Mark 2, 3 & Genesis 31, 32

馬 可 福 音 2

¹ 過 了 些 日 子 ， 耶 穌 又 進 了 迦 百 農 。 人 聽 見 他 在 房 子 裡 ，

² 就 有 許 多 人 聚 集 ， 甚 至 連 門 前 都 沒 有 空 地 ； 耶 穌 就 對 他 們 講 道 。

³ 有 人 帶 著 一 個 癱 子 來 見 耶 穌 ， 是 用 四 個 人 抬 來 的 ；

⁴ 因 為 人 多 ， 不 得 近 前 ， 就 把 耶 穌 所 在 的 房 子 ， 拆 了 房 頂 ， 既 拆 通 了 ， 就 把 癱 子 連 所 躺 臥 的 褥 子 都 縋 下 來 。

⁵ 耶 穌 見 他 們 的 信 心 ， 就 對 癱 子 說 ： 小 子 ， 你 的 罪 赦 了 。

⁶ 有 幾 個 文 士 坐 在 那 裡 ， 心 裡 議 論 ， 說 ：

⁷ 這 個 人 為 甚 麼 這 樣 說 呢 ？ 他 說 僭 妄 的 話 了 。 除 了 神 以 外 ， 誰 能 赦 罪 呢 ？

⁸ 耶 穌 心 中 知 道 他 們 心 裡 這 樣 議 論 ， 就 說 ： 你 們 心 裡 為 甚 麼 這 樣 議 論 呢 ？

⁹ 或 對 癱 子 說 你 的 罪 赦 了 ， 或 說 起 來 ！ 拿 你 的 褥 子 行 走 ； 那 一 樣 容 易 呢 ？

¹⁰ 但 要 叫 你 們 知 道 ， 人 子 在 地 上 有 赦 罪 的 權 柄 。 就 對 癱 子 說 ：

¹¹ 我 吩 咐 你 ， 起 來 ！ 拿 你 的 褥 子 回 家 去 罷 。

¹² 那 人 就 起 來 ， 立 刻 拿 著 褥 子 ， 當 眾 人 面 前 出 去 了 ， 以 致 眾 人 都 驚 奇 ， 歸 榮 耀 與 神 ， 說 ： 我 們 從 來 沒 有 見 過 這 樣 的 事 ！

¹³ 耶 穌 又 出 到 海 邊 去 ， 眾 人 都 就 了 他 來 ， 他 便 教 訓 他 們 。

¹⁴ 耶 穌 經 過 的 時 候 ， 看 見 亞 勒 腓 的 兒 子 利 未 坐 在 稅 關 上 ， 就 對 他 說 ： 你 跟 從 我 來 。 他 就 起 來 ， 跟 從 了 耶 穌 。

¹⁵ 耶 穌 在 利 未 家 裡 坐 席 的 時 候 ， 有 好 些 稅 吏 和 罪 人 與 耶 穌 並 門 徒 一 同 坐 席 ； 因 為 這 樣 的 人 多 ， 他 們 也 跟 隨 耶 穌 。

¹⁶ 法 利 賽 人 中 的 文 士 （ 有 古 卷 ： 文 士 和 法 利 賽 人 ） 看 見 耶 穌 和 罪 人 並 稅 吏 一 同 吃 飯 ， 就 對 他 門 徒 說 ： 他 和 稅 吏 並 罪 人 一 同 吃 喝 麼 ？

¹⁷ 耶 穌 聽 見 ， 就 對 他 們 說 ： 康 健 的 人 用 不 著 醫 生 ， 有 病 的 人 才 用 得 著 。 我 來 本 不 是 召 義 人 ， 乃 是 召 罪 人 。

¹⁸ 當 下 ， 約 翰 的 門 徒 和 法 利 賽 人 禁 食 。 他 們 來 問 耶 穌 說 ： 約 翰 的 門 徒 和 法 利 賽 人 的 門 徒 禁 食 ， 你 的 門 徒 倒 不 禁 食 ， 這 是 為 甚 麼 呢 ？

¹⁹ 耶 穌 對 他 們 說 ： 新 郎 和 陪 伴 之 人 同 在 的 時 候 ， 陪 伴 之 人 豈 能 禁 食 呢 ？ 新 郎 還 同 在 ， 他 們 不 能 禁 食 。

²⁰ 但 日 子 將 到 ， 新 郎 要 離 開 他 們 ， 那 日 他 們 就 要 禁 食 。

²¹ 沒 有 人 把 新 布 縫 在 舊 衣 服 上 ， 恐 怕 所 補 上 的 新 布 帶 壞 了 舊 衣 服 ， 破 的 就 更 大 了 。

²² 也 沒 有 人 把 新 酒 裝 在 舊 皮 袋 裡 ， 恐 怕 酒 把 皮 袋 裂 開 ， 酒 和 皮 袋 就 都 壞 了 ； 惟 把 新 酒 裝 在 新 皮 袋 裡 。

²³ 耶 穌 當 安 息 日 從 麥 地 經 過 。 他 門 徒 行 路 的 時 候 ， 掐 了 麥 穗 。

²⁴ 法 利 賽 人 對 耶 穌 說 ： 看 哪 ， 他 們 在 安 息 日 為 甚 麼 做 不 可 做 的 事 呢 ？

²⁵ 耶 穌 對 他 們 說 ： 經 上 記 著 大 衛 和 跟 從 他 的 人 缺 乏 飢 餓 之 時 所 做 的 事 ， 你 們 沒 有 念 過 麼 ？

²⁶ 他 當 亞 比 亞 他 作 大 祭 司 的 時 候 ， 怎 麼 進 了 神 的 殿 ， 吃 了 陳 設 餅 ， 又 給 跟 從 他 的 人 吃 。 這 餅 除 了 祭 司 以 外 ， 人 都 不 可 吃 。

²⁷ 又 對 他 們 說 ： 安 息 日 是 為 人 設 立 的 ， 人 不 是 為 安 息 日 設 立 的 。

²⁸ 所 以 ， 人 子 也 是 安 息 日 的 主 。 (馬 可 福 音 2, Chinese Union Version (Traditional))

馬 可 福 音 3

¹ 耶 穌 又 進 了 會 堂 ， 在 那 裡 有 一 個 人 枯 乾 了 一 隻 手 。

² 眾 人 窺 探 耶 穌 ， 在 安 息 日 醫 治 不 醫 治 ， 意 思 是 要 控 告 耶 穌 。

³ 耶 穌 對 那 枯 乾 一 隻 手 的 人 說 ： 起 來 ， 站 在 當 中 。

⁴ 又 問 眾 人 說 ： 在 安 息 日 行 善 行 惡 ， 救 命 害 命 ， 那 樣 是 可 以 的 呢 ？ 他 們 都 不 作 聲 。

⁵ 耶 穌 怒 目 周 圍 看 他 們 ， 憂 愁 他 們 的 心 剛 硬 ， 就 對 那 人 說 ： 伸 出 手 來 ！ 他 把 手 一 伸 ， 手 就 復 了 原 。

