111 God spoke to Moses and Aaron: 2 "Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them: Of all the animals on Earth, these are the animals that you may eat: 3 "You may eat any animal that has a split hoof, divided in two, and that chews the cud, 4 but not an animal that only chews the cud or only has a split hoof. For instance, the camel chews the cud but doesn't have a split hoof, so it's unclean. 5 The rock badger chews the cud but doesn't have a split hoof and so it's unclean. 6 The rabbit chews the cud but doesn't have a split hoof so is unclean. 7 The pig has a split hoof, divided in two, but doesn't chew the cud and so is unclean. 8 You may not eat their meat nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.
9 "Among the creatures that live in the water of the seas and streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales. 10 But anything that doesn't have fins and scales, whether in seas or streams, whether small creatures in the shallows or huge creatures in the deeps, you are to detest. 11 Yes, detest them. Don't eat their meat; detest their carcasses. 12 Anything living in the water that doesn't have fins and scales is detestable to you. 13 "These are the birds you are to detest. Don't eat them. They are detestable: eagle, vulture, osprey, 14 kite, all falcons, 15 all ravens, 16 ostrich, nighthawk, sea gull, all hawks, 17 owl, cormorant, ibis, 18 water hen, pelican, Egyptian vulture, 19 stork, all herons, hoopoe, bat.
20 "All flying insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you. 21 But you can eat some of these, namely, those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground: 22 all locusts, katydids, crickets, and grasshoppers. 23 But all the other flying insects that have four legs you are to detest. 24 "You will make yourselves ritually unclean until evening if you touch their carcasses. 25 If you pick up one of their carcasses you must wash your clothes and you'll be unclean until evening. 26 "Every animal that has a split hoof that's not completely divided, or that doesn't chew the cud is unclean for you; if you touch the carcass of any of them you become unclean. 27 "Every four-footed animal that goes on its paws is unclean for you; if you touch its carcass you are unclean until evening. 28 If you pick up its carcass you must wash your clothes and are unclean until evening. They are unclean for you. 29 "Among the creatures that crawl on the ground, the following are unclean for you: weasel, rat, all lizards, 30 gecko, monitor lizard, wall lizard, skink, chameleon. 31 Among the crawling creatures, these are unclean for you. If you touch them when they are dead, you are ritually unclean until evening. 32 When one of them dies and falls on something, that becomes unclean no matter what it's used for, whether it's made of wood, cloth, hide, or sackcloth. Put it in the water - it's unclean until evening, and then it's clean. 33 If one of these dead creatures falls into a clay pot, everything in the pot is unclean and you must break the pot. 34 Any food that could be eaten but has water on it from such a pot is unclean, and any liquid that could be drunk from it is unclean. 35 Anything that one of these carcasses falls on is unclean - an oven or cooking pot must be broken up; they're unclean and must be treated as unclean. 36 A spring, though, or a cistern for collecting water remains clean, but if you touch one of these carcasses you're ritually unclean. 37 If a carcass falls on any seeds that are to be planted, they remain clean. 38 But if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, you must treat it as unclean. 39 "If an animal that you are permitted to eat dies, anyone who touches the carcass is ritually unclean until evening. 40 If you eat some of the carcass you must wash your clothes and you are unclean until evening. If you pick up the carcass you must wash your clothes and are unclean until evening. 41 "Creatures that crawl on the ground are detestable and not to be eaten. 42 Don't eat creatures that crawl on the ground, whether on their belly or on all fours or on many feet - they are detestable.
43 Don't make yourselves unclean or be defiled by them, because I am your God. 44 "Make yourselves holy for I am holy. Don't make yourselves ritually unclean by any creature that crawls on the ground. 45 I am God who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Be holy because I am holy. 46 "These are the instructions on animals, birds, fish, and creatures that crawl on the ground. 47 You have to distinguish between the ritually unclean and the clean, between living creatures that can be eaten and those that cannot be eaten."
