honor.
Mark 12:37 David. . . his son: See the note at 10.47.


Psalm 48:1-14 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 48
(A song and a psalm for the people of Korah.)

The City of God

1The LORD God is wonderful!
He deserves all praise
in the city where he lives.

His holy mountain,
2beautiful and majestic,
brings joy to all on earth.

Mount Zion, truly sacred,
is home for the Great King.

3God is there to defend it
and has proved to be
its protector.

4Kings joined forces
to attack the city,
5but when they saw it,
they were terrified
and ran away.

6They trembled all over
like women giving birth
7or like seagoing ships [a] wrecked by eastern winds.

8We had heard about it,
and now we have seen it
in the city of our God,
the LORD All-Powerful.

This is the city that God
will let stand forever.

9Our God, here in your temple
we think about your love.

10You are famous and praised
everywhere on earth,
as you win victories
with your powerful arm.

11Mount Zion will celebrate,
and all Judah will be glad,
because you bring justice.

2Let's walk around Zion
and count its towers.

13We will see its strong walls
and visit each fortress.

Then you can say
to future generations,

14"Our God is like this forever
and will always [b] guide us."

Footnotes:
Psalm 48:7 seagoing ships: The Hebrew text has " ships of Tarshish," which probably means large, seagoing ships.
Psalm 48:14 always: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.


Proverbs 10:26 (Contemporary English Version)

26Having a lazy person on the job
is like a mouth full of vinegar
or smoke in your eyes.

Bible Readings for March 4, 2011

Today our passages are Numbers 2:1 – 3:51; Mark 11:27 – 12:17; Psalm 47:1-9; and Proverbs 10:24-25. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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Numbers 2-3:51 (Contemporary English Version)

Numbers 2

Instructions for Setting Up Israel's Camp

1The LORD told Moses and Aaron 2how the Israelites should arrange their camp:
Each tribe must set up camp under its own banner and under the flags of its ancestral families. These camps will be arranged around the sacred tent, but not close to it.

3-4Judah and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the east side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 74,600 troops of the tribe of Judah will be arranged by divisions and led by Nahshon son of Amminadab. 5-6On one side of Judah will be the tribe of Issachar, with Nethanel son of Zuar as the leader of its 54,400 troops. 7-8On the other side will be the tribe of Zebulun, with Eliab son of Helon as the leader of its 57,400 troops. 9These 186,400 troops will march into battle first.

10-11Reuben and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the south side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 46,500 troops of the tribe of Reuben will be arranged by divisions and led by Elizur son of Shedeur. 12-13On one side of Reuben will be the tribe of Simeon, with Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai as the leader of its 59,300 troops. 14-15On the other side will be the tribe of Gad, with Eliasaph son of Deuel as the leader of its 45,650 troops. 16These 151,450 troops will march into battle second.

17Marching behind Reuben will be the Levites, arranged in groups, just as they are camped. They will carry the sacred tent and their own banners.

18-19Ephraim and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the west side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 40,500 troops of the tribe of Ephraim will be arranged by divisions and led by Elishama son of Ammihud. 20-21On one side of Ephraim will be the tribe of Manasseh, with Gamaliel son of Pedahzur as the leader of its 32,200 troops. 22-23On the other side will be the tribe of Benjamin, with Abidan son of Gideoni as the leader of its 35,400 troops. 24These 108,100 troops will march into battle third.

25-26Dan and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the north side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 62,700 troops of the tribe of Dan will be arranged by divisions and led by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 27-28On one side of Dan will be the tribe of Asher, with Pagiel son of Ochran as the leader of its 41,500 troops. 29-30On the other side will be the tribe of Naphtali with Ahira son of Enan as the leader of its 53,400 troops. 31These 157,600 troops will march into battle last.

32So all the Israelites in the camp were counted according to their ancestral families. The troops were arranged by divisions and totaled 603,550. 33The only Israelites not included were the Levites, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

34Israel did everything the LORD had told Moses. They arranged their camp according to clans and families, with each tribe under its own banner. And that was the order by which they marched into battle.

Numbers 3

The Sons of Aaron

1When the LORD talked with Moses on Mount Sinai, 2Aaron's four sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, 3were the ones to be ordained as priests. 4But the LORD killed Nadab and Abihu in the Sinai Desert when they used fire that was unacceptable [a] in their offering to the LORD. [b] And because Nadab and Abihu had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests with their father Aaron.
The Duties of the Levites

5The LORD said to Moses:
6Assign the Levi tribe to Aaron the priest. They will be his assistants 7and will work at the sacred tent for him and for all the Israelites. 8The Levites will serve the community by being responsible for the furnishings of the tent. 9They are assigned to help Aaron and his sons, 10who have been appointed to be priests. Anyone else who tries to perform the duties of a priest must be put to death.

11-13Moses, I have chosen these Levites from all Israel, and they will belong to me in a special way. When I killed the first-born sons of the Egyptians, I decided that the first-born sons in every Israelite family and the first-born males of their flocks and herds would be mine. [c] But now I accept these Levites in place of the first-born sons of the Israelites.

The Levites Are Counted

14In the Sinai Desert the LORD said to Moses, 15" Now I want you to count the men and boys in the Levi tribe by families and by clans. Include every one at least a month old." 16So Moses obeyed and counted them.

