251 Then the Lord spoke to Moses , saying , 2 " Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution . 3 "This is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold , silver and bronze , 4 blue , purple and scarlet material, fine linen , goat hair, 5 rams' skins dyed red , porpoise skins , acacia wood , 6 oil for lighting , spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense , 7 onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece . 8 "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. 9 " According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture , just so you shall construct it.
10 " They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long , and one and a half cubits wide , and one and a half cubits high . 11 "You shall overlay it with pure gold , inside e and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. 12 "You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet , and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. 13 "You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold . 14 "You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark , to carry the ark with them. 15 "The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark ; they shall not be removed from it. 16 "You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you. 17 "You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold , two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide . 18 "You shall make two cherubim of gold , make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat . 19 "Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end ; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends . 20 " The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward , covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing e one another ; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat . 21 " You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark , and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you. 22 " There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat , from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony , I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel .
23 " You shall make a table of acacia wood , two cubits long and one cubit wide and one and a half cubits high . 24 "You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a gold border around it. 25 "You shall make for it a rim of a handbreadth around it; and you shall make a gold border for the rim around it. 26 "You shall make four gold rings for it and put rings on the four corners which are on its four feet . 27 "The rings shall be close to the rim as holders for the poles to carry the table . 28 "You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold , so that with them the table may be carried . 29 "You shall make its dishes and its pans and its jars and its bowls with which to pour drink offerings ; you shall make them of pure gold . 30 "You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times .
31 " Then you shall make a lampstand of pure gold . The lampstand and its base and its shaft are to be made of hammered work ; its cups , its bulbs and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. 32 " Six branches shall go out from its sides ; three branches of the lampstand from its one side and three branches of the lampstand from its other side . 33 " Three cups shall be shaped like almond blossoms in the one branch , a bulb and a flower , and three cups shaped like almond blossoms in the other branch , a bulb and a flower -so for six branches going out from the lampstand ; 34 and in the lampstand four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers . 35 " A bulb shall be under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand . 36 " Their bulbs and their branches shall be of one piece with it; all of it shall be one piece of hammered work of pure gold . 37 "Then you shall make its lamps seven in number; and they shall mount its lamps so as to shed light on the space in front of it. 38 "Its snuffers and their trays shall be of pure gold . 39 "It shall be made from a talent of pure gold , with all these utensils . 40 " See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain .
261 " Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material; you shall make them with cherubim , the work of a skillful workman . 2 "The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight e cubits , and the width of each curtain four cubits ; all the curtains shall have the same measurements . 3 "Five curtains shall be joined to one another , and the other five curtains shall be joined to one another . 4 "You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost e e curtain in the first set , and likewise you shall make them on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set . 5 "You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain , and you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set ; the loops shall be opposite each other . 6 "You shall make fifty clasps of gold , and join the curtains to one another with the clasps so that the tabernacle will be a unit .
7 "Then you shall make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle ; you shall make eleven e curtains in all. 8 "The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits , and the width of each curtain four cubits ; the eleven e curtains shall have the same measurements . 9 "You shall join five curtains by themselves and the other six curtains by themselves , and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the front of the tent . 10 "You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the first set , and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set . 11 "You shall make fifty clasps of bronze , and you shall put the clasps into the loops and join the tent together so that it will be a unit . 12 "The overlapping part that is left over in the curtains of the tent , the half curtain that is left over , shall lap over the back of the tabernacle . 13 "The cubit on one side and the cubit on the other , of what is left over in the length of the curtains of the tent , shall lap over the sides of the tabernacle on one side and on the other , to cover it. 14 " You shall make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red and a covering of porpoise skins above e .
15 "Then you shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood , standing upright . 16 "Ten cubits shall be the length of each board and one and a half cubits the width of each board . 17 "There shall be two tenons for each board , fitted to one another ; thus you shall do for all the boards of the tabernacle . 18 "You shall make the boards for the tabernacle : twenty boards for the south side . 19 "You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards , two sockets under one board for its two tenons and two sockets under another board for its two tenons ; 20 and for the second side of the tabernacle , on the north side , twenty boards , 21 and their forty sockets of silver ; two sockets under one board and two sockets under another board . 22 "For the rear of the tabernacle , to the west , you shall make six boards . 23 "You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle at the rear . 24 "They shall be double beneath , and together they shall be complete to its top to the first ring ; thus it shall be with both of them: they shall form the two corners . 25 "There shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver , sixteen e sockets ; two sockets under one board and two sockets under another board . 26 "Then you shall make bars of acacia wood , five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle , 27 and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle , and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle for the rear side to the west . 28 "The middle bar in the center of the boards shall pass through from end to end . 29 "You shall overlay the boards with gold and make their rings of gold as holders for the bars ; and you shall overlay the bars with gold . 30 "Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to its plan which you have been shown in the mountain .
