Leviticus 6:24-30 and Luke 12:54-59 (NLT)

Leviticus 6:24-30
The Sin Offering
24  Then the Lord said to Moses,
25  “Give Aaron and his sons the following instructions regarding the sin offering. The animal given as an offering for sin is a most holy offering, and it must be slaughtered in the Lord’s presence at the place where the burnt offerings are slaughtered.
26  The priest who offers the sacrifice as a sin offering must eat his portion in a sacred place within the courtyard of the Tabernacle.
27  Anyone or anything that touches the sacrificial meat will become holy. If any of the sacrificial blood spatters on a person’s clothing, the soiled garment must be washed in a sacred place.
28  If a clay pot is used to boil the sacrificial meat, it must then be broken. If a bronze pot is used, it must be scoured and thoroughly rinsed with water.
29  Any male from a priest’s family may eat from this offering; it is most holy.
30  But the offering for sin may not be eaten if its blood was brought into the Tabernacle as an offering for purification in the Holy Place. It must be completely burned with fire.

Luke 12:54-59
Interpreting the Times

54  Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. 

55  When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. 

56  You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.

57  “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? 

58  When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. 

59  And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.”

Leviticus 6:14-23 and Luke 12:49-53 (NIV)

Leviticus 6:14-23
The Grain Offering
14  "These are the regulations for the grain offering:  Aaron's sons are to bring it before the Lord, in front of the altar.
15  The priest is to take a handful of fine flour and oil, together with all the incense on the grain offering, and burn the memorial portion on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
16  Aaron and his sons shall eat the rest of it, but it it is to be eaten without yeast in a holy place; they are to eat in the courtyard of the Tent of the Meeting.
17  It must not be baked with yeast; I have given it as their share of the offerings made to me by fire.  Like the sin offering and the guilt offering, it is most holy.
18  Any male descendant of Aaron may eat it.  It is his regular share of the offerings made to the Lord by fire for the generations to come.  Whatever touches them will become holy."
19  The Lord also said to Moses,
20  "This is the offering Aaron and his sons are to bring to the Lord on the day he is anointed:  a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening.

Luke 12:49-53
Not Peace But Division

49  “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! 

50   I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. 

51   Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! 

52   From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.

53   ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’”

Leviticus 6:8-13 and Luke 12:35-48 (NLT)

Leviticus 6:8-13
The Burnt Offering
8    Then the Lord said to Moses,
9    “Give Aaron and his sons the following instructions regarding the burnt offering. The burnt offering must be left on top of the altar until the next morning, and the fire on the altar must be kept burning all night.
10   In the morning, after the priest on duty has put on his official linen clothing and linen undergarments, he must clean out the ashes of the burnt offering and put them beside the altar.
11  Then he must take off these garments, change back into his regular clothes, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean.
12   Meanwhile, the fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must never go out. Each morning the priest will add fresh wood to the fire and arrange the burnt offering on it. He will then burn the fat of the peace offerings on it.
13   Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.

Luke 12:35-48
Watchfulness

35  “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 

36  as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 

37  The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 

38   He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

39   “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 

40  You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

41   Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”

42   And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 

43   If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 

44   I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 

45   But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?

46   The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.

47   “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 

48   But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Leviticus 6:1-7 and Luke 12:22-34 (NLT)

Leviticus 6:1-7
The Guilt Offering
1    Then the Lord said to Moses,
2    “Suppose one of you sins against your associate and is unfaithful to the Lord. Suppose you cheat in a deal involving a security deposit, or you steal or commit fraud,
3    or you find lost property and lie about it, or you lie while swearing to tell the truth, or you commit any other such sin.
4    If you have sinned in any of these ways, you are guilty. You must give back whatever you stole, or the money you took by extortion, or the security deposit, or the lost property you found,
5    or anything obtained by swearing falsely. You must make restitution by paying the full price plus an additional 20 percent to the person you have harmed. On the same day you must present a guilt offering.
6    As a guilt offering to the Lord, you must bring to the priest your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value.
7    Through this process, the priest will purify you before the Lord, making you right with him, and you will be forgiven for any of these sins you have committed.”
Luke 12:22-34
Do Not Worry

22  Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 

23  For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 

24  Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 

25  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 

26  And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

27  “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 

28  And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

29  “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 

30  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 

31  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

32  “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

33  “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 

34  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Leviticus 5:14-19 and Luke 12:13-21 (NLT)

Leviticus 5:14-19
The Guilt Offering

14  Then the Lord said to Moses, 

15  “If one of you commits a sin by unintentionally defiling the Lord’s sacred property, you must bring a guilt offering to the Lord. The offering must be your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value with silver, as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. 