17Levi's three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, had become the heads of their own clans. 18Gershon's sons were Libni and Shimei. 19Kohath's sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20And Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. These were the sons and grandsons of Levi, and they had become the leaders of the Levite clans.

21The two Gershon clans were the Libnites and Shimeites, 22and they had seven thousand five hundred men and boys at least one month old. 23The Gershonites were to camp on the west side of the sacred tent, 24under the leadership of Eliasaph son of Lael. 25Their duties at the tent included taking care of the tent itself, along with its outer covering, the curtain for the entrance, 26the curtains hanging inside the courtyard around the tent, as well as the curtain and ropes for the entrance to the courtyard and its altar. The Gershonites were responsible for setting these things up and taking them down.

27The four Kohath clans were the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and the Uzzielites, 28and they had eight thousand six hundred [d] men and boys at least one month old. 29The Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the sacred tent, 30under the leadership of Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31Their duties at the tent included taking care of the sacred chest, the table for the sacred bread, the lampstand, the altars, the objects used for worship, and the curtain in front of the most holy place. The Kohathites were responsible for setting these things up and taking them down. 32Eleazar son of Aaron was the head of the Levite leaders, and he made sure that the work at the sacred tent was done.

33The two Merari clans were the Mahlites and the Mushites, 34and they had six thousand two hundred men and boys at least one month old. 35The Merarites were to camp on the north side of the sacred tent, under the leadership of Zuriel son of Abihail. 36-37Their duties included taking care of the tent frames and the pieces that held the tent up: the bars, the posts, the stands, and its other equipment. They were also in charge of the posts that supported the courtyard, as well as their stands, tent pegs, and ropes. The Merari clans were responsible for setting these things up and taking them down.

38Moses, Aaron, and his sons were to camp in front of the sacred tent, on the east side, and to make sure that the Israelites worshiped in the proper way. Anyone else who tried to do the work of Moses and Aaron was to be put to death.

39So Moses and Aaron obeyed the LORD and counted the Levites by their clans. The total number of Levites at least one month old was twenty-two thousand.

The Levites Are Accepted as Substitutes for the First-Born Sons

40The LORD said to Moses, " Make a list and count the first-born sons at least one month old in each of the Israelite families. 41They belong to me, but I will accept the Levites as substitutes for them, and I will accept the Levites' livestock as substitutes for the Israelites' first-born livestock."

42Moses obeyed the LORD and counted the first-born sons; 43there were 22,273 of them.

44Then the LORD said, 45" The Levites will belong to me and will take the place of the first-born sons; their livestock will take the place of the Israelites' first-born livestock. 46But since there are more first-born sons than Levites, the extra two hundred seventy-three men and boys must be bought back from me. 47For each one, you are to collect five pieces of silver, weighed according to the official standards. 48This money must then be given to Aaron and his sons."

49Moses collected the silver from the extra two hundred seventy-three first-born men and boys, 50and it amounted to one thousand three hundred sixty-five pieces of silver, weighed according to the official standards. 51Then he gave it to Aaron and his sons, just as the LORD had commanded.

Footnotes:
Numbers 3:4 fire that was unacceptable: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Numbers 3:4 the LORD killed Nadab and Abihu. . . to the LORD: See Leviticus 10.1,2.
Numbers 3:11 When I killed. . . mine: See Exodus 13.1,2,11-16.
Numbers 3:28 eight thousand six hundred: Hebrew; some manuscripts of one ancient translation " eight thousand three hundred."


Mark 11:27-12:17 (Contemporary English Version)

A Question about Jesus' Authority
(Matthew 21.23-27; Luke 20.1-8)

27Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. And as he was walking through the temple, the chief priests, the nation's leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses came over to him. 28They asked, "What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?"

29Jesus answered, "I have just one question to ask you. If you answer it, I will tell you where I got the right to do these things. 30Who gave John the right to baptize? Was it God in heaven or merely some human being?"

31They thought it over and said to each other, "We can't say that God gave John this right. Jesus will ask us why we didn't believe John. 32On the other hand, these people think that John was a prophet. So we can't say that it was merely some human who gave John the right to baptize."

They were afraid of the crowd 33and told Jesus, "We don't know."

Jesus replied, "Then I won't tell you who gave me the right to do what I do."

Mark 12

Renters of a Vineyard
(Matthew 21.33-46; Luke 20.9-19)

1Jesus then told them this story:

A farmer once planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it and dug a pit to crush the grapes in. He also built a lookout tower. Then he rented out his vineyard and left the country.

2When it was harvest time, he sent a servant to get his share of the grapes. 3The renters grabbed the servant. They beat him up and sent him away without a thing.

4The owner sent another servant, but the renters beat him on the head and insulted him terribly. 5Then the man sent another servant, and they killed him. He kept sending servant after servant. They beat some of them and killed others.

6The owner had a son he loved very much. Finally, he sent his son to the renters because he thought they would respect him. 7But they said to themselves, "Someday he will own this vineyard. Let's kill him! That way we can have it all for ourselves." 8So they grabbed the owner's son and killed him. Then they threw his body out of the vineyard.

9Jesus asked, "What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? He will come and kill those renters and let someone else have his vineyard. 10You surely know that the Scriptures say,

`The stone that the builders
tossed aside
is now the most important
stone of all.
11This is something
the Lord has done,
and it is amazing to us.' "

12The leaders knew that Jesus was really talking about them, and they wanted to arrest him. But because they were afraid of the crowd, they let him alone and left.