⁶ 法 利 賽 人 出 去 ， 同 希 律 一 黨 的 人 商 議 怎 樣 可 以 除 滅 耶 穌 。

⁷ 耶 穌 和 門 徒 退 到 海 邊 去 ， 有 許 多 人 從 加 利 利 跟 隨 他 。

⁸ 還 有 許 多 人 聽 見 他 所 做 的 大 事 ， 就 從 猶 太 、 耶 路 撒 冷 、 以 土 買 、 約 但 河 外 ， 並 推 羅 、 西 頓 的 四 方 來 到 他 那 裡 。

⁹ 他 因 為 人 多 ， 就 吩 咐 門 徒 叫 一 隻 小 船 伺 候 著 ， 免 得 眾 人 擁 擠 他 。

¹⁰ 他 治 好 了 許 多 人 ， 所 以 凡 有 災 病 的 ， 都 擠 進 來 要 摸 他 。

¹¹ 污 鬼 無 論 何 時 看 見 他 ， 就 俯 伏 在 他 面 前 ， 喊 著 說 ： 你 是 神 的 兒 子 。

¹² 耶 穌 再 三 的 囑 咐 他 們 ， 不 要 把 他 顯 露 出 來 。

¹³ 耶 穌 上 了 山 ， 隨 自 己 的 意 思 叫 人 來 ； 他 們 便 來 到 他 那 裡 。

¹⁴ 他 就 設 立 十 二 個 人 ， 要 他 們 常 和 自 己 同 在 ， 也 要 差 他 們 去 傳 道 ，

¹⁵ 並 給 他 們 權 柄 趕 鬼 。

¹⁶ 這 十 二 個 人 有 西 門 ─ 耶 穌 又 給 他 起 名 叫 彼 得 ，

¹⁷ 還 有 西 庇 太 的 兒 子 雅 各 和 雅 各 的 兄 弟 約 翰 ， 又 給 這 兩 個 人 起 名 叫 半 尼 其 ， 就 是 雷 子 的 意 思 ，

¹⁸ 又 有 安 得 烈 、 腓 力 、 巴 多 羅 買 、 馬 太 、 多 馬 、 亞 勒 腓 的 兒 子 雅 各 、 和 達 太 ， 並 奮 銳 黨 的 西 門 ；

¹⁹ 還 有 賣 耶 穌 的 加 略 人 猶 大 。

²⁰ 耶 穌 進 了 一 個 屋 子 ， 眾 人 又 聚 集 ， 甚 至 他 連 飯 也 顧 不 得 吃 。

²¹ 耶 穌 的 親 屬 聽 見 ， 就 出 來 要 拉 住 他 ， 因 為 他 們 說 他 癲 狂 了 。

²² 從 耶 路 撒 冷 下 來 的 文 士 說 ： 他 是 被 別 西 卜 附 著 ； 又 說 ： 他 是 靠 著 鬼 王 趕 鬼 。

²³ 耶 穌 叫 他 們 來 ， 用 比 喻 對 他 們 說 ： 撒 但 怎 能 趕 出 撒 但 呢 ？

²⁴ 若 一 國 自 相 分 爭 ， 那 國 就 站 立 不 住 ；

²⁵ 若 一 家 自 相 分 爭 ， 那 家 就 站 立 不 住 。

²⁶ 若 撒 但 自 相 攻 打 分 爭 ， 他 就 站 立 不 住 ， 必 要 滅 亡 。

²⁷ 沒 有 人 能 進 壯 士 家 裡 ， 搶 奪 他 的 家 具 ； 必 先 捆 住 那 壯 士 ， 才 可 以 搶 奪 他 的 家 。

²⁸ 我 實 在 告 訴 你 們 ， 世 人 一 切 的 罪 和 一 切 褻 瀆 的 話 都 可 得 赦 免 ；

²⁹ 凡 褻 瀆 聖 靈 的 ， 卻 永 不 得 赦 免 ， 乃 要 擔 當 永 遠 的 罪 。

³⁰ 這 話 是 因 為 他 們 說 ： 他 是 被 污 鬼 附 著 的 。 (馬 可 福 音 3, Chinese Union Version (Traditional))

創 世 記 31

¹ 雅 各 聽 見 拉 班 的 兒 子 們 有 話 說 ： 雅 各 把 我 們 父 親 所 有 的 都 奪 了 去 ， 並 藉 著 我 們 父 親 的 ， 得 了 這 一 切 的 榮 耀 ( 或 作 財 ) 。

² 雅 各 見 拉 班 的 氣 色 向 他 不 如 從 前 了 。

³ 耶 和 華 對 雅 各 說 ： 你 要 回 你 祖 、 你 父 之 地 ， 到 你 親 族 那 裡 去 ， 我 必 與 你 同 在 。

⁴ 雅 各 就 打 發 人 ， 叫 拉 結 和 利 亞 到 田 野 羊 群 那 裡 來 ，

⁵ 對 他 們 說 ： 我 看 你 們 父 親 的 氣 色 向 我 不 如 從 前 了 ； 但 我 父 親 的 　 神 向 來 與 我 同 在 。

⁶ 你 們 也 知 道 ， 我 盡 了 我 的 力 量 服 事 你 們 的 父 親 。

⁷ 你 們 的 父 親 欺 哄 我 ， 十 次 改 了 我 的 工 價 ； 然 而 　 神 不 容 他 害 我 。

⁸ 他 若 說 ： 有 點 的 歸 你 作 工 價 ， 羊 群 所 生 的 都 有 點 ； 他 若 說 ： 有 紋 的 歸 你 作 工 價 ， 羊 群 所 生 的 都 有 紋 。

⁹ 這 樣 ， 　 神 把 你 們 父 親 的 牲 畜 奪 來 賜 給 我 了 。

¹⁰ 羊 配 合 的 時 候 ， 我 夢 中 舉 目 一 看 ， 見 跳 母 羊 的 公 羊 都 是 有 紋 的 、 有 點 的 、 有 花 斑 的 。

¹¹ 　 神 的 使 者 在 那 夢 中 呼 叫 我 說 ： 雅 各 。 我 說 ： 我 在 這 裡 。

¹² 他 說 ： 你 舉 目 觀 看 ， 跳 母 羊 的 公 羊 都 是 有 紋 的 、 有 點 的 、 有 花 斑 的 ； 凡 拉 班 向 你 所 做 的 ， 我 都 看 見 了 。

