Matthew 18:21-35; Numbers 7; Numbers 8; Ecclesiastes 6

Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

22 "I tell you, not as many as seven," Jesus said to him, "but 70 times seven.

23 For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents was brought before him.

25 Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.

26 "At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!'

27 Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.

28 "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, 'Pay what you owe!'

29 "At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

30 But he wasn't willing. On the contrary, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed.

31 When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened.

32 "Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.

33 Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?'

34 And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers until he could pay everything that was owed.

35 So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart."

Numbers 7

1 On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, along with the altar and all its utensils. After he anointed and consecrated these things,

2 the leaders of Israel, the heads of their ancestral houses, presented [an offering]. They were the tribal leaders who supervised the registration.

3 They brought as their offering before the Lord six covered carts and 12 oxen, a cart from every two leaders and an ox from each one, and presented them in front of the tabernacle.

4 The Lord said to Moses,

5 "Accept [these] from them to be used in the work of the tent of meeting, and give this offering to the Levites, to each [division] according to their service."

6 So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites.

7 He gave the Gershonites two carts and four oxen corresponding to their service,

8 and gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen corresponding to their service, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

9 But he did not give [any] to the Kohathites, since their responsibility was service related to the holy objects carried on their shoulders.

10 The leaders also presented the dedication gift for the altar when it was anointed. The leaders presented their offerings in front of the altar.

11 The Lord told Moses, "Each day have one leader present his offering for the dedication of the altar."

12 The one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah.

13 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

14 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

15 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

16 one male goat for a sin offering;

17 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, presented [an offering].

19 As his offering, he presented one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

20 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

21 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

22 one male goat for a sin offering;

23 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

24 On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the Zebulunites, [presented an offering].

25 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

26 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

27 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

28 one male goat for a sin offering;

29 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the Reubenites, [presented an offering].

31 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

32 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

33 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

34 one male goat for a sin offering;

35 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the Simeonites, [presented an offering].

37 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

38 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

39 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

40 one male goat for a sin offering;

41 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the Gadites, [presented an offering].

43 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

44 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

45 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

46 one male goat for a sin offering;

47 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the Ephraimites, [presented an offering].

49 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

50 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

51 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

52 one male goat for a sin offering;

53 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the Manassites, [presented an offering].

55 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

56 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

57 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

58 one male goat for a sin offering;

59 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the Benjaminites, [presented an offering].

61 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

62 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

63 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

64 one male goat for a sin offering;

65 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the Danites, [presented an offering].

67 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

68 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

69 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

70 one male goat for a sin offering;

71 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ochran, leader of the Asherites, [presented an offering].

73 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

74 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

75 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

76 one male goat for a sin offering;

77 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran.

78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the Naphtalites, [presented an offering].

79 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds, [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

80 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense;

81 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

82 one male goat for a sin offering;

83 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

84 This was the dedication gift from the leaders of Israel for the altar when it was anointed: 12 silver dishes, 12 silver basins, and 12 gold bowls.

85 Each silver dish [weighed] three and a quarter pounds, and each basin one and three-quarter pounds. The total [weight] of the silver articles was 60 pounds [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel.

86 The 12 gold bowls full of incense each [weighed] four ounces [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel. The total [weight] of the gold bowls was three pounds.

87 All the livestock for the burnt offering totaled 12 bulls, 12 rams, and 12 male lambs a year old, with their grain offerings, and 12 male goats for the sin offering.

88 All the livestock for the fellowship sacrifice totaled 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male breeding goats, and 60 male lambs a year old. This was the dedication gift for the altar after it was anointed.

89 When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim. He spoke to him [that way].

Numbers 8

1 The Lord spoke to Moses:

2 "Speak to Aaron and tell him: When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps are to give light in front of the lampstand."

3 So Aaron did this; he set up its lamps [to give light] in front of the lampstand just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

4 This is the way the lampstand was made: it was a hammered work of gold, hammered from its base to its flower petals. The lampstand was made according to the pattern the Lord had shown Moses.

5 The Lord spoke to Moses:

6 "Take the Levites from among the Israelites and ceremonially cleanse them.

7 This is what you must do to them for their purification: Sprinkle them with the purification water. Have them shave their entire bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.

8 "They are to take a young bull and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.

9 Bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the entire Israelite community.

10 Then present the Levites before the Lord, and have the Israelites lay their hands on them.

11 Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a presentation offering from the Israelites, so that they may perform the Lord's work.

12 Next the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls. Sacrifice one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for the Levites.

13 "You are to have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and you are to present them before the Lord as a presentation offering.

14 In this way you are to separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites so that the Levites will belong to Me.

15 After that the Levites may come to serve [at] the tent of meeting, once you have ceremonially cleansed them and presented them as a presentation offering.

16 For they have been exclusively assigned to Me from the Israelites. I have taken them for Myself in place of all who come first from the womb, every Israelite firstborn.

17 For every firstborn among the Israelites is Mine, both man and animal. I consecrated them to Myself on the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt.

18 But I have taken the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites.

19 From the Israelites, I have given the Levites exclusively to Aaron and his sons to perform the work for the Israelites at the tent of meeting and to make atonement on their behalf, so that no plague will come against the Israelites when they approach the sanctuary."

20 Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community did [this] to the Levites. The Israelites did everything to them the Lord commanded Moses regarding the Levites.

21 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented them before the Lord as a presentation offering. Aaron also made atonement for them to ceremonially cleanse them.

22 After that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting in the presence of Aaron and his sons. So they did to them as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites.

23 The Lord spoke to Moses:

24 "In regard to the Levites: From 25 years old or more, a man enters the service in the work at the tent of meeting.

25 But at 50 years old he is to retire from his service in the work and no longer serve.

26 He may assist his brothers to fulfill responsibilities at the tent of meeting, but he must not do the work. This is how you are to deal with the Levites regarding their duties."

Ecclesiastes 6

1 Here is a tragedy I have observed under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity:

2 God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself, but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy.

3 A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives, if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

4 For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness.

5 Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he.

6 And if he lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place?

7 All man's labor is for his stomach, yet the appetite is never satisfied.

8 What advantage then does the wise man have over the fool? What [advantage] is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others?

9 Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

10 Whatever exists was given its name long ago, and who man is, is known. But he is not able to contend with the One stronger than he.

11 For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for man?

12 For who knows what is good for man in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell man what will happen after him under the sun?