Paying Taxes
(Matthew 22.15-22; Luke 20.20-26)

13The Pharisees got together with Herod's followers. [a] Then they sent some men to trick Jesus into saying something wrong. 14They went to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you are honest. You treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are. And you teach the truth about what God wants people to do. Tell us, should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?"

15Jesus knew what they were up to, and he said, "Why are you trying to test me? Show me a coin!"

16They brought him a silver coin, and he asked, "Whose picture and name are on it?"

"The Emperor's," they answered.

17Then Jesus told them, "Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God." The men were amazed at Jesus.

Footnotes:
Mark 12:13 Herod's followers: People who were political followers of the family of Herod the Great and his son Herod Antipas.


Psalm 47:1-9 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 47
(A psalm for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)

God Rules the Nations

1All of you nations,
clap your hands
and shout
joyful praises to God.

2The LORD Most High is fearsome,
the ruler of all the earth.

3God has put every nation
under our power,
4and he chose for us the land
that was the pride of Jacob,
his favorite.

5God goes up to his throne,
as people shout
and trumpets blast.

6Sing praises to God our King,
7the ruler of all the earth!
Praise God with songs.

8God rules the nations
from his sacred throne.

9Their leaders come together
and are now the people
of Abraham's God.
All rulers on earth
surrender their weapons,
and God is greatly praised!


Proverbs 10:24-25 (Contemporary English Version)

24What evil people dread most
will happen to them,
but good people will get
what they want most.

25Those crooks will disappear
when a storm strikes,
but God will keep safe
all who obey him.

Bible Readings for March 3, 2011

Today our passages are Leviticus 27:14 – Numbers 1:54; Mark 11:1-25; Psalm 46:1-11; and Proverbs 10:23. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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Leviticus 27:14 - Numbers 1:54 (Contemporary English Version)

14If you promise a house to me, a priest will set the price, whatever the condition of the house. 15But if you decide to buy it back, you must pay an additional twenty percent.

16If you promise part of your family's land to me, its value must be determined by the bushels of seed needed to plant the land, and the rate will be ten pieces of silver for every bushel of seed. 17If this promise is made in the Year of Celebration, [a] the land will be valued at the full price. 18But any time after that, the price will be figured according to the number of years before the next Year of Celebration. 19If you decide to buy back the land, you must pay the price plus an additional twenty percent, 20but you cannot buy it back once someone else has bought it. 21When the Year of Celebration comes, the land becomes holy because it belongs to me, and it will be given to the priests. 22If you promise me a field that you have bought, 23its value will be decided by a priest, according to the number of years before the next Year of Celebration, and the money you pay will be mine. 24However, on the next Year of Celebration, the land will go back to the family of its original owner. 25Every price will be set by the official standards.

Various Offerings

The LORD said:
26All first-born animals of your flocks and herds are already mine, and so you cannot promise any of them to me. 27If you promise me a donkey, [b] you may buy it back by adding an additional twenty percent to its value. If you don't buy it back, it can be sold to someone else for whatever a priest has said it is worth. 28Anything that you completely dedicate to me must be completely destroyed. [c] It cannot be bought back or sold. Every person, animal, and piece of property that you dedicate completely is only for me. 29In fact, any humans who have been promised to me in this way must be put to death. 30Ten percent of everything you harvest is holy and belongs to me, whether it grows in your fields or on your fruit trees. 31If you want to buy back this part of your harvest, you may do so by paying what it is worth plus an additional twenty percent.

32When you count your flocks and herds, one out of ten of every newborn animal [d] is holy and belongs to me, 33no matter how good or bad it is. If you substitute one animal for another, both of them become holy, and neither can be bought back. 34Moses was on Mount Sinai when the LORD gave him these laws for the people of Israel.

Footnotes:
Leviticus 27:17 Year of Celebration: See 25.8-34.
Leviticus 27:27 donkey: See the note at verse 11.
Leviticus 27:28 completely dedicate. . . completely destroyed: In order to show that something belonged completely to the LORD and could not be used by anyone else, it was destroyed. This law most often applied to towns and people captured in war (see Joshua 6.16,17).
Leviticus 27:32 one out of ten of every newborn animal: Or " one out of every ten animals."

Numbers 1

The People of Israel Are Counted

1The people of Israel had left Egypt and were living in the Sinai Desert. Then on the first day of the second month [a] of the second year, Moses was in the sacred tent when the LORD said: 2-3I want you and Aaron to find out how many people are in each of Israel's clans and families. And make a list of all the men twenty years and older who are able to fight in battle. 4-15The following twelve family leaders, one from each tribe, will help you:

Elizur son of Shedeur
from Reuben,
Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai
from Simeon,
Nahshon son of Amminadab
from Judah,
ethanel son of Zuar
from Issachar,
Eliab son of Helon
from Zebulun,
Elishama son of Ammihud
from Ephraim,
Gamaliel son of Pedahzur
rom Manasseh,
Abidan son of Gideoni
from Benjamin,
Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai
from Dan,
Pagiel son of Ochran
from Asher,
Eliasaph son of Deuel
from Gad,
and Ahira son of Enan
from Naphtali.