¹³ 我 是 伯 特 利 的 神 ； 你 在 那 裡 用 油 澆 過 柱 子 ， 向 我 許 過 願 。 現 今 你 起 來 ， 離 開 這 地 ， 回 你 本 地 去 罷 ！

¹⁴ 拉 結 和 利 亞 回 答 雅 各 說 ： 在 我 們 父 親 的 家 裡 還 有 我 們 可 得 的 分 麼 ？ 還 有 我 們 的 產 業 麼 ？

¹⁵ 我 們 不 是 被 他 當 作 外 人 麼 ？ 因 為 他 賣 了 我 們 ， 吞 了 我 們 的 價 值 。

¹⁶ 　 神 從 我 們 父 親 所 奪 出 來 的 一 切 財 物 ， 那 就 是 我 們 和 我 們 孩 子 們 的 。 現 今 凡 　 神 所 吩 咐 你 的 ， 你 只 管 去 行 罷 ！

¹⁷ 雅 各 起 來 ， 使 他 的 兒 子 和 妻 子 都 騎 上 駱 駝 ，

¹⁸ 又 帶 著 他 在 巴 旦 亞 蘭 所 得 的 一 切 牲 畜 和 財 物 ， 往 迦 南 地 、 他 父 親 以 撒 那 裡 去 了 。

¹⁹ 當 時 拉 班 剪 羊 毛 去 了 ， 拉 結 偷 了 他 父 親 家 中 的 神 像 。

²⁰ 雅 各 背 著 亞 蘭 人 拉 班 偷 走 了 ， 並 不 告 訴 他 ，

²¹ 就 帶 著 所 有 的 逃 跑 。 他 起 身 過 大 河 ， 面 向 基 列 山 行 去 。

²² 到 第 三 日 ， 有 人 告 訴 拉 班 ， 雅 各 逃 跑 了 。

²³ 拉 班 帶 領 他 的 眾 弟 兄 去 追 趕 ， 追 了 七 日 ， 在 基 列 山 就 追 上 了 。

²⁴ 夜 間 ， 　 神 到 亞 蘭 人 拉 班 那 裡 ， 在 夢 中 對 他 說 ： 你 要 小 心 ， 不 可 與 雅 各 說 好 說 歹 。

²⁵ 拉 班 追 上 雅 各 。 雅 各 在 山 上 支 搭 帳 棚 ； 拉 班 和 他 的 眾 弟 兄 也 在 基 列 山 上 支 搭 帳 棚 。

²⁶ 拉 班 對 雅 各 說 ： 你 做 的 是 甚 麼 事 呢 ？ 你 背 著 我 偷 走 了 ， 又 把 我 的 女 兒 們 帶 了 去 ， 如 同 用 刀 劍 擄 去 的 一 般 。

²⁷ 你 為 甚 麼 暗 暗 地 逃 跑 ， 偷 著 走 ， 並 不 告 訴 我 ， 叫 我 可 以 歡 樂 、 唱 歌 、 擊 鼓 、 彈 琴 的 送 你 回 去 ？

²⁸ 又 不 容 我 與 外 孫 和 女 兒 親 嘴 ？ 你 所 行 的 真 是 愚 昧 ！

²⁹ 我 手 中 原 有 能 力 害 你 ， 只 是 你 父 親 的 　 神 昨 夜 對 我 說 ： 你 要 小 心 ， 不 可 與 雅 各 說 好 說 歹 。

³⁰ 現 在 你 雖 然 想 你 父 家 ， 不 得 不 去 ， 為 甚 麼 又 偷 了 我 的 神 像 呢 ？ (創 世 記 31, Chinese Union Version (Traditional))

創 世 記 32

¹ 雅 各 仍 舊 行 路 ， 　 神 的 使 者 遇 見 他 。

² 雅 各 看 見 他 們 就 說 ： 這 是 　 神 的 軍 兵 ， 於 是 給 那 地 方 起 名 叫 瑪 哈 念 ( 就 是 二 軍 兵 的 意 思 ) 。

³ 雅 各 打 發 人 先 往 西 珥 地 去 ， 就 是 以 東 地 ， 見 他 哥 哥 以 掃 ，

⁴ 吩 咐 他 們 說 ： 你 們 對 我 主 以 掃 說 ： 你 的 僕 人 雅 各 這 樣 說 ： 我 在 拉 班 那 裡 寄 居 ， 直 到 如 今 。

⁵ 我 有 牛 、 驢 、 羊 群 、 僕 婢 ， 現 在 打 發 人 來 報 告 我 主 ， 為 要 在 你 眼 前 蒙 恩 。

⁶ 所 打 發 的 人 回 到 雅 各 那 裡 ， 說 ： 我 們 到 了 你 哥 哥 以 掃 那 裡 ， 他 帶 著 四 百 人 ， 正 迎 著 你 來 。

⁷ 雅 各 就 甚 懼 怕 ， 而 且 愁 煩 ， 便 把 那 與 他 同 在 的 人 口 和 羊 群 、 牛 群 、 駱 駝 分 做 兩 隊 ，

⁸ 說 ： 以 掃 若 來 擊 殺 這 一 隊 ， 剩 下 的 那 一 隊 還 可 以 逃 避 。

⁹ 雅 各 說 ： 耶 和 華 ─ 我 祖 亞 伯 拉 罕 的 　 神 ， 我 父 親 以 撒 的 　 神 阿 ， 你 曾 對 我 說 ： 回 你 本 地 本 族 去 ， 我 要 厚 待 你 。

¹⁰ 你 向 僕 人 所 施 的 一 切 慈 愛 和 誠 實 ， 我 一 點 也 不 配 得 ； 我 先 前 只 拿 著 我 的 杖 過 這 約 但 河 ， 如 今 我 卻 成 了 兩 隊 了 。

¹¹ 求 你 救 我 脫 離 我 哥 哥 以 掃 的 手 ； 因 為 我 怕 他 來 殺 我 ， 連 妻 子 帶 兒 女 一 同 殺 了 。

¹² 你 曾 說 ： 我 必 定 厚 待 你 ， 使 你 的 後 裔 如 同 海 邊 的 沙 ， 多 得 不 可 勝 數 。

¹³ 當 夜 ， 雅 各 在 那 裡 住 宿 ， 就 從 他 所 有 的 物 中 拿 禮 物 要 送 給 他 哥 哥 以 掃 ：

¹⁴ 母 山 羊 二 百 隻 ， 公 山 羊 二 十 隻 ， 母 綿 羊 二 百 隻 ， 公 綿 羊 二 十 隻 ，

¹⁵ 奶 崽 子 的 駱 駝 三 十 隻 ─ 各 帶 著 崽 子 ， 母 牛 四 十 隻 ， 公 牛 十 隻 ， 母 驢 二 十 匹 ， 驢 駒 十 匹 ；

¹⁶ 每 樣 各 分 一 群 ， 交 在 僕 人 手 下 ， 就 對 僕 人 說 ： 你 們 要 在 我 前 頭 過 去 ， 使 群 群 相 離 ， 有 空 閒 的 地 方 ；

