131 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron , saying , 2 "When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or a scab or a bright spot , and it becomes an infection of leprosy on the skin of his body , then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests . 3 "The priest shall look at the mark on the skin of the body , and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the infection appears to be deeper than the skin of his body , it is an infection of leprosy ; when the priest has looked at him, he shall pronounce him unclean . 4 "But if the bright spot is white on the skin of his body , and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin , and the hair on it has not turned white , then the priest shall isolate him who has the infection for seven days . 5 "The priest shall look at him on the seventh day , and if in his eyes the infection has not changed and the infection has not spread on the skin , then the priest shall isolate him for seven more days . 6 "The priest shall look at him again on the seventh day , and if the infection has faded and the mark has not spread on the skin , then the priest shall pronounce him clean ; it is only a scab . And he shall wash his clothes and be clean . 7 "But if the scab spreads farther on the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing , he shall appear again to the priest . 8 "The priest shall look , and if the scab has spread on the skin , then the priest shall pronounce him unclean ; it is leprosy . 9 "When the infection of leprosy is on a man , then he shall be brought to the priest . 10 "The priest shall then look , and if there is a white swelling in the skin , and it has turned the hair white , and there is quick raw flesh in the swelling , 11 it is a chronic leprosy on the skin of his body , and the priest shall pronounce him unclean ; he shall not isolate him, for he is unclean . 12 "If the leprosy breaks out farther on the skin , and the leprosy covers all the skin of him who has the infection from his head even to his feet , as far as the priest can see e , 13 then the priest shall look , and behold , if the leprosy has covered all his body , he shall pronounce clean him who has the infection ; it has all turned white and he is clean . 14 "But whenever raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean . 15 "The priest shall look at the raw flesh , and he shall pronounce him unclean ; the raw flesh is unclean , it is leprosy . 16 "Or if the raw flesh turns again and is changed to white , then he shall come to the priest , 17 and the priest shall look at him, and behold , if the infection has turned to white , then the priest shall pronounce clean him who has the infection ; he is clean .
18 "When the body has a boil on its skin and it is healed , 19 and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling or a reddish-white , bright spot , then it shall be shown to the priest ; 20 and the priest shall look , and behold , if it appears to be lower than the skin , and the hair on it has turned white , then the priest shall pronounce him unclean ; it is the infection of leprosy , it has broken out in the boil . 21 "But if the priest looks at it, and behold , there are no white hairs in it and it is not lower than the skin and is faded , then the priest shall isolate him for seven days ; 22 and if it spreads farther on the skin , then the priest shall pronounce him unclean ; it is an infection . 23 "But if the bright spot remains in its place and does not spread , it is only the scar of the boil ; and the priest shall pronounce him clean . 24 "Or if the body sustains in its skin a burn by fire , and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot , reddish-white , or white , 25 then the priest shall look at it. And if the hair in the bright spot has turned white and it appears to be deeper than the skin , it is leprosy ; it has broken out in the burn . Therefore, the priest shall pronounce him unclean ; it is an infection of leprosy . 26 "But if the priest looks at it, and indeed , there is no white hair in the bright spot and it is no deeper than the skin , but is dim , then the priest shall isolate him for seven days ; 27 and the priest shall look at him on the seventh day . If it spreads farther in the skin , then the priest shall pronounce him unclean ; it is an infection of leprosy . 28 "But if the bright spot remains in its place and has not spread in the skin , but is dim , it is the swelling from the burn ; and the priest shall pronounce him clean , for it is only the scar of the burn . 29 "Now if a man or woman has an infection on the head or on the beard , 30 then the priest shall look at the infection , and if it appears to be deeper than the skin and there is thin yellowish hair in it, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean ; it is a scale , it is leprosy of the head or of the beard . 31 "But if the priest looks at the infection of the scale , and indeed , it appears to be no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the person with the scaly infection for seven days . 32 "On the seventh day the priest shall look at the infection , and if the scale has not spread and no yellowish hair has grown in it, and the appearance of the scale is no deeper than the skin , 33 then he shall shave himself, but he shall not shave the scale ; and the priest shall isolate the person with the scale seven more days . 34 "Then on the seventh day the priest shall look at the scale , and if the scale has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin , the priest shall pronounce him clean ; and he shall wash his clothes and be clean . 35 "But if the scale spreads farther in the skin after his cleansing , 36 then the priest shall look at him, and if the scale has spread in the skin , the priest need not seek for the yellowish hair ; he is unclean . 37 "If in his sight the scale has remained , however, and black hair has grown in it, the scale has healed , he is clean ; and the priest shall pronounce him clean .