16-17Moses and Aaron, together with these twelve tribal leaders, 18called together the people that same day. They were counted according to their clans and families. Then Moses and the others listed the names of the men twenty years and older, 19just as the LORD had commanded. 20-46The number of men from each tribe who were at least twenty years old and strong enough to fight in Israel's army was as follows:

46,500 from Reuben, the oldest son of Jacob, [b]
59,300 from Simeon,
45,650 from Gad,
74,600 from Judah,
54,400 from Issachar,
57,400 from Zebulun,
40,500 from Ephraim,
32,200 from Manasseh,
35,400 from Benjamin,
62,700 from Dan,
41,500 from Asher,
53,400 from Naphtali.

The total number of men registered by Moses, Aaron, and the twelve leaders was 603,550.

47But those from the Levi tribe were not included 48because the LORD had said to Moses:

49When you count the Israelites, do not include those from the Levi tribe. 50-51Instead, give them the job of caring for the sacred tent, its furnishings, and the objects used for worship. They will camp around the tent, and whenever you move, they will take it down, carry it to the new camp, and set it up again. Anyone else who tries to go near it must be put to death.

52The rest of the Israelites will camp in their own groups and under their own banners. 53But the Levites will camp around the sacred tent to make sure that no one goes near it and makes me furious with the Israelites.

54The people of Israel did everything the LORD had commanded.

Footnotes:
Numbers 1:1 second month: Ziv, the second month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-April to mid-May.
Numbers 1:20 Jacob: The Hebrew text has " Israel," Jacob's name after God renamed him.


Mark 11:1-25 (Contemporary English Version)

Mark 11

Jesus Enters Jerusalem
(Matthew 21.1-11; Luke 19.28-40; John 12.12-19)

1Jesus and his disciples reached Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. When they were getting close to Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2He told them, "Go into the next village. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey that has never been ridden. Untie the donkey and bring it here. 3If anyone asks why you are doing that, say, `The Lord [a] needs it and will soon bring it back.' "

4The disciples left and found the donkey tied near a door that faced the street. While they were untying it, 5some of the people standing there asked, "Why are you untying the donkey?" 6They told them what Jesus had said, and the people let them take it.

7The disciples led the donkey to Jesus. They put some of their clothes on its back, and Jesus got on. 8Many people spread clothes on the road, while others went to cut branches from the fields. [b]

9In front of Jesus and behind him, people went along shouting,

"Hooray! [c]
God bless the one
who comes
in the name of the Lord!
10God bless the coming kingdom
of our ancestor David.
Hooray for God
in heaven above!"

11After Jesus had gone to Jerusalem, he went into the temple and looked around at everything. But since it was already late in the day, he went back to Bethany with the twelve disciples.

Jesus Puts a Curse on a Fig Tree
(Matthew 21.18,19)

12When Jesus and his disciples left Bethany the next morning, he was hungry. 13From a distance Jesus saw a fig tree covered with leaves, and he went to see if there were any figs on the tree. But there were not any, because it wasn't the season for figs. 14So Jesus said to the tree, "Never again will anyone eat fruit from this tree!" The disciples heard him say this.

Jesus in the Temple
(Matthew 21.12-17; Luke 19.45-48; John 2.13-22)

15After Jesus and his disciples reached Jerusalem, he went into the temple and began chasing out everyone who was selling and buying. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those who were selling doves. 16Jesus would not let anyone carry things through the temple. 17Then he taught the people and said, "The Scriptures say, `My house should be called a place of worship for all nations.' But you have made it a place where robbers hide!"

18The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses heard what Jesus said, and they started looking for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him, because the crowds were completely amazed at his teaching.

19That evening, Jesus and the disciples went outside the city.

A Lesson from the Fig Tree
(Matthew 21.20-22)

20As the disciples walked past the fig tree the next morning, they noticed that it was completely dried up, roots and all. 21Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree. Then Peter said, "Teacher, look! The tree you put a curse on has dried up."

22Jesus told his disciples:

Have faith in God! 23If you have faith in God and don't doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. 24Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith.

25-26Whenever you stand up to pray, you must forgive what others have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins. [d]

Footnotes:
Mark 11:3 The Lord: Or "The master of the donkey."
Mark 11:8 spread. . . branches from the fields: This was one way that the Jewish people welcomed a famous person.
Mark 11:9 Hooray: This translates a word that can mean "please save us." But it is most often used as a shout of praise to God.
Mark 11:25 your sins: Some manuscripts add, "But if you do not forgive others, God will not forgive you."


Psalm 46:1-11 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 46
(A special song for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)

God Is Our Mighty Fortress

1God is our mighty fortress,
always ready to help
in times of trouble.

2And so, we won't be afraid!
Let the earth tremble
and the mountains tumble
into the deepest sea.

3Let the ocean roar and foam,
and its raging waves
shake the mountains.

4A river and its streams
ring joy to the city,
which is the sacred home
of God Most High.

5God is in that city,
and it won't be shaken.
He will help it at dawn.

6Nations rage! Kingdoms fall!
But at the voice of God
the earth itself melts.

7The LORD All-Powerful
is with us.
The God of Jacob
is our fortress.

8Come! See the fearsome things
the LORD has done on earth.