¹⁷ 又 吩 咐 儘 先 走 的 說 ： 我 哥 哥 以 掃 遇 見 你 的 時 候 ， 問 你 說 ： 你 是 那 家 的 人 ？ 要 往 那 裡 去 ？ 你 前 頭 ？ 這 些 是 誰 的 ？

¹⁸ 你 就 說 ： 是 你 僕 人 雅 各 的 ， 是 送 給 我 主 以 掃 的 禮 物 ； 他 自 己 也 在 我 們 後 邊 ？ 。

¹⁹ 又 吩 咐 第 二 、 第 三 ， 和 一 切 趕 群 畜 的 人 說 ： 你 們 遇 見 以 掃 的 時 候 也 要 這 樣 對 他 說 ；

²⁰ 並 且 你 們 要 說 ： 你 僕 人 雅 各 在 我 們 後 邊 。 因 雅 各 心 裡 說 ： 我 藉 著 在 我 前 頭 去 的 禮 物 解 他 的 恨 ， 然 後 再 見 他 的 面 ， 或 者 他 容 納 我 。

²¹ 於 是 禮 物 先 過 去 了 ； 那 夜 ， 雅 各 在 隊 中 住 宿 。

²² 他 夜 間 起 來 ， 帶 著 兩 個 妻 子 ， 兩 個 使 女 ， 並 十 一 個 兒 子 ， 都 過 了 雅 博 渡 口 ，

²³ 先 打 發 他 們 過 河 ， 又 打 發 所 有 的 都 過 去 ，

²⁴ 只 剩 下 雅 各 一 人 。 有 一 個 人 來 和 他 摔 跤 ， 直 到 黎 明 。

²⁵ 那 人 見 自 己 勝 不 過 他 ， 就 將 他 的 大 腿 窩 摸 了 一 把 ， 雅 各 的 大 腿 窩 正 在 摔 跤 的 時 候 就 扭 了 。

²⁶ 那 人 說 ： 天 黎 明 了 ， 容 我 去 罷 ！ 雅 各 說 ： 你 不 給 我 祝 福 ， 我 就 不 容 你 去 。

²⁷ 那 人 說 ： 你 名 叫 甚 麼 ？ 他 說 ： 我 名 叫 雅 各 。

²⁸ 那 人 說 ： 你 的 名 不 要 再 叫 雅 各 ， 要 叫 以 色 列 ； 因 為 你 與 　 神 與 人 較 力 ， 都 得 了 勝 。

²⁹ 雅 各 問 他 說 ： 請 將 你 的 名 告 訴 我 。 那 人 說 ： 何 必 問 我 的 名 ？ 於 是 在 那 裡 給 雅 各 祝 福 。

³⁰ 雅 各 便 給 那 地 方 起 名 叫 毘 努 伊 勒 ( 就 是 神 之 面 的 意 思 ) ， 意 思 說 ： 我 面 對 面 見 了 　 神 ， 我 的 性 命 仍 得 保 全 。 (創 世 記 32, Chinese Union Version (Traditional))

Mark 1 & Genesis 30

馬 可 福 音 1

¹ 神 的 兒 子 ， 耶 穌 基 督 福 音 的 起 頭 。

² 正 如 先 知 以 賽 亞 （ 有 古 卷 無 以 賽 亞 三 個 字 ） 書 上 記 著 說 ： 看 哪 ， 我 要 差 遣 我 的 使 者 在 你 前 面 ， 預 備 道 路 。