31 "You shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen ; it shall be made with cherubim , the work of a skillful workman . 32 "You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold , their hooks also being of gold , on four sockets of silver . 33 "You shall hang up the veil under the clasps , and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil ; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies . 34 " You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the holy of holies . 35 " You shall set the table outside e the veil , and the lampstand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south ; and you shall put the table on the north side . 36 " You shall make a screen for the doorway of the tent of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen , the work of a weaver . 37 " You shall make five pillars of acacia for the screen and overlay them with gold , their hooks also being of gold ; and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.
17 As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem , He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves , and on the way He said to them, 18 "Behold , we are going up to Jerusalem ; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes , and they will condemn Him to death , 19 and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up."
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons , bowing down and making a request of Him. 21 And He said to her, "What do you wish ?" She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left ." 22 But Jesus answered , "You do not know what you are asking . Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink ?" They said to Him, "We are able ." 23 He said to them, " My cup you shall drink ; but to sit on My right and on My left , this is not Mine to give , but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father ." 24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers . 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said , "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 "It is not this way among you, but whoever e wishes to become great among you shall be your servant , 27 and whoever e wishes to be first among you shall be your slave ; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served , but to serve , and to give His life a ransom for many ."
29 As they were leaving Jericho , a large crowd followed Him. 30 And two blind men sitting by the road , hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord , have mercy on us, Son of David !" 31 The crowd sternly told them to be quiet , but they cried out all the more , "Lord , Son of David , have mercy on us!" 32 And Jesus stopped and called them, and said , "What do you want Me to do for you?" 33 They said to Him, "Lord , we want our eyes to be opened ." 34 Moved with compassion , Jesus touched their eyes ; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.
(Read Matthew 20:17-19)
Christ is more particular here in foretelling his sufferings than before. And here, as before, he adds the mention of his resurrection and his glory, to that of his death and sufferings, to encourage his disciples, and comfort them. A believing view of our once crucified and now glorified Redeemer, is good to humble a proud, self-justifying disposition. When we consider the need of the humiliation and sufferings of the Son of God, in order to the salvation of perishing sinners, surely we must be aware of the freeness and richness of Divine grace in our salvation.
(Read Matthew 20:20-28)
The sons of Zebedee abused what Christ said to comfort the disciples. Some cannot have comforts but they turn them to a wrong purpose. Pride is a sin that most easily besets us; it is sinful ambition to outdo others in pomp and grandeur. To put down the vanity and ambition of their request, Christ leads them to the thoughts of their sufferings. It is a bitter cup that is to be drunk of; a cup of trembling, but not the cup of the wicked. It is but a cup, it is but a draught, bitter perhaps, but soon emptied; it is a cup in the hand of a Father, Philippians 1:29. But they knew not what Christ's cup was, nor what his baptism. Those are commonly most confident, who are least acquainted with the cross. Nothing makes more mischief among brethren, than desire of greatness. And we never find Christ's disciples quarrelling, but something of this was at the bottom of it. That man who labours most diligently, and suffers most patiently, seeking to do good to his brethren, and to promote the salvation of souls, most resembles Christ, and will be most honoured by him to all eternity. Our Lord speaks of his death in the terms applied to the sacrifices of old. It is a sacrifice for the sins of men, and is that true and substantial sacrifice, which those of the law faintly and imperfectly represented. It was a ransom for many, enough for all, working upon many; and, if for many, then the poor trembling soul may say, Why not for me?
(Read Matthew 20:29-34)
It is good for those under the same trial, or infirmity of body or mind, to join in prayer to God for relief, that they may quicken and encourage one another. There is mercy enough in Christ for all that ask. They were earnest in prayer. They cried out as men in earnest. Cold desires beg denials. They were humble in prayer, casting themselves upon, and referring themselves cheerfully to, the Mediator's mercy. They showed faith in prayer, by the title they gave to Christ. Surely it was by the Holy Ghost that they called Jesus, Lord. They persevered in prayer. When they were in pursuit of such mercy, it was no time for timidity or hesitation: they cried earnestly. Christ encouraged them. The wants and burdens of the body we are soon sensible of, and can readily relate. Oh that we did as feelingly complain of our spiritual maladies, especially our spiritual blindness! Many are spiritually blind, yet say they see. Jesus cured these blind men; and when they had received sight, they followed him. None follow Christ blindly. He first by his grace opens men's eyes, and so draws their hearts after him. These miracles are our call to Jesus; may we hear it, and make it our daily prayer to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