9God brings wars to an end
all over the world.
He breaks the arrows,
shatters the spears,
and burns the shields. [a]

10Our God says, "Calm down,
and learn that I am God!
All nations on earth
will honor me."

11The LORD All-Powerful
is with us.
The God of Jacob
is our fortress.

Footnotes:
Psalm 46:9 shields: Or " chariots."


Proverbs 10:23 (Contemporary English Version)

23Fools enjoy doing wrong,
but anyone with good sense
enjoys acting wisely.

Bible Readings for March 2

Today our passages are Leviticus 25:47 – 27:13; Mark 10:32-52; Psalm 45:1-17; and Proverbs 10:22. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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Leviticus 25:47-27:13 (Contemporary English Version)

47Even if some of you Israelites become so much in debt that you must sell yourselves to foreigners in your country, 48you still have the right to be set free by a relative, such as a brother 49or uncle or cousin, or some other family member. In fact, if you ever get enough money, you may buy your own freedom 50by paying your owner for the number of years you would still be a slave before the next Year of Celebration. 51-52The longer the time until then, the more you will have to pay. 53And even while you are the slaves of foreigners in your own country, your people must make sure that you are not mistreated. 54If you cannot gain your freedom in any of these ways, both you and your children will still be set free in the Year of Celebration. 55People of Israel, I am the LORD your God, and I brought you out of Egypt to be my own servants.

Leviticus 26

Blessings for Obeying the LORD

The LORD said:
1I am the LORD your God! So don't make or worship any sort of idols or images. 2Respect the Sabbath and honor the place where I am worshiped, because I am the LORD.

3Faithfully obey my laws, 4and I will send rain to make your crops grow and your trees produce fruit. 5Your harvest of grain and grapes will be so abundant, that you won't know what to do with it all. You will eat and be satisfied, and you will live in safety. 6I will bless your country with peace, and you will rest without fear. I will wipe out the dangerous animals and protect you from enemy attacks. 7You will chase and destroy your enemies, 8even if there are only five of you and a hundred of them, or only a hundred of you and ten thousand of them. 9I will treat you with such kindness that your nation will grow strong, and I will also keep my promises to you. 10Your barns will overflow with grain each year. 11I will live among you and never again look on you with disgust. 12I will walk with you--I will be your God, and you will be my people. 13I am the LORD your God, and I rescued you from Egypt, so that you would never again be slaves. I have set you free; now walk with your heads held high.

Punishment for Disobeying the LORD

The LORD said:
14-15If you disobey me and my laws, and if you break our agreement, 16I will punish you terribly, and you will be ruined. You will be struck with incurable diseases and with fever that leads to blindness and depression. Your enemies will eat the crops you plant, 17and I will turn from you and let you be destroyed by your attackers. You will even run at the very rumor of attack. 18Then, if you still refuse to obey me, I will punish you seven times for each of your sins, 19until your pride is completely crushed. I will hold back the rain, so the sky above you will be like iron, and the ground beneath your feet will be like copper. 20All of your hard work will be for nothing--and there will be no harvest of grain or fruit.

21If you keep rebelling against me, I'll punish you seven times worse, just as your sins deserve! 22I'll send wild animals to attack you, and they will gobble down your children and livestock. So few of you will be left that your roads will be deserted.

23If you remain my enemies after this, 24I'll remain your enemy and punish you even worse. 25War will break out because you broke our agreement, and if you escape to your walled cities, I'll punish you with horrible diseases, and you will be captured by your enemies. 26You will have such a shortage of bread, that ten women will be able to bake their bread in the same oven. Each of you will get only a few crumbs, and you will go hungry.

27Then if you don't stop rebelling, 28I'll really get furious and punish you terribly for your sins! 29In fact, you will be so desperate for food that you will eat your own children. 30I'll destroy your shrines and tear down your incense altars, leaving your dead bodies piled on top of your idols. And you will be disgusting to me. 31I'll wipe out your towns and your places of worship and will no longer be pleased with the smell of your sacrifices. 32Your land will become so desolate that even your enemies who settle there will be shocked when they see it. 33After I destroy your towns and ruin your land with war, I'll scatter you among the nations.

34-35While you are prisoners in foreign lands, your own land will enjoy years of rest and refreshment, as it should have done each seventh year when you lived there. 36-37In the land of your enemies, you will tremble at the rustle of a leaf, as though it were a sword. And you will become so weak that you will stumble and fall over each other, even when no one is chasing you. 38Many of you will die in foreign lands, 39and others of you will waste away in sorrow as the result of your sins and the sins of your ancestors.

40-41Then suppose you realize that I turned against you and brought you to the land of your enemies because both you and your ancestors had stubbornly sinned against me. If you humbly confess what you have done and start living right, 42I'll keep the promise I made to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will bless your land 43and let it rest during the time that you are in a foreign country, paying for your rebellion against me and my laws.

44No matter what you have done, I am still the LORD your God, and I will never completely reject you or become absolutely disgusted with you there in the land of your enemies. 45While nations watched, I rescued your ancestors from Egypt so that I would be their God. Yes, I am your LORD, and I will never forget our agreement.

46Moses was on Mount Sinai when the LORD gave him these laws and teachings for the people of Israel.