38 "When a man or a woman has bright spots on the skin of the body , even white bright spots , 39 then the priest shall look , and if the bright spots on the skin of their bodies are a faint white , it is eczema that has broken out on the skin ; he is clean . 40 "Now if a man loses the hair of his head , he is bald ; he is clean . 41 "If his head becomes bald at the front and sides , he is bald on the forehead ; he is clean . 42 "But if on the bald head or the bald forehead , there occurs a reddish-white infection , it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or on his bald forehead . 43 "Then the priest shall look at him; and if the swelling of the infection is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead , like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body , 44 he is a leprous man , he is unclean . The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean ; his infection is on his head . 45 "As for the leper who has the infection , his clothes shall be torn , and the hair of his head shall be uncovered , and he shall cover his mustache and cry , ' Unclean ! Unclean !' 46 "He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection ; he is unclean . He shall live alone ; his dwelling shall be outside e the camp .
47 "When a garment has a mark of leprosy in it, whether it is a wool garment or a linen garment , 48 whether in warp or woof , of linen or of wool , whether in leather or in any article made of leather , 49 if the mark is greenish or reddish in the garment or in the leather , or in the warp or in the woof , or in any article of leather , it is a leprous mark and shall be shown to the priest . 50 "Then the priest shall look at the mark and shall quarantine the article with the mark for seven days . 51 "He shall then look at the mark on the seventh day ; if the mark has spread in the garment , whether in the warp or in the woof , or in the leather , whatever the purpose for which the leather is used , the mark is a leprous malignancy , it is unclean . 52 "So he shall burn the garment , whether the warp or the woof , in wool or in linen , or any article of leather in which the mark occurs , for it is a leprous malignancy ; it shall be burned in the fire . 53 "But if the priest shall look , and indeed the mark has not spread in the garment , either in the warp or in the woof , or in any article of leather , 54 then the priest shall order them to wash the thing in which the mark occurs and he shall quarantine it for seven more days . 55 "After the article with the mark has been washed , the priest shall again look , and if the mark has not changed its appearance , even though the mark has not spread , it is unclean ; you shall burn it in the fire , whether an eating away has produced bareness e on the top or on the front of it. 56 "Then if the priest looks , and if the mark has faded after it has been washed , then he shall tear it out of the garment or out of the leather , whether from the warp or from the woof ; 57 and if it appears again in the garment , whether in the warp or in the woof , or in any article of leather , it is an outbreak ; the article with the mark shall be burned in the fire . 58 "The garment , whether the warp or the woof , or any article of leather from which the mark has departed when you washed it, it shall then be washed a second time and will be clean ." 59 This is the law for the mark of leprosy in a garment of wool or linen , whether in the warp or in the woof , or in any article of leather , for pronouncing it clean or unclean .
26 While they were eating , Jesus took some bread , and after a blessing , He broke it and gave it to the disciples , and said , "Take , eat ; this is My body ." 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks , He gave it to them, saying , "Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant , which is poured out for many for forgiveness 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 After singing a hymn , they went out to the Mount of Olives .
31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night , for it is written , ' I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD , AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED .' 32 "But after I have been raised , I will go ahead of you to Galilee ." 33 But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away ." 34 Jesus said to him, " Truly I say to you that this very night , before a rooster crows , you will deny Me three times ." 35 Peter said to Him, " Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too .
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane , and said to His disciples , "Sit here while I go over there and pray ." 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee , and began to be grieved and distressed . 38 Then He said to them, " My soul is deeply grieved , to the point of death ; remain here and keep watch with Me." 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed , saying , "My Father , if it is possible , let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will , but as You will." 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping , and said to Peter , "So , you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour ? 41 " Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation ; the spirit is willing , but the flesh is weak ." 42 He went away again a second time and prayed , saying , "My Father , if this cannot e pass away unless e I drink it, Your will be done ." 43 Again He came and found them sleeping , for their eyes were heavy . 44 And He left them again , and went away and prayed a third time , saying the same thing once more . 45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting ? Behold , the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners . 46 "Get up, let us be going ; behold , the one who betrays Me is at hand !"