121 God spoke to Moses: 2 "Tell the People of Israel: A woman who conceives and gives birth to a boy is ritually unclean for seven days, the same as during her menstruation. 3 On the eighth day circumcise the boy. 4 The mother must stay home another thirty-three days for purification from her bleeding. She may not touch anything consecrated or enter the Sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete. 5 If she gives birth to a girl, she is unclean for fourteen days, the same as during her menstruation. She must stay home for sixty-six days for purification from her bleeding.
6 "When the days for her purification for either a boy or a girl are complete, she will bring a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering and a pigeon or dove for an Absolution-Offering to the priest at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 7 He will offer it to God and make atonement for her. She is then clean from her flow of blood. "These are the instructions for a woman who gives birth to either a boy or a girl. 8 "If she can't afford a lamb, she can bring two doves or two pigeons, one for the Whole-Burnt-Offering and one for the Absolution-Offering. The priest will make atonement for her and she will be clean."
261 When Jesus finished saying these things, he told his disciples, 2 "You know that Passover comes in two days. That's when the Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over for crucifixion." 3 At that very moment, the party of high priests and religious leaders was meeting in the chambers of the Chief Priest named Caiaphas, 4 conspiring to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. "We don't want a riot on our hands," they said.
6 When Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came up to him as he was eating dinner and anointed him with a bottle of very expensive perfume. 8 When the disciples saw what was happening, they were furious. "That's criminal! 9 This could have been sold for a lot and the money handed out to the poor." 10 When Jesus realized what was going on, he intervened. "Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. 11 You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives, but not me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial. 13 You can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she has just done is going to be remembered and admired."
14 That is when one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the cabal of high priests 15 and said, "What will you give me if I hand him over to you?" They settled on thirty silver pieces. 16 He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over.
17 On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?" 18 He said, "Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, 'The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.'" 19 The disciples followed Jesus' instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal. 20 After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. 21 During the meal, he said, "I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators." 22 They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, "It isn't me, is it, Master?" 23 Jesus answered, "The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. 24 In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures - no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man - better never to have been born than do this!" 25 Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" Jesus said, "Don't play games with me, Judas."
(Read Matthew 26:1-5)
Our Lord had often told of his sufferings as at a distance, now he speaks of them as at hand. At the same time the Jewish council consulted how they might put him to death secretly. But it pleased God to defeat their intention. Jesus, the true paschal Lamb, was to be sacrificed for us at that very time, and his death and resurrection rendered public.
(Read Matthew 26:6-13)
The pouring ointment upon the head of Christ was a token of the highest respect. Where there is true love in the heart to Jesus Christ, nothing will be thought too good to bestow upon him. The more Christ's servants and their services are cavilled at, the more he manifests his acceptance. This act of faith and love was so remarkable, that it would be reported, as a memorial of Mary's faith and love, to all future ages, and in all places where the gospel should be preached. This prophecy is fulfilled.
(Read Matthew 26:14-16)
There were but twelve called apostles, and one of them was like a devil; surely we must never expect any society to be quite pure on this side heaven. The greater profession men make of religion, the greater opportunity they have of doing mischief, if their hearts be not right with God. Observe, that Christ's own disciple, who knew so well his doctrine and manner of his life, and was false to him, could not charge him with any thing criminal, though it would have served to justify his treachery. What did Judas want? Was not he welcome wherever his Master was? Did he not fare as Christ fared? It is not the lack, but the love of money, that is the root of all evil. After he had made that wicked bargain, Judas had time to repent, and to revoke it; but when lesser acts of dishonesty have hardened the conscience men do without hesitation that which is more shameful.
(Read Matthew 26:17-25)
Observe, the place for their eating the passover was pointed out by Christ to the disciples. He knows those hidden ones who favour his cause, and will graciously visit all who are willing to receive him. The disciples did as Jesus had appointed. Those who would have Christ's presence in the gospel passover, must do what he says. It well becomes the disciples of Christ always to be jealous over themselves, especially in trying times. We know not how strongly we may be tempted, nor how far God may leave us to ourselves, therefore we have reason not to be high-minded, but to fear. Heart-searching examination and fervent prayer are especially proper before the Lord's supper, that, as Christ our Passover is now sacrificed for us, we may keep this feast, renewing our repentance, our faith in his blood, and surrendering ourselves to his service.
