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

Matthew 13:1-23

1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.

2 Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.

3 Then He told them many things in parables, saying: "Consider the sower who went out to sow.

4 As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up.

5 Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn't much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn't deep.

6 But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered.

7 Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them.

8 Still others fell on good ground, and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times [what was sown].

9 Anyone who has ears should listen!"

10 Then the disciples came up and asked Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"

11 He answered them, "Because the secrets does not mean "mysteries" in the Eng sense; it means what we can know only by divine revelation. of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.

12 For whoever has, [more] will be given to him, and he will have more than enough. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

13 For this reason I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand.

14 Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive.

15 For this people's heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn back- and I would cure them.

16 "But your eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!

17 For I assure you: Many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see yet didn't see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn't hear them.

18 "You, then, listen to the parable of the sower:

19 When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.

20 And the one sown on rocky ground-this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.

21 Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

22 Now the one sown among the thorns-this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

23 But the one sown on the good ground-this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times [what was sown]."

Leviticus 17

1 The Lord spoke to Moses:

2 "Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites and tell them: This is what the Lord has commanded:

3 Anyone from the house of Israel who slaughters an ox, sheep, or goat in the camp, or slaughters [it] outside the camp,

4 instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to present [it] as an offering to the Lord before His tabernacle-that person will be charged with murder. He has shed blood and must be cut off from his people.

5 This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices they have been offering in the open country. They are to bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting and offer them as fellowship sacrifices to the Lord.

6 The priest will then sprinkle the blood on the Lord's altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the fat as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

7 They must no longer offer their sacrifices to the goat-demons that they have prostituted themselves with. This will be a permanent statute for them throughout their generations.

8 "Say to them: Anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who live among them who offers a burnt offering or a sacrifice

9 but does not bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to sacrifice it to the Lord, that person must be cut off from his people.

10 "Anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who live among them who eats any blood, I will turn against that person who eats blood and cut him off from his people.

11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.

12 Therefore I say to the Israelites: None of you and no foreigner who lives among you may eat blood.

13 "Any Israelite or foreigner living among them, who hunts down a wild animal or bird that may be eaten must drain its blood and cover it with dirt.

14 Since the life of every creature is its blood, I have told the Israelites: You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it must be cut off.

15 "Every person, whether the native or the foreigner, who eats an animal that died a natural death or was mauled by wild beasts is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening; he will be clean.

16 But if he does not wash [his clothes] and bathe himself, he will bear his punishment."

Leviticus 18

1 The Lord spoke to Moses:

2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the Lord your God.

3 Do not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, or follow the practices of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You must not follow their customs.

4 You are to practice My ordinances and you are to keep My statutes by following them; I am the Lord your God.

5 Keep My statutes and ordinances; a person will live if he does them. I am the Lord.

6 "You are not to come near any close relative for sexual intercourse; I am the Lord.

7 You are not to shame your father by having sex with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual intercourse with her.

8 You are not to have sex with your father's wife; it will shame your father.

9 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your sister, either your father's daughter or your mother's, whether born at home or born elsewhere. You are not to have sex with her.

10 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, because it will shame your family.

11 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your father's wife's daughter, who is adopted by your father; she is your sister.

12 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your father's sister; she is your father's close relative.

13 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your mother's sister, for she is your mother's close relative.

14 You are not to shame your father's brother by coming near his wife to have sexual intercourse; she is your aunt.

15 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your daughter-in-law. She is your son's wife; you are not to have sex with her.

16 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your brother's wife; it will shame your brother.

17 You are not to have sexual intercourse with a woman and her daughter. You are not to marry her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter and have sex with her. They are close relatives; it is depraved.

18 You are not to marry a woman as a rival to her sister and have sexual intercourse with her during her [sister's] lifetime.

19 "You are not to come near a woman during her menstrual impurity to have sexual intercourse with her.

20 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your neighbor's wife, defiling yourself with her.

21 "You are not to make any of your children pass through [the fire] to Molech. Do not profane the name of your God; I am the Lord.

22 You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable.

23 You are not to have sexual intercourse with any animal, defiling yourself with it; a woman is not to present herself to an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.

24 "Do not defile yourselves by any of these [practices], for the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves by all these things.

25 The land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants.

26 But you are to keep My statutes and ordinances. You must not commit any of these abominations-not the native or the foreigner who lives among you.

27 For the men who were in the land prior to you have committed all these abominations, and the land has become defiled.

28 If you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it has vomited out the nations that were before you.

29 Any person who does any of these abominations must be cut off from his people.

30 You must keep My instruction to not do any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them; I am the Lord your God."

Proverbs 28

1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing [them], but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

2 When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

3 A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.

4 Those who reject the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law battle against them.

5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand everything.

6 Better a poor man who lives with integrity than a rich man who distorts right and wrong.

7 A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.

8 Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest collects it for one who is kind to the poor.

9 Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law- even his prayer is detestable.

10 The one who leads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.

11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great rejoicing, but when the wicked come to power, people hide themselves.

13 The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

14 Happy is the one who is always reverent, but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

15 A wicked ruler over a helpless people is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.

16 A leader who lacks understanding is very oppressive, but one who hates unjust gain prolongs his life.

17 A man burdened by bloodguilt will be a fugitive until death. Let no one help him.

18 The one who lives with integrity will be helped, but one who distorts right and wrong will suddenly fall.

19 The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

20 A faithful man will have many blessings, but one in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished.

21 It is not good to show partiality- yet a man may sin for a piece of bread.

22 A greedy man is in a hurry for wealth; he doesn't know that poverty will come to him.

23 One who rebukes a person will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.

24 The one who robs his father or mother and says, "That's no sin," is a companion to a man who destroys.

25 A greedy person provokes conflict, but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.

26 The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.

27 The one who gives to the poor will not be in need, but one who turns his eyes away will receive many curses.

28 When the wicked come to power, people hide, but when they are destroyed, the righteous flourish.