³ 在 曠 野 有 人 聲 喊 著 說 ： 預 備 主 的 道 ， 修 直 他 的 路 。

⁴ 照 這 話 ， 約 翰 來 了 ， 在 曠 野 施 洗 ， 傳 悔 改 的 洗 禮 ， 使 罪 得 赦 。

⁵ 猶 太 全 地 和 耶 路 撒 冷 的 人 都 出 去 到 約 翰 那 裡 ， 承 認 他 們 的 罪 ， 在 約 但 河 裡 受 他 的 洗 。

⁶ 約 翰 穿 駱 駝 毛 的 衣 服 ， 腰 束 皮 帶 ， 吃 的 是 蝗 蟲 、 野 蜜 。

⁷ 他 傳 道 說 ： 有 一 位 在 我 以 後 來 的 ， 能 力 比 我 更 大 ， 我 就 是 彎 腰 給 他 解 鞋 帶 也 是 不 配 的 。

⁸ 我 是 用 水 給 你 們 施 洗 ， 他 卻 要 用 聖 靈 給 你 們 施 洗 。

⁹ 那 時 ， 耶 穌 從 加 利 利 的 拿 撒 勒 來 ， 在 約 但 河 裡 受 了 約 翰 的 洗 。

¹⁰ 他 從 水 裡 一 上 來 ， 就 看 見 天 裂 開 了 ， 聖 靈 彷 彿 鴿 子 ， 降 在 他 身 上 。

¹¹ 又 有 聲 音 從 天 上 來 ， 說 ： 你 是 我 的 愛 子 ， 我 喜 悅 你 。

¹² 聖 靈 就 把 耶 穌 催 到 曠 野 裡 去 。

¹³ 他 在 曠 野 四 十 天 ， 受 撒 但 的 試 探 ， 並 與 野 獸 同 在 一 處 ， 且 有 天 使 來 伺 候 他 。

¹⁴ 約 翰 下 監 以 後 ， 耶 穌 來 到 加 利 利 ， 宣 傳 神 的 福 音 ，

¹⁵ 說 ： 日 期 滿 了 ， 神 的 國 近 了 。 你 們 當 悔 改 ， 信 福 音 ！

¹⁶ 耶 穌 順 著 加 利 利 的 海 邊 走 ， 看 見 西 門 和 西 門 的 兄 弟 安 得 烈 在 海 裡 撒 網 ； 他 們 本 是 打 魚 的 。

¹⁷ 耶 穌 對 他 們 說 ： 來 跟 從 我 ， 我 要 叫 你 們 得 人 如 得 魚 一 樣 。

¹⁸ 他 們 就 立 刻 捨 了 網 ， 跟 從 了 他 。

¹⁹ 耶 穌 稍 往 前 走 ， 又 見 西 庇 太 的 兒 子 雅 各 和 雅 各 的 兄 弟 約 翰 在 船 上 補 網 。

²⁰ 耶 穌 隨 即 招 呼 他 們 ， 他 們 就 把 父 親 西 庇 太 和 雇 工 人 留 在 船 上 ， 跟 從 耶 穌 去 了 。

²¹ 到 了 迦 百 農 ， 耶 穌 就 在 安 息 日 進 了 會 堂 教 訓 人 。

²² 眾 人 很 希 奇 他 的 教 訓 ； 因 為 他 教 訓 他 們 ， 正 像 有 權 柄 的 人 ， 不 像 文 士 。

²³ 在 會 堂 裡 ， 有 一 個 人 被 污 鬼 附 著 。 他 喊 叫 說 ：

²⁴ 拿 撒 勒 人 耶 穌 ， 我 們 與 你 有 甚 麼 相 干 ？ 你 來 滅 我 們 麼 ？ 我 知 道 你 是 誰 ， 乃 是 神 的 聖 者 。

²⁵ 耶 穌 責 備 他 說 ： 不 要 作 聲 ！ 從 這 人 身 上 出 來 罷 。

²⁶ 污 鬼 叫 那 人 抽 了 一 陣 瘋 ， 大 聲 喊 叫 ， 就 出 來 了 。

²⁷ 眾 人 都 驚 訝 ， 以 致 彼 此 對 問 說 ： 這 是 甚 麼 事 ？ 是 個 新 道 理 阿 ！ 他 用 權 柄 吩 咐 污 鬼 ， 連 污 鬼 也 聽 從 了 他 。

²⁸ 耶 穌 的 名 聲 就 傳 遍 了 加 利 利 的 四 方 。

²⁹ 他 們 一 出 會 堂 ， 就 同 著 雅 各 、 約 翰 ， 進 了 西 門 和 安 得 烈 的 家 。

³⁰ 西 門 的 岳 母 正 害 熱 病 躺 著 ， 就 有 人 告 訴 耶 穌 。 (馬 可 福 音 1, Chinese Union Version (Traditional))

創 世 記 30

¹ 拉 結 見 自 己 不 給 雅 各 生 子 ， 就 嫉 妒 他 姊 姊 ， 對 雅 各 說 ： 你 給 我 孩 子 ， 不 然 我 就 死 了 。

² 雅 各 向 拉 結 生 氣 ， 說 ： 叫 你 不 生 育 的 是 　 神 ， 我 豈 能 代 替 他 作 主 呢 ？

³ 拉 結 說 ： 有 我 的 使 女 辟 拉 在 這 裡 ， 你 可 以 與 他 同 房 ， 使 他 生 子 在 我 膝 下 ， 我 便 因 他 也 得 孩 子 ( 原 文 作 被 建 立 ) 。

⁴ 拉 結 就 把 他 的 使 女 辟 拉 給 丈 夫 為 妾 ； 雅 各 便 與 他 同 房 ，

⁵ 辟 拉 就 懷 孕 ， 給 雅 各 生 了 一 個 兒 子 。

⁶ 拉 結 說 ： 　 神 伸 了 我 的 冤 ， 也 聽 了 我 的 聲 音 ， 賜 我 一 個 兒 子 ， 因 此 給 他 起 名 叫 但 ( 就 是 伸 冤 的 意 思 ) 。

⁷ 拉 結 的 使 女 辟 拉 又 懷 孕 ， 給 雅 各 生 了 第 二 個 兒 子 。

⁸ 拉 結 說 ： 我 與 我 姊 姊 大 大 相 爭 ， 並 且 得 勝 ， 於 是 給 他 起 名 叫 拿 弗 他 利 ( 就 是 相 爭 的 意 思 ) 。

⁹ 利 亞 見 自 己 停 了 生 育 ， 就 把 使 女 悉 帕 給 雅 各 為 妾 。

¹⁰ 利 亞 的 使 女 悉 帕 給 雅 各 生 了 一 個 兒 子 。

¹¹ 利 亞 說 ： 萬 幸 ！ 於 是 給 他 起 名 叫 迦 得 ( 就 是 萬 幸 的 意 思 ) 。

¹² 利 亞 的 使 女 悉 帕 又 給 雅 各 生 了 第 二 個 兒 子 。

¹³ 利 亞 說 ： 我 有 福 阿 ， 眾 女 子 都 要 稱 我 是 有 福 的 ， 於 是 給 他 起 名 叫 亞 設 ( 就 是 有 福 的 意 思 ) 。

¹⁴ 割 麥 子 的 時 候 ， 流 便 往 田 裡 去 ， 尋 見 風 茄 ， 拿 來 給 他 母 親 利 亞 。 拉 結 對 利 亞 說 ： 請 你 把 你 兒 子 的 風 茄 給 我 些 。

¹⁵ 利 亞 說 ： 你 奪 了 我 的 丈 夫 還 算 小 事 麼 ？ 你 又 要 奪 我 兒 子 的 風 茄 麼 ？ 拉 結 說 ： 為 你 兒 子 的 風 茄 ， 今 夜 他 可 以 與 你 同 寢 。

¹⁶ 到 了 晚 上 ， 雅 各 從 田 裡 回 來 ， 利 亞 出 來 迎 接 他 ， 說 ： 你 要 與 我 同 寢 ， 因 為 我 實 在 用 我 兒 子 的 風 茄 把 你 雇 下 了 。 那 一 夜 ， 雅 各 就 與 他 同 寢 。

¹⁷ 　 神 應 允 了 利 亞 ， 他 就 懷 孕 ， 給 雅 各 生 了 第 五 個 兒 子 。

¹⁸ 利 亞 說 ： 　 神 給 了 我 價 值 ， 因 為 我 把 使 女 給 了 我 丈 夫 ， 於 是 給 他 起 名 叫 以 薩 迦 ( 就 是 價 值 的 意 思 ) 。

¹⁹ 利 亞 又 懷 孕 ， 給 雅 各 生 了 第 六 個 兒 子 。

²⁰ 利 亞 說 ： 　 神 賜 我 厚 賞 ； 我 丈 夫 必 與 我 同 住 ， 因 我 給 他 生 了 六 個 兒 子 ， 於 是 給 他 起 名 西 布 倫 ( 就 是 同 住 的 意 思 ) 。

²¹ 後 來 又 生 了 一 個 女 兒 ， 給 他 起 名 叫 底 拿 。

²² 　 神 顧 念 拉 結 ， 應 允 了 他 ， 使 他 能 生 育 。

²³ 拉 結 懷 孕 生 子 ， 說 ： 　 神 除 去 了 我 的 羞 恥 ，

²⁴ 就 給 他 起 名 叫 約 瑟 ( 就 是 增 添 的 意 思 ) ， 意 思 說 ： 願 耶 和 華 再 增 添 我 一 個 兒 子 。

²⁵ 拉 結 生 約 瑟 之 後 ， 雅 各 對 拉 班 說 ： 請 打 發 我 走 ， 叫 我 回 到 我 本 鄉 本 土 去 。

²⁶ 請 你 把 我 服 事 你 所 得 的 妻 子 和 兒 女 給 我 ， 讓 我 走 ； 我 怎 樣 服 事 你 ， 你 都 知 道 。

²⁷ 拉 班 對 他 說 ： 我 若 在 你 眼 前 蒙 恩 ， 請 你 仍 與 我 同 住 ， 因 為 我 已 算 定 ， 耶 和 華 賜 福 與 我 是 為 你 的 緣 故 ；