Leviticus 27

Making Promises to the LORD

1The LORD told Moses 2to say to the community of Israel:

If you ever want to free someone who has been promised to me, 3-7you may do so by paying the following amounts, weighed according to the official standards:

fifty pieces of silver for men ages twenty to sixty,
and thirty pieces for women;
twenty pieces of silver for young men
ages five to twenty,
and ten pieces for young women;
fifteen pieces of silver for men
ages sixty and above and ten pieces for women;
five pieces of silver for boys
ages one month to five years, and three pieces for girls.

8If you have promised to give someone to me and can't afford to pay the full amount for that person's release, you will be taken to a priest, and he will decide how much you can afford.

9If you promise to sacrifice an animal to me, it becomes holy, and there is no way you can set it free. 10If you try to substitute any other animal, no matter how good, for the one you promised, they will both become holy and must be sacrificed. 11Donkeys are unfit for sacrifice, so if you promise me a donkey, [a] you must bring it to the priest, 12and let him determine its value. 13But if you want to buy it back, you must pay an additional twenty percent.

Footnotes:
Leviticus 27:11 Donkeys. . . donkey: The Hebrew text has " If you promise me an unclean animal," which probably refers to a donkey (see Exodus 13.13; 34.20).


Mark 10:32-52 (Contemporary English Version)

Jesus Again Tells about His Death
(Matthew 20.17-19; Luke 18.31-34)

32The disciples were confused as Jesus led them toward Jerusalem, and his other followers were afraid. Once again, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and told them what was going to happen to him. He said:
33We are now on our way to Jerusalem where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses. They will sentence him to death and hand him over to foreigners, [a] 34who will make fun of him and spit on him. They will beat him and kill him. But three days later he will rise to life.

The Request of James and John
(Matthew 20.20-28)

35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, will you do us a favor?"

36Jesus asked them what they wanted, 37and they answered, "When you come into your glory, please let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left." [b]

38Jesus told them, "You don't really know what you're asking! Are you able to drink from the cup [c] that I must soon drink from or be baptized as I must be baptized?" [d]

39"Yes, we are!" James and John answered.

Then Jesus replied, "You certainly will drink from the cup from which I must drink. And you will be baptized just as I must! 40But it isn't for me to say who will sit at my right side and at my left. That is for God to decide."

41When the ten other disciples heard this, they were angry with James and John. 42But Jesus called the disciples together and said:

You know that those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over the people they rule. 43But don't act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. 44And if you want to be first, you must be everyone's slave. 45The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue [e] many people.

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus
(Matthew 20.29-34; Luke 18.35-43)

46Jesus and his disciples went to Jericho. And as they were leaving, they were followed by a large crowd. A blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting beside the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus from Nazareth, he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, [f] have pity on me!" 48Many people told the man to stop, but he shouted even louder, "Son of David, have pity on me!"

49Jesus stopped and said, "Call him over!"

They called out to the blind man and said, "Don't be afraid! Come on! He is calling for you." 50The man threw off his coat as he jumped up and ran to Jesus.

51Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"

The blind man answered, "Master, [g] I want to see!"

52Jesus told him, "You may go. Your eyes are healed because of your faith."

Right away the man could see, and he went down the road with Jesus.

Footnotes:
Mark 10:33 foreigners: The Romans who ruled Judea at this time.
Mark 10:37 right side. . . left: The most powerful people in a kingdom sat at the right and left side of the king.
Mark 10:38 drink from the cup: In the Scriptures a "cup" is sometimes used as a symbol of suffering. To "drink from the cup" would be to suffer.
Mark 10:38 as I must be baptized: Baptism is used with the same meaning that "cup" has in this verse.
Mark 10:45 rescue: The Greek word often, though not always, means the payment of a price to free a slave or a prisoner.
Mark 10:47 Son of David: The Jewish people expected the Messiah to be from the family of King David, and for this reason the Messiah was often called the "Son of David."
Mark 10:51 Master: A Hebrew word that may also mean "Teacher."


Psalm 45:1-17 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 45
(A special psalm for the people of Korah and for the music leader. To the tune "Lilies." A love song.)

For a Royal Wedding

1My thoughts are filled
with beautiful words
for the king,
and I will use my voice
as a writer would use
pen and ink.

2No one is as handsome as you!
Your words are always kind.
That is why God
will always bless you.

3Mighty king, glorious ruler,
strap on your sword
4and ride out in splendor!
Win victories for truth
and mercy and justice.
Do fearsome things
with your powerful arm.

5Send your sharp arrows
through enemy hearts
and make all nations fall
at your feet.

6You are God, and you will rule
forever as king. [a]
Your royal power
brings about justice.

7You love justice and hate evil.
And so, your God chose you
and made you happier
than any of your friends.

8The sweet aroma of the spices
myrrh, aloes, and cassia,
covers your royal robes.
You enjoy the music of harps
in palaces decorated
with ivory.

9Daughters of kings are here,
and your bride stands
at your right side,
wearing a wedding gown
trimmed with pure gold. [b]

10Bride of the king,
listen carefully to me.
Forget your own people
and your father's family.

11The king is your husband,
so do what he desires.

12All of the richest people
from the city of Tyre
will try to influence you

13with precious treasures.
Your bride, my king,
has inward beauty, [c]
and her wedding gown is woven
with threads of gold.

14Wearing the finest garments,
she is brought to you,
followed by her young friends,
the bridesmaids.

