Matthew 13:1-23; Leviticus 17; Leviticus 18; Proverbs 28

Matthew 13:1-23

1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.

2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow.

4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.

5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.

6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.

8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"

11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;

15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'

16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;

17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

18 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower:

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;

21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

Leviticus 17

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Speak to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, 'This is the thing which the Lord has commanded, saying:

3 "Whatever man of the house of Israel who kills an ox or lamb or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp,

4 and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting to offer an offering to the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord, the guilt of bloodshed shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people,

5 to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices which they offer in the open field, that they may bring them to the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to the priest, and offer them as peace offerings to the Lord.

6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and burn the fat for a sweet aroma to the Lord.

7 They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the harlot. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations." '

8 Also you shall say to them: 'Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice,

9 and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to offer it to the Lord, that man shall be cut off from among his people.

10 'And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.

11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.'

12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, 'No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.'

13 Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust;

14 for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, 'You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.'

15 "And every person who eats what died naturally or what was torn by beasts, whether he is a native of your own country or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. Then he shall be clean.

16 But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt."

Leviticus 18

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'I am the Lord your God.

3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances.

4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God.

5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.

6 'None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord.

7 The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.

8 The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover; it is your father's nakedness.

9 The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover.

10 The nakedness of your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness.

11 The nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, begotten by your father--she is your sister--you shall not uncover her nakedness.

12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is near of kin to your father.

13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is near of kin to your mother.

14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.

15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law--she is your son's wife--you shall not uncover her nakedness.

16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; it is your brother's nakedness.

17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness.

18 Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.

19 'Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity.

20 Moreover you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, to defile yourself with her.

21 And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.

23 Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion.

24 'Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you.

25 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.

26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you

27 (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled),

28 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you.

29 For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people.

30 Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the Lord your God.' "

Proverbs 28

1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged.

3 A poor man who oppresses the poor Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them.

5 Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand all.

6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father.

8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.

9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good.

11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out.

12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves.

13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

14 Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people.

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

17 A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit; Let no one help him.

18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.

23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue.

24 Whoever robs his father or his mother, And says, "It is no transgression," The same is companion to a destroyer.

25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

28 When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.