16  You must make restitution for the sacred property you have harmed by paying for the loss, plus an additional 20 percent. When you give the payment to the priest, he will purify you with the ram sacrificed as a guilt offering, making you right with the Lord, and you will be forgiven.

17  “Suppose you sin by violating one of the Lord’s commands. Even if you are unaware of what you have done, you are guilty and will be punished for your sin. 

18  For a guilt offering, you must bring to the priest your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value. Through this process the priest will purify you from your unintentional sin, making you right with the Lord, and you will be forgiven. 

19  This is a guilt offering, for you have been guilty of an offense against the Lord.”

Luke 12:13-21
The Parable of the Rich Fool

13  Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

14  Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 

15  Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

16  Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 

17  He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 

18  Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 

19  And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

20  “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

21  “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Leviticus 5:1-13 and Luke 12:1-12 (NLT)

Leviticus 5:1-13
Sins Requiring a Sin Offering

1    “If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.

2    “Or suppose you unknowingly touch something that is ceremonially unclean, such as the carcass of an unclean animal. When you realize what you have done, you must admit your defilement and your guilt. This is true whether it is a wild animal, a domestic animal, or an animal that scurries along the ground.

3    “Or suppose you unknowingly touch something that makes a person unclean. When you realize what you have done, you must admit your guilt.

4    “Or suppose you make a foolish vow of any kind, whether its purpose is for good or for bad. When you realize its foolishness, you must admit your guilt.

5    “When you become aware of your guilt in any of these ways, you must confess your sin. 

6    Then you must bring to the Lord as the penalty for your sin a female from the flock, either a sheep or a goat. This is a sin offering with which the priest will purify you from your sin, making you right with the Lord.

7    “But if you cannot afford to bring a sheep, you may bring to the Lord two turtledoves or two young pigeons as the penalty for your sin. One of the birds will be for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. 

8    You must bring them to the priest, who will present the first bird as the sin offering. He will wring its neck but without severing its head from the body. 

9    Then he will sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering against the sides of the altar, and the rest of the blood will be drained out at the base of the altar. This is an offering for sin. 

10  The priest will then prepare the second bird as a burnt offering, following all the procedures that have been prescribed. Through this process the priest will purify you from your sin, making you right with the Lord, and you will be forgiven.

11  “If you cannot afford to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, you may bring two quarts of choice flour for your sin offering. Since it is an offering for sin, you must not moisten it with olive oil or put any frankincense on it. 

12  Take the flour to the priest, who will scoop out a handful as a representative portion. He will burn it on the altar on top of the special gifts presented to the Lord. It is an offering for sin. 

13  Through this process, the priest will purify those who are guilty of any of these sins, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the flour will belong to the priest, just as with the grain offering.”

Luke 12:1-12
Warnings and Encouragements

1    Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 

2    The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 

3    Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!

4    “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 

5    But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.

6    “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 

7    And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

8    “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. 

9    But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. 

10  Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11  “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, 

12   for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

Leviticus 4:22-35 and Luke 11:37-54 (NLT)

Leviticus 4:22-35
The Sin of Offering (continued)

22  “If one of Israel’s leaders sins by violating one of the commands of the Lord his God but doesn’t realize it, he is still guilty.
23  When he becomes aware of his sin, he must bring as his offering a male goat with no defects.
24  He must lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it at the place where burnt offerings are slaughtered before the Lord. This is an offering for his sin.
25  Then the priest will dip his finger in the blood of the sin offering and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
26  Then he must burn all the goat’s fat on the altar, just as he does with the peace offering. Through this process, the priest will purify the leader from his sin, making him right with the Lord, and he will be forgiven.
27  “If any of the common people sin by violating one of the Lord’s commands, but they don’t realize it, they are still guilty.
28  When they become aware of their sin, they must bring as an offering for their sin a female goat with no defects.
29  They must lay a hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place where burnt offerings are slaughtered.
30  Then the priest will dip his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
31  Then he must remove all the goat’s fat, just as he does with the fat of the peace offering. He will burn the fat on the altar, and it will be a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Through this process, the priest will purify the people, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven.
32  “If the people bring a sheep as their sin offering, it must be a female with no defects.
33  They must lay a hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place where burnt offerings are slaughtered.
34  Then the priest will dip his finger in the blood of the sin offering and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
35  Then he must remove all the sheep’s fat, just as he does with the fat of a sheep presented as a peace offering. He will burn the fat on the altar on top of the special gifts presented to the Lord. Through this process, the priest will purify the people from their sin, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven.