²⁸ 又 說 ： 請 你 定 你 的 工 價 ， 我 就 給 你 。

²⁹ 雅 各 對 他 說 ： 我 怎 樣 服 事 你 ， 你 的 牲 畜 在 我 手 裡 怎 樣 ， 是 你 知 道 的 。

³⁰ 我 未 來 之 先 ， 你 所 有 的 很 少 ， 現 今 卻 發 大 眾 多 ， 耶 和 華 隨 我 的 腳 步 賜 福 與 你 。 如 今 ， 我 甚 麼 時 候 才 為 自 己 興 家 立 業 呢 ？ (創 世 記 30, Chinese Union Version (Traditional))

Matthew 28 & Genesis 29

馬 太 福 音 28

¹ 安 息 日 將 盡 ， 七 日 的 頭 一 日 ， 天 快 亮 的 時 候 ， 抹 大 拉 的 馬 利 亞 和 那 個 馬 利 亞 來 看 墳 墓 。

² 忽 然 ， 地 大 震 動 ； 因 為 有 主 的 使 者 從 天 上 下 來 ， 把 石 頭 滾 開 ， 坐 在 上 面 。

³ 他 的 像 貌 如 同 閃 電 ， 衣 服 潔 白 如 雪 。

⁴ 看 守 的 人 就 因 他 嚇 得 渾 身 亂 戰 ， 甚 至 和 死 人 一 樣 。

⁵ 天 使 對 婦 女 說 ： 不 要 害 怕 ！ 我 知 道 你 們 是 尋 找 那 釘 十 字 架 的 耶 穌 。

⁶ 他 不 在 這 裡 ， 照 他 所 說 的 ， 已 經 復 活 了 。 你 們 來 看 安 放 主 的 地 方 。

⁷ 快 去 告 訴 他 的 門 徒 ， 說 他 從 死 裡 復 活 了 ， 並 且 在 你 們 以 先 往 加 利 利 去 ， 在 那 裡 你 們 要 見 他 。 看 哪 ， 我 已 經 告 訴 你 們 了 。

⁸ 婦 女 們 就 急 忙 離 開 墳 墓 ， 又 害 怕 ， 又 大 大 的 歡 喜 ， 跑 去 要 報 給 他 的 門 徒 。

⁹ 忽 然 ， 耶 穌 遇 見 他 們 ， 說 ： 願 你 們 平 安 ！ 他 們 就 上 前 抱 住 他 的 腳 拜 他 。

¹⁰ 耶 穌 對 他 們 說 ： 不 要 害 怕 ！ 你 們 去 告 訴 我 的 弟 兄 ， 叫 他 們 往 加 利 利 去 ， 在 那 裡 必 見 我 。

¹¹ 他 們 去 的 時 候 ， 看 守 的 兵 有 幾 個 進 城 去 ， 將 所 經 歷 的 事 都 報 給 祭 司 長 。

¹² 祭 司 長 和 長 老 聚 集 商 議 ， 就 拿 許 多 銀 錢 給 兵 丁 ， 說 ：

¹³ 你 們 要 這 樣 說 ： 夜 間 我 們 睡 覺 的 時 候 ， 他 的 門 徒 來 ， 把 他 偷 去 了 。

¹⁴ 倘 若 這 話 被 巡 撫 聽 見 ， 有 我 們 勸 他 ， 保 你 們 無 事 。

¹⁵ 兵 丁 受 了 銀 錢 ， 就 照 所 囑 咐 他 們 的 去 行 。 這 話 就 傳 說 在 猶 太 人 中 間 ， 直 到 今 日 。

¹⁶ 十 一 個 門 徒 往 加 利 利 去 ， 到 了 耶 穌 約 定 的 山 上 。

¹⁷ 他 們 見 了 耶 穌 就 拜 他 ， 然 而 還 有 人 疑 惑 。

¹⁸ 耶 穌 進 前 來 ， 對 他 們 說 ： 天 上 地 下 所 有 的 權 柄 都 賜 給 我 了 。

¹⁹ 所 以 ， 你 們 要 去 ， 使 萬 民 作 我 的 門 徒 ， 奉 父 、 子 、 聖 靈 的 名 給 他 們 施 洗 （ 或 作 ： 給 他 們 施 洗 ， 歸 於 父 、 子 、 聖 靈 的 名 ） 。

²⁰ 凡 我 所 吩 咐 你 們 的 ， 都 教 訓 他 們 遵 守 ， 我 就 常 與 你 們 同 在 ， 直 到 世 界 的 末 了 。 (馬 太 福 音 28, Chinese Union Version (Traditional))

創 世 記 29

¹ 雅 各 起 行 ， 到 了 東 方 人 之 地 ，

² 看 見 田 間 有 一 口 井 ， 有 三 群 羊 臥 在 井 旁 ； 因 為 人 飲 羊 群 都 是 用 那 井 裡 的 水 。 井 口 上 的 石 頭 是 大 的 。

³ 常 有 羊 群 在 那 裡 聚 集 ， 牧 人 把 石 頭 轉 離 井 口 飲 羊 ， 隨 後 又 把 石 頭 放 在 井 口 的 原 處 。

⁴ 雅 各 對 牧 人 說 ： 弟 兄 們 ， 你 們 是 那 裡 來 的 ？ 他 們 說 ： 我 們 是 哈 蘭 來 的 。

⁵ 他 問 他 們 說 ： 拿 鶴 的 孫 子 拉 班 ， 你 們 認 識 麼 ？ 他 們 說 ： 我 們 認 識 。

⁶ 雅 各 說 ： 他 平 安 麼 ？ 他 們 說 ： 平 安 。 看 哪 ， 他 女 兒 拉 結 領 著 羊 來 了 。

⁷ 雅 各 說 ： 日 頭 還 高 ， 不 是 羊 群 聚 集 的 時 候 ， 你 們 不 如 飲 羊 ， 再 去 放 一 放 。

⁸ 他 們 說 ： 我 們 不 能 ， 必 等 羊 群 聚 齊 ， 人 把 石 頭 轉 離 井 口 才 可 飲 羊 。

⁹ 雅 各 正 和 他 們 說 話 的 時 候 ， 拉 結 領 著 他 父 親 的 羊 來 了 ， 因 為 那 些 羊 是 他 牧 放 的 。

¹⁰ 雅 各 看 見 母 舅 拉 班 的 女 兒 拉 結 和 母 舅 拉 班 的 羊 群 ， 就 上 前 把 石 頭 轉 離 井 口 ， 飲 他 母 舅 拉 班 的 羊 群 。

