Matthew 8:14-34; Leviticus 1; Leviticus 2; Proverbs 19

Matthew 8:14-34

14 When Jesus went into Peter's house, He saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.

15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve Him.

16 When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick,

17 so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: He Himself took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.

18 When Jesus saw large crowds around Him, He gave the order to go to the other side [of the sea].

19 A scribe approached Him and said, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go!"

20 Jesus told him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head."

21 "Lord," another of His disciples said, "first let me go bury my father."

22 But Jesus told him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

23 As He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.

24 Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But He was sleeping.

25 So the disciples came and woke Him up, saying, "Lord, save [us]! We're going to die!"

26 But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, you of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.

27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this?-even the winds and the sea obey Him!"

28 When He had come to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met Him as they came out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.

29 Suddenly they shouted, "What do You have to do with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?"

30 Now a long way off from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding.

31 "If You drive us out," the demons begged Him, "send us into the herd of pigs."

32 "Go!" He told them. So when they had come out, they entered the pigs. And suddenly the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water.

33 Then the men who tended them fled. They went into the city and reported everything-especially what had happened to those who were demon-possessed.

34 At that, the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.

Leviticus 1

1 Then the Lord summoned Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting:

2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the Lord from the livestock, you may bring your offering from the herd or the flock.

3 "If his gift is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to bring an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting so that he may be accepted by the Lord.

4 He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

5 He is to slaughter the bull before the Lord; Aaron's sons the priests are to present the blood and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar that is at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

6 Then he must skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.

7 The sons of Aaron the priest will prepare a fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.

8 Aaron's sons the priests are to arrange the pieces, the head, and the suet on top of the burning wood on the altar.

9 The offerer must wash its entrails and shanks with water. Then the priest will burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

10 "But if his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from sheep or goats, he is to present an unblemished male.

11 He will slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the Lord. Aaron's sons the priests will sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides.

12 He will cut it into pieces with its head and its suet, and the priest will arrange them on top of the burning wood on the altar.

13 But he is to wash the entrails and shanks with water. The priest will then present all of it and burn [it] on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

14 "If his gift to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present his offering from the turtledoves or young pigeons.

15 Then the priest must bring it to the altar, and must twist off its head and burn [it] on the altar; its blood should be drained at the side of the altar.

16 He will remove its digestive tract, cutting off the tail feathers, and throw it on the east side of the altar at the place for ashes.

17 He will tear it open by its wings without dividing [the bird]. Then the priest is to burn it on the altar on top of the burning wood. It is a burnt offering, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

Leviticus 2

1 "When anyone presents a grain offering as a gift to the Lord, his gift must consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it,

2 and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. The priest will take a handful of fine flour and oil from it, along with all its frankincense, and will burn this memorial portion of it on the altar, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

3 But the rest of the grain offering will belong to Aaron and his sons, the holiest part of the fire offerings to the Lord.

4 "When you present a grain offering baked in an oven, it must be [made] of fine flour, either unleavened cakes mixed with oil or unleavened wafers coated with oil.

5 If your gift is a grain offering prepared on the griddle, it must be unleavened bread [made] of fine flour mixed with oil.

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

7 If your gift is a grain offering [prepared] in a pan, it must be made of fine flour with oil.

8 When you bring to the Lord the grain offering made in any of these ways, it is to be presented to the priest, and he will take it to the altar.

9 The priest will remove the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

10 But the rest of the grain offering will belong to Aaron and his sons, the holiest part of the fire offerings to the Lord.

11 "No grain offering that you present to the Lord is to be made with yeast, for you are not to burn any yeast or honey as a fire offering to the Lord.

12 You may present them to the Lord as an offering of firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma.

13 You are to season each of your grain offerings with salt; you must not omit from your grain offering the salt of the covenant with your God. You are to present salt with each of your offerings.

14 "If you present a grain offering of firstfruits to the Lord, you must present fresh heads of grain, crushed kernels, roasted on the fire, for your grain offering of firstfruits.

15 You are to put oil and frankincense on it; it is a grain offering.

16 The priest will then burn some of its crushed kernels and oil with all its frankincense as a fire offering to the Lord.

Proverbs 19

1 Better a poor man who walks in integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

2 Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins.

3 A man's own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

6 Many seek the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.

7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him; how much more do his friends keep their distance from him! He may pursue [them with] words, [but] they are not [there].

8 The one who acquires good sense loves himself; one who safeguards understanding finds success.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes.

10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool- how much less for a slave to rule over princes!

11 A person's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

12 A king's rage is like a lion's roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a wife's nagging is an endless dripping.

14 A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a sensible wife is from the Lord.

15 Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry.

16 The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards his ways will die.

17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and He will give a reward to the lender.

18 Discipline your son while there is hope; don't be intent on killing him.

19 A person with great anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you'll have to do it again.

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise in later life.

21 Many plans are in a man's heart, but the Lord's decree will prevail.

22 A man's desire should be loyalty to the covenant; better to be a poor man than a perjurer.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger.

24 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn't even bring it back to his mouth.

25 Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.

26 The one who assaults his father and evicts his mother is a disgraceful and shameful son.

27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.