15Everyone is excited,
as they follow you
to the royal palace.

16Your sons and your grandsons
will also be kings
as your ancestors were.
You will make them the rulers
everywhere on earth.

17I will make your name famous
from now on,
and you will be praised
forever and ever.

Footnotes:
Psalm 45:6 You. . . king: Or " God has made you king, and you will rule forever."
Psalm 45:9 trimmed with pure gold: Hebrew has " with gold from Ophir," which may have been in Africa or India. Gold from there was considered the very best.
Psalm 45:13 has inward beauty: Or " is dressed in her room."


Proverbs 10:22 (Contemporary English Version)

22When the LORD blesses you
with riches,
you have nothing to regret. [a]

Footnotes:
Proverbs 10:22 When. . . regret: Or " No matter how hard you work, your riches really come From the LORD."

Bible Readings for March 1, 2011

Today our passages are Leviticus 24:1 – 25:46; Mark 10:13-31; Psalm 44:9-26; and Proverbs 10:20-21. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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Leviticus 24-25:46 (Contemporary English Version)

Leviticus 24

Caring for the Lamps
(Exodus 27.20,21)

1The LORD told Moses 2to say to the community of Israel:

You must supply the purest olive oil for the lamps in the sacred tent, so they will keep burning. 3-4Aaron will set up the gold lampstand in the holy place of the sacred tent. Then he will light the seven lamps that must be kept burning there in my presence, every night from now on. This law will never change.

The Sacred Bread

The LORD said:

5Use your finest flour to bake twelve loaves of bread about four pounds each, 6then take them into the sacred tent and lay them on the gold table in two rows of six loaves. 7Alongside each row put some pure incense that will be sent up by fire in place of the bread as an offering to me. 8Aaron must lay fresh loaves on the table each Sabbath, and priests in all generations must continue this practice as part of Israel's agreement with me. 9This bread will always belong to Aaron and his family; it is very holy because it was offered to me, and it must be eaten in a holy place. [a]

Punishment for Cursing the LORD

10-11Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri from the tribe of Dan, had married an Egyptian, and they had a son. One day their son got into a fight with an Israelite man in camp and cursed the name of the LORD. So the young man was dragged off to Moses, 12who had him guarded while everyone waited for the LORD to tell them what to do.

13Finally, the LORD said to Moses:

14This man has cursed me! Take him outside the camp and have the witnesses lay their hands on his head. Then command the whole community of Israel to stone him to death. 15-16And warn the others that everyone else who curses me will die in the same way, whether they are Israelites by birth or foreigners living among you.

17Death is also the penalty for murder, 18but the killing of an animal that belongs to someone else requires only that the animal be replaced. 19Personal injuries to others must be dealt with in keeping with the crime-- 20a broken bone for a broken bone, an eye for an eye, or a tooth for a tooth. 21It's possible to pay the owner for an animal that has been killed, but death is the penalty for murder. 22I am the LORD your God, and I demand equal justice both for you Israelites and for those foreigners who live among you.

23When Moses finished speaking, the people did what the LORD had told Moses, and they stoned to death the man who had cursed the LORD.

Leviticus 25

The Seventh Year
(Deuteronomy 15.1-11)

1When Moses was on Mount Sinai, the LORD told him 2to say to the community of Israel:

After you enter the land that I am giving you, it must be allowed to rest one year out of every seven. 3You may raise grain and grapes for six years, 4but the seventh year you must let your fields and vineyards rest in honor of me, your LORD. 5This is to be a time of complete rest for your fields and vineyards, so don't harvest anything they produce. 6-7However, you and your slaves and your hired workers, as well as any domestic or wild animals, may eat whatever grows on its own.

The Year of Celebration

The LORD said to his people:

8Once every forty-nine years 9on the tenth day of the seventh month, [b] which is also the Great Day of Forgiveness, [c] trumpets are to be blown everywhere in the land. 10This fiftieth year [d] is sacred--it is a time of freedom and of celebration when everyone will receive back their original property, and slaves will return home to their families. 11This is a year of complete celebration, so don't plant any seed or harvest what your fields or vineyards produce. 12In this time of sacred celebration you may eat only what grows on its own. 13During this year, all property must go back to its original owner. 14-15So when you buy or sell farmland, the price is to be determined by the number of crops it can produce before the next Year of Celebration. Don't try to cheat. 16If it is a long time before the next Year of Celebration, the price will be higher, because what is really being sold are the crops that the land can produce. 17I am the LORD your God, so obey me and don't cheat anyone.

18-19If you obey my laws and teachings, you will live safely in the land and enjoy its abundant crops. 20Don't ever worry about what you will eat during the seventh year when you are forbidden to plant or harvest. 21I will see to it that you harvest enough in the sixth year to last for three years. 22In the eighth year you will live on what you harvested in the sixth year, but in the ninth year you will eat what you plant and harvest in the eighth year.

23No land may be permanently bought or sold. It all belongs to me--it isn't your land, and you only live there for a little while.

24When property is being sold, the original owner must be given the first chance to buy it.

25If any of you Israelites become so poor that you are forced to sell your property, your closest relative must buy it back, 26if that relative has the money. Later, if you can afford to buy it, 27you must pay enough to make up for what the present owner will lose on it before the next Year of Celebration, when the property would become yours again. 28But if you don't have the money to pay the present owner a fair price, you will have to wait until the Year of Celebration, when the property will once again become yours.