Luke 11:37-54
Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders

37  As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. 
38  His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom.
39  Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! 
40  Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 
41  So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.
42  “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
43  “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces. 
44  Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on.”
45  “Teacher,” said an expert in religious law, “you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.”
46  “Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden. 
47  What sorrow awaits you! For you build monuments for the prophets your own ancestors killed long ago.
48  But in fact, you stand as witnesses who agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you join in their crime by building the monuments! 
49  This is what God in his wisdom said about you:  ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them, but they will kill some and persecute the others.’
50  “As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world— 
51  from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation.
52  “What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”
53  As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions.
54  They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him.

Leviticus 4:1-21 and Luke 11:33-36 (NLT)

Leviticus 4:1-21
The Sin Offering

1    Then the Lord said to Moses, 

2    “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. This is how you are to deal with those who sin unintentionally by doing anything that violates one of the Lord’s commands.

3    “If the high priest sins, bringing guilt upon the entire community, he must give a sin offering for the sin he has committed. He must present to the Lord a young bull with no defects. 

4    He must bring the bull to the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the Lord. 

5    The high priest will then take some of the bull’s blood into the Tabernacle, 

6    dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord in front of the inner curtain of the sanctuary. 

7    The priest will then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar for fragrant incense that stands in the Lord’s presence inside the Tabernacle. He will pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar for burnt offerings at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 

8   Then the priest must remove all the fat of the bull to be offered as a sin offering. This includes all the fat around the internal organs, 

9    the two kidneys and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. He must remove these along with the kidneys, 

10  just as he does with cattle offered as a peace offering, and burn them on the altar of burnt offerings. 

11  But he must take whatever is left of the bull—its hide, meat, head, legs, internal organs, and dung— 

12  and carry it away to a place outside the camp that is ceremonially clean, the place where the ashes are dumped. There, on the ash heap, he will burn it on a wood fire.

13  “If the entire Israelite community sins by violating one of the Lord’s commands, but the people don’t realize it, they are still guilty. 

14  When they become aware of their sin, the people must bring a young bull as an offering for their sin and present it before the Tabernacle. 

15  The elders of the community must then lay their hands on the bull’s head and slaughter it before the Lord. 

16  The high priest will then take some of the bull’s blood into the Tabernacle, 

17  dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord in front of the inner curtain. 

18  He will then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar for fragrant incense that stands in the Lord’s presence inside the Tabernacle. He will pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar for burnt offerings at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 

19  Then the priest must remove all the animal’s fat and burn it on the altar, 

20  just as he does with the bull offered as a sin offering for the high priest. Through this process, the priest will purify the people, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven. 

21  Then the priest must take what is left of the bull and carry it outside the camp and burn it there, just as is done with the sin offering for the high priest. This offering is for the sin of the entire congregation of Israel.

Luke 11:33-36
The Lamp of the Body

33  “No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

34  “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness. 
35  Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. 
36  If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”

Leviticus 3:1-17 and Luke 11:29-32 (NLT)

Leviticus 3:1-17
the Fellowship Offering

1    “If you present an animal from the herd as a peace offering to the Lord, it may be a male or a female, but it must have no defects. 

2    Lay your hand on the animal’s head, and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Then Aaron’s sons, the priests, will splatter its blood against all sides of the altar. 

3    The priest must present part of this peace offering as a special gift to the Lord. This includes all the fat around the internal organs, 

4    the two kidneys and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. These must be removed with the kidneys, 

5    and Aaron’s sons will burn them on top of the burnt offering on the wood burning on the altar. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

6    “If you present an animal from the flock as a peace offering to the Lord, it may be a male or a female, but it must have no defects. 

7    If you present a sheep as your offering, bring it to the Lord, 

8    lay your hand on its head, and slaughter it in front of the Tabernacle. Aaron’s sons will then splatter the sheep’s blood against all sides of the altar. 

