Matthew 13:24-58; Leviticus 19; Proverbs 29

Matthew 13:24-58

24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'

28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'

29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "

31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,

32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,

35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."

37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.

41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,

42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,

46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind,

48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.

49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,

50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

51 Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."

52 Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."

53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.

54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?

55 Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?"

57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."

58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Leviticus 19

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: 'You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

3 'Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.

4 'Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lord your God.

5 'And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it of your own free will.

6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day. And if any remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire.

7 And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination. It shall not be accepted.

8 Therefore everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the hallowed offering of the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from his people.

9 'When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.

10 And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.

11 'You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.

12 And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

13 'You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.

14 You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

15 'You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.

16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

17 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.

18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

19 'You shall keep My statutes. You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. You shall not sow your field with mixed seed. Nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool come upon you.

20 Whoever lies carnally with a woman who is betrothed to a man as a concubine, and who has not at all been redeemed nor given her freedom, for this there shall be scourging; but they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.

21 And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, a ram as a trespass offering.

22 The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he has committed. And the sin which he has committed shall be forgiven him.

23 'When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten.

24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the Lord.

25 And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am the Lord your God.

26 'You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying.

27 You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.

28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.

29 'Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry, and the land become full of wickedness.

30 'You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord.

31 'Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.

32 'You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.

33 'And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him.

34 The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

35 'You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume.

36 You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

37 'Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the Lord.' "

Proverbs 29

1 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

3 Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.

4 The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

5 A man who flatters his neighbor Spreads a net for his feet.

6 By transgression an evil man is snared, But the righteous sings and rejoices.

7 The righteous considers the cause of the poor, But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

8 Scoffers set a city aflame, But wise men turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man, Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

10 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless, But the upright seek his well-being.

11 A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.

12 If a ruler pays attention to lies, All his servants become wicked.

13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

14 The king who judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever.

15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases; But the righteous will see their fall.

17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul.

18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

19 A servant will not be corrected by mere words; For though he understands, he will not respond.

20 Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 He who pampers his servant from childhood Will have him as a son in the end.

22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression.

23 A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

24 Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

26 Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the Lord.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.