29If you sell a house in a walled city, you have only one year in which to buy it back. 30If you don't buy it back before that year is up, it becomes the permanent property of the one who bought it, and it will not be returned to you in the Year of Celebration. 31But a house out in a village may be bought back at any time just like a field. And it must be returned to its original owner in the Year of Celebration. 32If any Levites own houses inside a walled city, they will always have the right to buy them back. 33And any houses that they do not buy back will be returned to them in the Year of Celebration, because these homes are their permanent property among the people of Israel. 34No pastureland owned by the Levi tribe can ever be sold; it is their permanent possession.

Help for the Poor

The LORD said:

35If any of your people become poor and unable to support themselves, you must help them, just as you are supposed to help foreigners who live among you. 36-37Don't take advantage of them by charging any kind of interest or selling them food for profit. Instead, honor me by letting them stay where they now live. 38Remember--I am the LORD your God! I rescued you from Egypt and gave you the land of Canaan, so that I would be your God.

39Suppose some of your people become so poor that they have to sell themselves and become your slaves. 40Then you must treat them as servants, rather than as slaves. And in the Year of Celebration they are to be set free, 41so they and their children may return home to their families and property. 42I brought them out of Egypt to be my servants, not to be sold as slaves. 43So obey me, and don't be cruel to the poor.

44If you want slaves, buy them from other nations 45or from the foreigners who live in your own country, and make them your property. 46You can own them, and even leave them to your children when you die, but do not make slaves of your own people or be cruel to them.

Footnotes:
Leviticus 24:9 holy place: The courtyard of the sacred tent (see 6.16,17).
Leviticus 25:9 seventh month: See the note at 16.29.
Leviticus 25:9 Great Day of Forgiveness: See the note at 16.34.
Leviticus 25:10 fiftieth year: The year following seven periods of seven years.


Mark 10:13-31 (Contemporary English Version)

Jesus Blesses Little Children
(Matthew 19.13-15; Luke 18.15-17)

13Some people brought their children to Jesus so that he could bless them by placing his hands on them. But his disciples told the people to stop bothering him.

14When Jesus saw this, he became angry and said, "Let the children come to me! Don't try to stop them. People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God. [a] 15I promise you that you cannot get into God's kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does." 16Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them by placing his hands on them.

A Rich Man
(Matthew 19.16-30; Luke 18.18-30)

17As Jesus was walking down a road, a man ran up to him. He knelt down, and asked, "Good teacher, what can I do to have eternal life?"

18Jesus replied, "Why do you call me good? Only God is good. 19You know the commandments. `Do not murder. Be faithful in marriage. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Do not cheat. Respect your father and mother.' "

20The man answered, "Teacher, I have obeyed all these commandments since I was a young man."

21Jesus looked closely at the man. He liked him and said, "There's one thing you still need to do. Go sell everything you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come with me."

22When the man heard Jesus say this, he went away gloomy and sad because he was very rich.

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "It's hard for rich people to get into God's kingdom!" 24The disciples were shocked to hear this. So Jesus told them again, "It's terribly hard [b] to get into God's kingdom! 25In fact, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God's kingdom."

26Jesus' disciples were even more amazed. They asked each other, "How can anyone ever be saved?"

27Jesus looked at them and said, "There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything."

28Peter replied, "Remember, we left everything to be your followers!"

29Jesus told him:

You can be sure that anyone who gives up home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or land for me and for the good news 30will be rewarded. In this world they will be given a hundred times as many houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and pieces of land, though they will also be mistreated. And in the world to come, they will have eternal life. 31But many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.

Footnotes:
Mark 10:14 People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God: Or "The kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these little children."
Mark 10:24 hard: Some manuscripts add "for people who trust in their wealth." Others add "for the rich."


Psalm 44:9-26 (Contemporary English Version)

9But now you have rejected us;
you don't lead us into battle,
and we look foolish.

10You made us retreat,
and our enemies have taken
everything we own.

11You let us be slaughtered
like sheep,
and you scattered us
among the nations.

12You sold your people
for little or nothing,
and you earned no profit.

13You made us look foolish
to our neighbors,
and people who live nearby
insult us and sneer.

14Foreigners joke about us
and shake their heads.

15I am embarrassed every day,
and I blush with shame.

16But others mock and sneer,
as they watch my enemies
take revenge on me.

17All of this has happened to us,
though we didn't forget you
or break our agreement.

18We always kept you in mind
and followed your teaching.

19But you crushed us,
and you covered us
with deepest darkness
where wild animals live.

20We did not forget you
or lift our hands in prayer
to foreign gods.

21You would have known it
because you discover
every secret thought.

22We face death all day for you.
We are like sheep on their way
to be slaughtered.

23Wake up! Do something, Lord!
Why are you sleeping?
Don't desert us forever.

24Why do you keep looking away?
Don't forget our sufferings
and all of our troubles.

25We are flat on the ground,
holding on to the dust.

26Do something! Help us!
Show how kind you are
and come to our rescue.


Proverbs 10:20-21 (Contemporary English Version)

20The words of a good person
are like pure silver,
but the thoughts
of an evil person
are almost worthless.

21Many are helped
by useful instruction,
but fools are killed
by their own stupidity.