9    The priest must present the fat of this peace offering as a special gift to the Lord. This includes the fat of the broad tail cut off near the backbone, all the fat around the internal organs, 

10  the two kidneys and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. These must be removed with the kidneys, 

11  and the priest will burn them on the altar. It is a special gift of food presented to the Lord.

12  “If you present a goat as your offering, bring it to the Lord, 

13  lay your hand on its head, and slaughter it in front of the Tabernacle. Aaron’s sons will then splatter the goat’s blood against all sides of the altar. 

14  The priest must present part of this offering as a special gift to the Lord. This includes all the fat around the internal organs, 

15  the two kidneys and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. These must be removed with the kidneys, 

16  and the priest will burn them on the altar. It is a special gift of food, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. All the fat belongs to the Lord.

17  “You must never eat any fat or blood. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation, wherever you live.”

Luke 11:29-32
The Sign of Jonah

29  As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. 

30  What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God.

31  “The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen. 

32  The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.

Leviticus 2:1-16 and Luke 11:14-28 (NLT)

Leviticus 2:1-16
The Grain Offering

1    “When you present grain as an offering to the Lord, the offering must consist of choice flour. You are to pour olive oil on it, sprinkle it with frankincense, 

2    and bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests. The priest will scoop out a handful of the flour moistened with oil, together with all the frankincense, and burn this representative portion on the altar. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 

3    The rest of the grain offering will then be given to Aaron and his sons. This offering will be considered a most holy part of the special gifts presented to the Lord.

4    “If your offering is a grain offering baked in an oven, it must be made of choice flour, but without any yeast. It may be presented in the form of thin cakes mixed with olive oil or wafers spread with olive oil. 

5    If your grain offering is cooked on a griddle, it must be made of choice flour mixed with olive oil but without any yeast. 

6    Break it in pieces and pour olive oil on it; it is a grain offering. 

7    If your grain offering is prepared in a pan, it must be made of choice flour and olive oil.

8    “No matter how a grain offering for the Lord has been prepared, bring it to the priest, who will present it at the altar. 

9    The priest will take a representative portion of the grain offering and burn it on the altar. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 

10  The rest of the grain offering will then be given to Aaron and his sons as their food. This offering will be considered a most holy part of the special gifts presented to the Lord.

11  “Do not use yeast in preparing any of the grain offerings you present to the Lord, because no yeast or honey may be burned as a special gift presented to the Lord. 

12  You may add yeast and honey to an offering of the first crops of your harvest, but these must never be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 

13  Season all your grain offerings with salt to remind you of God’s eternal covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings.

14  “If you present a grain offering to the Lord from the first portion of your harvest, bring fresh grain that is coarsely ground and roasted on a fire. 

15  Put olive oil on this grain offering, and sprinkle it with frankincense. 

16  The priest will take a representative portion of the grain moistened with oil, together with all the frankincense, and burn it as a special gift presented to the Lord.

Luke 11:14-28
Jesus and Beelzebub

14  One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, 

15  but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” 

16  Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

17  He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 

18  You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? 

19  And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 

20  But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 

21  For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe— 

22  until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.

23  “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

24  “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ 

25  So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. 

26  Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”

27  As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!”

28  Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

Leviticus 1:1-17 and Luke 11:1-13 (NLT)

Leviticus 1:1-17
The Burnt Offering

1    The Lord called to Moses from the Tabernacle and said to him, 

2    “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you present an animal as an offering to the Lord, you may take it from your herd of cattle or your flock of sheep and goats.

3    “If the animal you present as a burnt offering is from the herd, it must be a male with no defects. Bring it to the entrance of the Tabernacle so you may be accepted by the Lord. 

4    Lay your hand on the animal’s head, and the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him. 

5    Then slaughter the young bull in the Lord’s presence, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, will present the animal’s blood by splattering it against all sides of the altar that stands at the entrance to the Tabernacle. 

6    Then skin the animal and cut it into pieces. 

7    The sons of Aaron the priest will build a wood fire on the altar. 

8    They will arrange the pieces of the offering, including the head and fat, on the wood burning on the altar. 

9    But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

10  “If the animal you present as a burnt offering is from the flock, it may be either a sheep or a goat, but it must be a male with no defects. 

11  Slaughter the animal on the north side of the altar in the Lord’s presence, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, will splatter its blood against all sides of the altar. 