¹¹ 雅 各 與 拉 結 親 嘴 ， 就 放 聲 而 哭 。

¹² 雅 各 告 訴 拉 結 ， 自 己 是 他 父 親 的 外 甥 ， 是 利 百 加 的 兒 子 ， 拉 結 就 跑 去 告 訴 他 父 親 。

¹³ 拉 班 聽 見 外 甥 雅 各 的 信 息 ， 就 跑 去 迎 接 ， 抱 著 他 ， 與 他 親 嘴 ， 領 他 到 自 己 的 家 。 雅 各 將 一 切 的 情 由 告 訴 拉 班 。

¹⁴ 拉 班 對 他 說 ： 你 實 在 是 我 的 骨 肉 。 雅 各 就 和 他 同 住 了 一 個 月 。

¹⁵ 拉 班 對 雅 各 說 ： 你 雖 是 我 的 骨 肉 ( 原 文 作 弟 兄 ) ， 豈 可 白 白 地 服 事 我 ？ 請 告 訴 我 ， 你 要 甚 麼 為 工 價 ？

¹⁶ 拉 班 有 兩 個 女 兒 ， 大 的 名 叫 利 亞 ， 小 的 名 叫 拉 結 。

¹⁷ 利 亞 的 眼 睛 沒 有 神 氣 ， 拉 結 卻 生 得 美 貌 俊 秀 。

¹⁸ 雅 各 愛 拉 結 ， 就 說 ： 我 願 為 你 小 女 兒 拉 結 服 事 你 七 年 。

¹⁹ 拉 班 說 ： 我 把 他 給 你 ， 勝 似 給 別 人 ， 你 與 我 同 住 罷 ！

²⁰ 雅 各 就 為 拉 結 服 事 了 七 年 ； 他 因 為 深 愛 拉 結 ， 就 看 這 七 年 如 同 幾 天 。

²¹ 雅 各 對 拉 班 說 ： 日 期 已 經 滿 了 ， 求 你 把 我 的 妻 子 給 我 ， 我 好 與 他 同 房 。

²² 拉 班 就 擺 設 筵 席 ， 請 齊 了 那 地 方 的 眾 人 。

²³ 到 晚 上 ， 拉 班 將 女 兒 利 亞 送 來 給 雅 各 ， 雅 各 就 與 他 同 房 。

²⁴ 拉 班 又 將 婢 女 悉 帕 給 女 兒 利 亞 作 使 女 。

²⁵ 到 了 早 晨 ， 雅 各 一 看 是 利 亞 ， 就 對 拉 班 說 ： 你 向 我 做 的 是 甚 麼 事 呢 ？ 我 服 事 你 ， 不 是 為 拉 結 麼 ？ 你 為 甚 麼 欺 哄 我 呢 ？

²⁶ 拉 班 說 ： 大 女 兒 還 沒 有 給 人 ， 先 把 小 女 兒 給 人 ， 在 我 們 這 地 方 沒 有 這 規 矩 。

²⁷ 你 為 這 個 滿 了 七 日 ， 我 就 把 那 個 也 給 你 ， 你 再 為 他 服 事 我 七 年 。

²⁸ 雅 各 就 如 此 行 。 滿 了 利 亞 的 七 日 ， 拉 班 便 將 女 兒 拉 結 給 雅 各 為 妻 。

²⁹ 拉 班 又 將 婢 女 辟 拉 給 女 兒 拉 結 作 使 女 。

³⁰ 雅 各 也 與 拉 結 同 房 ， 並 且 愛 拉 結 勝 似 愛 利 亞 ， 於 是 又 服 事 了 拉 班 七 年 。 (創 世 記 29, Chinese Union Version (Traditional))

Matthew 27 & Genesis 28

Matthew 27

Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate

¹ When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. ² And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Judas Hangs Himself

³ Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, ⁴ saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”
⁵ Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
⁶ But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” ⁷ And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. ⁸ Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
⁹ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, ¹⁰ and gave them for the potter’s field, as the LORD directed me.”

Jesus Faces Pilate

¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” ¹² And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
¹³ Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” ¹⁴ But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Taking the Place of Barabbas

¹⁵ Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. ¹⁶ And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷ Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
²⁰ But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹ The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
²² Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
²³ Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
²⁴ When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”
²⁵ And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. ²⁸ And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. ²⁹ When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰ Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. (Matthew 27, New King James Version)

Genesis 28

¹ Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. ² Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother.

³ “May God Almighty bless you,
And make you fruitful and multiply you,
That you may be an assembly of peoples;

⁴ And give you the blessing of Abraham,
To you and your descendants with you,
That you may inherit the land
In which you are a stranger,
Which God gave to Abraham.”

⁵ So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Padan Aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

Esau Marries Mahalath

⁶ Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram to take himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,” ⁷ and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Padan Aram. ⁸ Also Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please his father Isaac. ⁹ So Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had.

Jacob’s Vow at Bethel

¹⁰ Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. ¹¹ So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. ¹² Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
¹³ And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. ¹⁴ Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. ¹⁵ Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”
¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” ¹⁷ And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
¹⁸ Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. ¹⁹ And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. ²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, ²¹ so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. ²² And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” (Genesis 28, New King James Version)

Matthew 26 & Genesis 27

Matthew 26

The Plot to Kill Jesus

¹ Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, ² “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
³ Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, ⁴ and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. ⁵ But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”

The Anointing at Bethany

⁶ And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, ⁷ a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. ⁸ But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
¹⁰ But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. ¹¹ For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. ¹² For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. ¹³ Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

¹⁴ Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

Jesus Celebrates Passover with His Disciples

¹⁷ Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
¹⁸ And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”
¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
²⁰ When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. ²¹ Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
²² And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”
²³ He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. ²⁴ The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
²⁵ Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?”
He said to him, “You have said it.”

Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper

²⁶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
²⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ²⁹ But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
³⁰ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26, New King James Version)

Genesis 27

Isaac Blesses Jacob

¹ Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.”
And he answered him, “Here I am.”
² Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. ³ Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. ⁴ And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”
⁵ Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. ⁶ So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, ⁷ ‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the LORD before my death.’ ⁸ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. ⁹ Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. ¹⁰ Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death.”
¹¹ And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man. ¹² Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.”
¹³ But his mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.” ¹⁴ And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved. ¹⁵ Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. ¹⁶ And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. ¹⁷ Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
¹⁸ So he went to his father and said, “My father.”
And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”
¹⁹ Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”
²⁰ But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?”
And he said, “Because the LORD your God brought it to me.”
²¹ Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” ²² So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” ²³ And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.
²⁴ Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?”
He said, “I am.”
²⁵ He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. ²⁶ Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” ²⁷ And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said:

“ Surely, the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field
Which the LORD has blessed.

