Exodus 27; Exodus 28; Matthew 21:1-22

1 "Build an altar out of acacia wood. It must be four feet six inches high and seven feet six inches square.

2 Make a horn stick out from each of its upper four corners. Cover the altar with bronze.

3 "Make all of its tools out of bronze. Make its pots to remove the ashes. Make its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and pans for carrying ashes.

4 "Make a bronze grate for the altar. Make a bronze ring for each of the four corners of the grate.

5 Put the grate halfway up the altar on the inside.

6 "Make poles out of acacia wood for the altar. Cover them with bronze.

7 Put the poles through the rings. They will be on two sides of the altar for carrying it.

8 "Make the altar out of boards. Make it hollow. You must make it just as I showed you on the mountain.

9 "Make a courtyard for the holy tent. The south side must be 150 feet long. It must have curtains that are made out of finely twisted linen.

10 The curtains must be hung on 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts must have silver hooks and bands on them.

11 "The north side must also be 150 feet long. It must have curtains with 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts must have silver hooks and bands on them.

12 "The west end of the courtyard must be 75 feet wide. It must have curtains with ten posts and ten bases.

13 "The east end of the courtyard, toward the sunrise, must also be 75 feet wide.

14 On one side of the entrance you must put curtains that are 22 feet six inches long. Hang them on three posts. Each post must have a base.

15 On the other side you must also put curtains that are 22 feet six inches long. Hang them on three posts. Each post must have a base.

16 "For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain that is 30 feet long. Make it out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. Have someone who sews skillfully make it. Hang it on four posts. Each post must have a base.

17 "All of the posts that are around the courtyard must have silver bands and hooks. They must also have bronze bases.

18 The courtyard must be 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. It must have curtains that are made out of finely twisted linen. They must be seven feet six inches high. The posts must have bronze bases.

19 "Make all of the other articles used for any purpose in the holy tent out of bronze. That includes all of the tent stakes for the tent and the courtyard.

20 "Command the people of Israel to bring you clear oil that is made from pressed olives. Use it to keep the lamps burning and giving light.

21 "Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Tent of Meeting. The lamps will be outside the curtain that is in front of the tablets of the covenant. The lamps must be kept burning in my sight from evening until morning. That is a law for the people of Israel that will last for all time to come.

1 "Have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the people of Israel. His sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar must also be brought. They will serve me as priests.

2 "Make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron. When he is wearing them, people will honor him. They will have respect for him.

3 "Speak to all of the skilled workers. I have given them the skill to do this kind of work. Tell them to make clothes for Aaron. He will wear them when he is set apart to serve me as priest.

4 They must make a chest cloth, a linen apron, an outer robe, an inner robe, a turban and a belt. They must make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons. Then they will serve me as priests.

5 Have them use fine gold wire, and blue, purple and bright red yarn, and fine linen.

6 "Make the linen apron out of fine gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen. Have a skilled worker make it.

7 It must have two shoulder straps joined to two of its corners.

8 "Its skillfully made waistband must be like it. The waistband must be part of the apron itself. Make the waistband out of fine gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen.

9 "Get two onyx stones. Carve the names of the sons of Israel on them.

10 Arrange them in the order of their birth. Carve six names on one stone and six on the other.

11 Carve the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a jewel cutter carves a seal. "Then put the stones in fancy gold settings.

12 Connect them to the shoulder straps of the linen apron. The stones will stand for the sons of Israel. Aaron must carry the names on his shoulders as a reminder while he is serving me.

13 Make fancy gold settings.

14 Make two braided chains out of pure gold. Make them like ropes. Join the chains to the settings.

15 "Make a chest cloth that will be used for making decisions. Have a skilled worker make it. Make it like the linen apron. Use fine gold wire, and blue, purple and bright red yarn, and finely twisted linen.

16 Make it nine inches square. Fold it in half.

17 "Put four rows of valuable jewels on it. Put a ruby, a topaz and a beryl in the first row.

18 Put a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald in the second row.

19 Put a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst in the third row.

20 And put a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper in the fourth row. Put them in fancy gold settings.

21 "Use a total of 12 stones. Use one for each of the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone must be carved like a seal with the name of one of the 12 tribes.

22 "Make braided chains out of pure gold for the chest cloth. Make them like ropes.