47 While He was still speaking , behold , Judas , one of the twelve , came up accompanied e by a large crowd with swords and clubs , who came from the chief priests and elders of the people . 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign , saying , "Whomever e I kiss , He is the one; seize Him." 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said , "Hail , Rabbi !" and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said to him, " Friend , do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.
(Read Matthew 26:26-30)
This ordinance of the Lord's supper is to us the passover supper, by which we commemorate a much greater deliverance than that of Israel out of Egypt. Take, eat; accept of Christ as he is offered to you; receive the atonement, approve of it, submit to his grace and his government. Meat looked upon, be the dish ever so well garnished, will not nourish; it must be fed upon: so must the doctrine of Christ. This is my body; that is, spiritually, it signifies and represents his body. We partake of the sun, not by having the sun put into our hands, but the beams of it darted down upon us; so we partake of Christ by partaking of his grace, and the blessed fruits of the breaking of his body. The blood of Christ is signified and represented by the wine. He gave thanks, to teach us to look to God in every part of the ordinance. This cup he gave to the disciples with a command, Drink ye all of it. The pardon of sin is that great blessing which is, in the Lord's supper, conferred on all true believers; it is the foundation of all other blessings. He takes leave of such communion; and assures them of a happy meeting again at last; "Until that day when I drink it new with you", may be understood of the joys and glories of the future state, which the saints shall partake with the Lord Jesus. That will be the kingdom of his Father; the wine of consolation will there be always new. While we look at the outward signs of Christ's body broken and his blood shed for the remission of our sins, let us recollect that the feast cost him as much as though he had literally given his flesh to be eaten and his blood for us to drink.
(Read Matthew 26:31-35)
Improper self-confidence, like that of Peter, is the first step to a fall. There is a proneness in all of us to be over-confident. But those fall soonest and foulest, who are the most confident in themselves. Those are least safe, who think themselves most secure. Satan is active to lead such astray; they are most off their guard: God leaves them to themselves, to humble them.
(Read Matthew 26:36-46)
He who made atonement for the sins of mankind, submitted himself in a garden of suffering, to the will of God, from which man had revolted in a garden of pleasure. Christ took with him into that part of the garden where he suffered his agony, only those who had witnessed his glory in his transfiguration. Those are best prepared to suffer with Christ, who have by faith beheld his glory. The words used denote the most entire dejection, amazement, anguish, and horror of mind; the state of one surrounded with sorrows, overwhelmed with miseries, and almost swallowed up with terror and dismay. He now began to be sorrowful, and never ceased to be so till he said, It is finished. He prayed that, if possible, the cup might pass from him. But he also showed his perfect readiness to bear the load of his sufferings; he was willing to submit to all for our redemption and salvation. According to this example of Christ, we must drink of the bitterest cup which God puts into our hands; though nature struggle, it must submit. It should be more our care to get troubles sanctified, and our hearts satisfied under them, than to get them taken away. It is well for us that our salvation is in the hand of One who neither slumbers nor sleeps. All are tempted, but we should be much afraid of entering into temptation. To be secured from this, we should watch and pray, and continually look unto the Lord to hold us up that we may be safe. Doubtless our Lord had a clear and full view of the sufferings he was to endure, yet he spoke with the greatest calmness till this time. Christ was a Surety, who undertook to be answerable for our sins. Accordingly he was made sin for us, and suffered for our sins, the Just for the unjust; and Scripture ascribes his heaviest sufferings to the hand of God. He had full knowledge of the infinite evil of sin, and of the immense extent of that guilt for which he was to atone; with awful views of the Divine justice and holiness, and the punishment deserved by the sins of men, such as no tongue can express, or mind conceive. At the same time, Christ suffered being tempted; probably horrible thoughts were suggested by Satan that tended to gloom and every dreadful conclusion: these would be the more hard to bear from his perfect holiness. And did the load of imputed guilt so weigh down the soul of Him of whom it is said, He upholdeth all things by the word of his power? into what misery then must those sink whose sins are left upon their own heads! How will those escape who neglect so great salvation?
(Read Matthew 26:47-56)
No enemies are so much to be abhorred as those professed disciples that betray Christ with a kiss. God has no need of our services, much less of our sins, to bring about his purposes. Though Christ was crucified through weakness, it was voluntary weakness; he submitted to death. If he had not been willing to suffer, they could not conquer him. It was a great sin for those who had left all to follow Jesus; now to leave him for they knew not what. What folly, for fear of death to flee from Him, whom they knew and acknowledged to be the Fountain of life!