²⁸ Therefore may God give you
Of the dew of heaven,
Of the fatness of the earth,
And plenty of grain and wine.

²⁹ Let peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you.
Be master over your brethren,
And let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
And blessed be those who bless you!”

Esau’s Lost Hope

³⁰ Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. (Genesis 27, New King James Version)

Matthew 25 & Genesis 26

Matthew 25

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

¹ “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
⁶ “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ ⁷ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
¹¹ “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ ¹² But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
¹³ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

The Parable of the Talents

¹⁴ “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. ¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. ¹⁶ Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. ¹⁷ And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. ¹⁸ But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. ¹⁹ After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
²⁰ “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ ²¹ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ ²² He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ ²³ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
²⁴ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
²⁶ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. ²⁷ So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
²⁹ ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25, New King James Version)

Genesis 26

Isaac and Abimelech

¹ There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar.
² Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. ³ Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. ⁴ And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; ⁵ because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
⁶ So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. ⁷ And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, “She is my sister”; for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought, “lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.” ⁸ Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. ⁹ Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?”
Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’|”
¹⁰ And Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might soon have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.” ¹¹ So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”
¹² Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. ¹³ The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; ¹⁴ for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. ¹⁵ Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth. ¹⁶ And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
¹⁷ Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. ¹⁸ And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them.
¹⁹ Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there. ²⁰ But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him. ²¹ Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah. ²² And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”
²³ Then he went up from there to Beersheba. ²⁴ And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” ²⁵ So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.
²⁶ Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. ²⁷ And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?”
²⁸ But they said, “We have certainly seen that the LORD is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you, ²⁹ that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.’”
³⁰ So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. (Genesis 26, New King James Version)

Matthew 24 & Genesis 25

Matthew 24

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

¹ Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. ² And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

³ Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
⁴ And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for allthese things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.
⁹ “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. ¹⁰ And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. ¹¹ Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But he who endures to the end shall be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

The Great Tribulation

¹⁵ “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), ¹⁶ “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. ¹⁸ And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. ¹⁹ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! ²⁰ And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. ²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
²³ “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you beforehand.
²⁶ “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ²⁸ For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24, New King James Version)

Genesis 25

Abraham and Keturah

¹ Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. ² And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. ³ Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. ⁴ And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
⁵ And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. ⁶ But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east.

Abraham’s Death and Burial

⁷ This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. ⁸ Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. ⁹ And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, ¹⁰ the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife. ¹¹ And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.

The Families of Ishmael and Isaac

¹² Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. ¹³ And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, ¹⁴ Mishma, Dumah, Massa, ¹⁵ Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. ¹⁶ These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations. ¹⁷ These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. ¹⁸ (They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren.
¹⁹ This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. ²⁰ Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. ²¹ Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. ²² But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?|” So she went to inquire of the LORD.
²³ And the LORD said to her:

“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”
²⁴ So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. ²⁵ And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. ²⁶ Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
²⁷ So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. ²⁸ And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau Sells His Birthright

²⁹ Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. ³⁰ And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
(Genesis 25, New King James Version)

Matthew 23 & Genesis 24

Matthew 23

Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees

¹ Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, ² saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ Therefore whatever they tell you to observe,that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. ⁴ For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. ⁵ But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. ⁶ They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ ⁸ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. ⁹ Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. ¹⁰ And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. ¹¹ But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
¹³ “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. ¹⁴ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
¹⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ ¹⁷ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? ¹⁸ And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ ¹⁹ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? ²⁰ Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. ²¹ He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. ²² And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. ²⁴ Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
²⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰ and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
(Matthew 23, New King James Version)

Genesis 24

A Bride for Isaac

¹ Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. ² So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, ³ and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; ⁴ but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
⁵ And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?”
⁶ But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there. ⁷ The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. ⁸ And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there.” ⁹ So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
¹⁰ Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. ¹¹ And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water. ¹² Then he said, “O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. ¹³ Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. ¹⁴ Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”
¹⁵ And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. ¹⁶ Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. ¹⁷ And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”
¹⁸ So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. ¹⁹ And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” ²⁰ Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. ²¹ And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
²² So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold, ²³ and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?”
²⁴ So she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.” ²⁵ Moreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.”
²⁶ Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD. ²⁷ And he said, “Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” ²⁸ So the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things.
²⁹ Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well. ³⁰ So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well. (Genesis 24, New King James Version)

Matthew 22 & Genesis 23

Matthew 22

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

¹ And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: ² “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, ³ and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. ⁴ Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ ⁵ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. ⁶ And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. ⁷ But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. ⁸ Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. ⁹ Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ ¹⁰ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
¹¹ “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. ¹² So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
¹⁴ “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. ¹⁶ And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. ¹⁷ Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
²⁰ And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
²¹ They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” ²² When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?

²³ The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, ²⁴ saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁵ Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. ²⁶ Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. ²⁷ Last of all the woman died also. ²⁸ Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”
²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. ³⁰ For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. (Matthew 22, New King James Version)

Genesis 23

Sarah’s Death and Burial

¹ Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. ² So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
³ Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, ⁴ “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”
⁵ And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, ⁶ “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”
⁷ Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. ⁸ And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, ⁹ that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”
¹⁰ Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, ¹¹ “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!”
¹² Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land; ¹³ and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there.”
¹⁴ And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, ¹⁵ “My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So bury your dead.” ¹⁶ And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, currency of the merchants.
¹⁷ So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded ¹⁸ to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.
¹⁹ And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. ²⁰ So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place. (Genesis 23, New King James Version)

Matthew 21 & Genesis 22

Matthew 21

The Triumphal Entry

¹ Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. ³ And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
⁴ All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
⁵ “ Tell the daughter of Zion,

‘ Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

⁶ So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. ⁸ And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:


“ Hosanna to the Son of David!

‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
Hosanna in the highest!”

¹⁰ And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
¹¹ So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

¹² Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. ¹³ And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”
¹⁴ Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant ¹⁶ and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,


‘ Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”

¹⁷ Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

The Fig Tree Withered

¹⁸ Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. ¹⁹ And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree

²⁰ And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
²¹ So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. ²² And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Jesus’ Authority Questioned

²³ Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
²⁴ But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: ²⁵ The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” ²⁷ So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”
And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

²⁸ “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ ²⁹ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. ³⁰ Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. (Matthew 21, New King James Version)

Genesis 22

Abraham’s Faith Confirmed

¹ Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
² Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
³ So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. ⁴ Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. ⁵ And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
⁶ So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. ⁷ But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
⁸ And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
⁹ Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. ¹⁰ And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
¹¹ But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.”
¹² And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
¹³ Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”
¹⁵ Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, ¹⁶ and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— ¹⁷ blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. ¹⁸ In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” ¹⁹ So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

The Family of Nahor

²⁰ Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, “Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: ²¹ Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, ²² Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” ²³ And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. ²⁴ His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah. (Genesis 22, New King James Version)