12  Then cut the animal in pieces, and the priests will arrange the pieces of the offering, including the head and fat, on the wood burning on the altar. 

13  But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

14  “If you present a bird as a burnt offering to the Lord, choose either a turtledove or a young pigeon. 

15  The priest will take the bird to the altar, wring off its head, and burn it on the altar. But first he must drain its blood against the side of the altar. 

16  The priest must also remove the crop and the feathers and throw them in the ashes on the east side of the altar. 

17  Then, grasping the bird by its wings, the priest will tear the bird open, but without tearing it apart. Then he will burn it as a burnt offering on the wood burning on the altar. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

Luke 11:1-13
Jesus Teaching On Prayer

1    Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2    Jesus said, “This is how you should pray:  “Father, may your name be kept holy.  May your Kingdom come soon.

3    Give us each day the food we need,

4    and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.  And don’t let us yield to temptation.”

5    Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 

6    ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ 

7    And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ 

8    But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

9    “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 

10  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

11  “You fathers—if your children ask^]for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 

12  Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 

13  So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Exodus 40:34-38 and Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)

Exodus 40:34-38
The Glory of the Lord

34  Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. 

35  Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.

36  Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it. 

37  But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted. 

38  The cloud of the Lord hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys.

Luke 10:38-42
At the Home of Martha and Mary

38  As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 

39  Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 

40  But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

41  But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 

42  There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Exodus 40:1-33 and Luke 10:25-37 (NLT)

Exodus 40:1-33
Setting Up The Tabernacle

1    Then the Lord said to Moses, 

2    “Set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the new year. 

3    Place the Ark of the Covenant inside, and install the inner curtain to enclose the Ark within the Most Holy Place. 

4    Then bring in the table, and arrange the utensils on it. And bring in the lampstand, and set up the lamps.

5    “Place the gold incense altar in front of the Ark of the Covenant. Then hang the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 

6    Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the Tabernacle entrance. 

7    Set the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water. 

8    Then set up the courtyard around the outside of the tent, and hang the curtain for the courtyard entrance.

9    “Take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle and all its furnishings to consecrate them and make them holy. 

10  Anoint the altar of burnt offering and its utensils to consecrate them. Then the altar will become absolutely holy. 

11  Next anoint the washbasin and its stand to consecrate them.

12  “Present Aaron and his sons at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and wash them with water. 

13  Dress Aaron with the sacred garments and anoint him, consecrating him to serve me as a priest. 

14  Then present his sons and dress them in their tunics. 

15  Anoint them as you did their father, so they may also serve me as priests. With their anointing, Aaron’s descendants are set apart for the priesthood forever, from generation to generation.”

16  Moses proceeded to do everything just as the Lord had commanded him. 

17  So the Tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year. 

18  Moses erected the Tabernacle by setting down its bases, inserting the frames, attaching the crossbars, and setting up the posts. 

19  Then he spread the coverings over the Tabernacle framework and put on the protective layers, just as the Lord had commanded him.

20  He took the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant and placed them inside the Ark. Then he attached the carrying poles to the Ark, and he set the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—on top of it.

21  Then he brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Tabernacle and hung the inner curtain to shield it from view, just as the Lord had commanded him.

22  Next Moses placed the table in the Tabernacle, along the north side of the Holy Place, just outside the inner curtain. 

23  And he arranged the Bread of the Presence on the table before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded him.

24  He set the lampstand in the Tabernacle across from the table on the south side of the Holy Place. 

25  Then he lit the lamps in the Lord’s presence, just as the Lord had commanded him. 

26  He also placed the gold incense altar in the Tabernacle, in the Holy Place in front of the inner curtain. 

27  On it he burned the fragrant incense, just as the Lord had commanded him.

28  He hung the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle, 

29  and he placed the altar of burnt offering near the Tabernacle entrance. On it he offered a burnt offering and a grain offering, just as the Lord had commanded him.

30  Next Moses placed the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar. He filled it with water so the priests could wash themselves. 

31  Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons used water from it to wash their hands and feet. 

32  Whenever they approached the altar and entered the Tabernacle, they washed themselves, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

33  Then he hung the curtains forming the courtyard around the Tabernacle and the altar. And he set up the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard. So at last Moses finished the work.