23 Make two gold rings for the chest cloth. Connect them to two corners of it.

24 Join the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the chest cloth.

25 Join the other ends of the chains to the two settings. Join them to the shoulder straps on the front of the linen apron.

26 "Make two gold rings. Connect them to the other two corners of the chest cloth. Put them on the inside edge next to the apron.

27 Make two more gold rings. Connect them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the apron. Put them close to the seam. Put them right above the waistband of the apron.

28 The rings of the chest cloth must be tied to the rings of the apron. Tie them to the waistband with blue cord. Then the chest cloth will not swing out from the linen apron.

29 "When Aaron enters the Holy Room, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart. Their names will be on the chest cloth of decision. They will be a continuing reminder while he is serving me.

30 "Also put the Urim and Thummim into the chest cloth. Then they will be over Aaron's heart when he comes to serve me. In that way, Aaron will always have what he needs to make decisions for the people of Israel. He will carry the Urim and Thummim over his heart while he is serving me.

31 "Make the outer robe of the linen apron completely from blue cloth.

32 In the center of the robe, make an opening for the head of the priest. Make an edge like a collar around the opening. Then it will not tear.

33 "Make pomegranates out of blue, purple and bright red yarn. Sew them around the hem of the robe. Sew gold bells between them.

34 Sew a gold bell between every two pomegranates all around the hem of the robe.

35 "Aaron must wear the robe when he serves. The bells will jingle when he enters the Holy Room while he is serving me. And they will jingle when he goes out. Then he will not die.

36 "Make a plate out of pure gold. Carve words on it as if it were a seal. Carve the words set apart for the Lord.

37 Tie the plate to the front of the turban with a blue cord.

38 "Aaron must wear it on his forehead all the time. He will be held accountable for all of the sacred gifts the Israelites set apart. Then I will accept the gifts.

39 "Make the inner robe out of fine linen. And make the turban out of fine linen. Have the belt made by a person who sews skillfully.

40 "Make inner robes, belts and headbands for Aaron's sons. When they are wearing them, people will honor them. They will also have respect for them.

41 "Put all of the clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons. Then pour olive oil on them and prepare them to serve me. Set them apart to serve me as priests.

42 "Make linen underwear that reaches from the waist to the thigh.

43 Aaron and the priests who are in his family line must wear it when they enter the Tent of Meeting. They must wear it when they approach the altar to serve in the Holy Room. Then they will not be found guilty and die. "For all time to come, that will be a law for Aaron and the priests who are in his family line.

1 As they all approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage. It was on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent out two disciples.

2 He said to them, "Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you get there, you will find a donkey tied up. Her colt will be with her. Untie them and bring them to me.

3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them. The owner will send them right away."

4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would come true. It says,

5 "Say to the city of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you. He is gentle and riding on a donkey. He is riding on a donkey's colt.' " (Zechariah 9:9)

6 The disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do.

7 They brought the donkey and the colt. They placed their coats on them. Then Jesus sat on the coats.

8 A very large crowd spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9 Some of the people went ahead of him, and some followed. They all shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Psalm 118:26) "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. The people asked, "Who is this?"

11 The crowds answered, "This is Jesus. He is the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

12 Jesus entered the temple area. He began chasing out all those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the people who were exchanging money. He also turned over the benches of those who were selling doves.

13 He said to them, "It is written that the Lord said, 'My house will be called a house where people can pray.'(Isaiah 56:7) But you are making it a 'den for robbers.' "(Jeremiah 7:11)

14 Blind people and those who were disabled came to Jesus at the temple. There he healed them.

15 The chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did. They also saw the children in the temple area shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" But when they saw all of this, they became angry.

16 "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus. "Haven't you ever read about it in Scripture? It says, " 'You have made sure that children and infants praise you.' " (Psalm 8:2)

17 Then Jesus left the people and went out of the city to Bethany. He spent the night there.

18 Early in the morning, Jesus was on his way back to Jerusalem. He was hungry.

19 He saw a fig tree by the road. He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Right away the tree dried up.

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree dry up so quickly?" they asked.

21 Jesus replied, "What I'm about to tell you is true. You must have faith and not doubt. Then you can do what was done to the fig tree. And you can say to this mountain, 'Go and throw yourself into the sea.' It will be done.

22 If you believe, you will receive what you ask for when you pray."