Luke 10:25-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25  One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

26  Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

27  The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28  “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

29  The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30  Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

31  “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 

32  A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

33  “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 

34  Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 

35  The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

36  “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

37  The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Exodus 39:32-43 and Luke 10:1-24 (NLT)

Exodus 39:32-43
Moses Inspects the Tabernacle

32  And so at last the Tabernacle was finished. The Israelites had done everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 

33  And they brought the entire Tabernacle to Moses:  the sacred tent with all its furnishings, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases;

34  the tent coverings of tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; the inner curtain to shield the Ark;

35  the Ark of the Covenant and its carrying poles; the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement;

36  the table and all its utensils; the Bread of the Presence;

37  the pure gold lampstand with its symmetrical lamp cups, all its accessories, and the olive oil for lighting;

38  the gold altar; the anointing oil and fragrant incense; the curtain for the entrance of the sacred tent;

39  the bronze altar; the bronze grating and its carrying poles and utensils; the washbasin with its stand;

40  the curtains for the walls of the courtyard; the posts and their bases; the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; the ropes and tent pegs; all the furnishings to be used in worship at the Tabernacle;

41  the beautifully stitched garments for the priests to wear while ministering in the Holy Place—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests.

42  So the people of Israel followed all of the Lord’s instructions to Moses. 

43  Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them.

Luke 10:1-24
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two

1    The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 

2    These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. 

3    Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 

4    Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.

5    “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ 

6    If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. 

7    Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.

8    “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. 

9    Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ 

10  But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 

11  ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’ 

12  I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day.

13  “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 

14  Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 

15  And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.”

16  Then he said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.”

17  When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”

18  “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 

19  Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 

20  But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

21  At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

22  “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23  Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. 

24  I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

Exodus 39:22-31 and Luke 9:57-62 (NLT)

Exodus 39:22-31
Other Priestly Garments

22  Bezalel made the robe that is worn with the ephod from a single piece of blue woven cloth, 

23  with an opening for Aaron’s head in the middle of it. The opening was reinforced with a woven collar^[a] so it would not tear. 

24  They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attached them to the hem of the robe. 

25  They also made bells of pure gold and placed them between the pomegranates along the hem of the robe, 

26  with bells and pomegranates alternating all around the hem. This robe was to be worn whenever the priest ministered before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

27  They made tunics for Aaron and his sons from fine linen cloth. 

28  The turban and the special head coverings were made of fine linen, and the undergarments were also made of finely woven linen. 

29  The sashes were made of finely woven linen and embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

30  Finally, they made the sacred medallion—the badge of holiness—of pure gold. They engraved it like a seal with these words: Holy to the Lord. 

31  They attached the medallion with a blue cord to Aaron’s turban, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Luke 9:57-62
The Cost of Following Jesus

57  As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58  But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

59  He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”  The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

60  But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

61  Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

62  But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Exodus 39:8-21 and Luke 9:51-56 (NLT)

Exodus 39:8-21
The Breastpiece

8    Bezalel made the chestpiece with great skill and care. He made it to match the ephod, using finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. 

9    He made the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches square. 

10  They mounted four rows of gemstones on it. The first row contained a red carnelian, a pale-green peridot, and an emerald. 

11  The second row contained a turquoise, a blue lapis lazuli, and a white moonstone. 

12  The third row contained an orange jacinth, an agate, and a purple amethyst. 

13  The fourth row contained a blue-green beryl, an onyx, and a green jasper. All these stones were set in gold filigree. 

14  Each stone represented one of the twelve sons of Israel, and the name of that tribe was engraved on it like a seal.

15  To attach the chestpiece to the ephod, they made braided cords of pure gold thread. 

16  They also made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings and attached them to the top corners of the chestpiece. 

17  They tied the two gold cords to the rings on the chestpiece. 

18  They tied the other ends of the cords to the gold settings on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. 

19  Then they made two more gold rings and attached them to the inside edges of the chestpiece next to the ephod. 

20  Then they made two more gold rings and attached them to the front of the ephod, below the shoulder-pieces, just above the knot where the decorative sash was fastened to the ephod. 

21  They attached the bottom rings of the chestpiece to the rings on the ephod with blue cords. In this way, the chestpiece was held securely to the ephod above the decorative sash. All this was done just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Luke 9:51-56
Samaritan Opposition
51  As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
52  He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival.
53  But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem.
54  When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?”
55  But Jesus turned and rebuked them.
56  So they went on to another village.