131 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, and unto Aaron, saying, 2 'When a man hath in the skin of his flesh a rising, or scab, or bright spot, and it hath become in the skin of his flesh a leprous plague, then he hath been brought in unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests; 3 and the priest hath seen the plague in the skin of the flesh, and the hair in the plague hath turned white, and the appearance of the plague 'is' deeper than the skin of his flesh—it 'is' a plague of leprosy, and the priest hath seen him, and hath pronounced him unclean. 4 'And if the bright spot is white in the skin of his flesh, and its appearance is not deeper than the skin, and its hair hath not turned white, then hath the priest shut up 'him who hath' the plague seven days. 5 'And the priest hath seen him on the seventh day, and lo, the plague hath stood in his eyes, the plague hath not spread in the skin, and the priest hath shut him up a second seven days. 6 'And the priest hath seen him on the second seventh day, and lo, the plague is become weak, and the plague hath not spread in the skin—and the priest hath pronounced him clean, it 'is' a scab, and he hath washed his garments, and hath been clean. 7 'And if the scab spread greatly in the skin, after his being seen by the priest for his cleansing, then he hath been seen a second time by the priest; 8 and the priest hath seen, and lo, the scab hath spread in the skin, and the priest hath pronounced him unclean; it 'is' leprosy. 9 'When a plague of leprosy is in a man, then he hath been brought in unto the priest, 10 and the priest hath seen, and lo, a white rising in the skin, and it hath turned the hair white, and a quickening of raw flesh 'is' in the rising,— 11 an old leprosy it 'is' in the skin of his flesh, and the priest hath pronounced him unclean; he doth not shut him up, for he 'is' unclean. 12 'And if the leprosy break out greatly in the skin, and the leprosy hath covered all the skin of 'him who hath' the plague, from his head even unto his feet, to all that appeareth to the eyes of the priest, 13 then hath the priest seen, and lo, the leprosy hath covered all his flesh, and he hath pronounced 'him who hath' the plague clean; it hath all turned white; he 'is' clean. 14 'And in the day of raw flesh being seen in him he is unclean; 15 and the priest hath seen the raw flesh, and hath pronounced him unclean; the raw flesh is unclean, it 'is' leprosy. 16 Or when the raw flesh turneth back, and hath been turned to white, then he hath come in unto the priest, 17 and the priest hath seen him, and lo, the plague hath been turned to white, and the priest hath pronounced clean 'him who hath' the plague; he 'is' clean.
18 'And when flesh hath in it, in its skin, an ulcer, and it hath been healed, 19 and there hath been in the place of the ulcer a white rising, or a bright white spot, very red, then it hath been seen by the priest, 20 and the priest hath seen, and lo, its appearance 'is' lower than the skin, and its hair hath turned white, and the priest hath pronounced him unclean; it 'is' a plague of leprosy—in an ulcer it hath broken out. 21 'And if the priest see it, and lo, there is no white hair in it, and it is not lower than the skin, and is become weak, then hath the priest shut him up seven days; 22 and if it spread greatly in the skin, then hath the priest pronounced him unclean, it 'is' a plague; 23 and if in its place the bright spot stay—it hath not spread—it 'is' an inflammation of the ulcer; and the priest hath pronounced him clean. 24 'Or when flesh hath in its skin a fiery burning, and the quickening of the burning, the bright white spot, hath been very red or white, 25 and the priest hath seen it, and lo, the hair hath turned white in the bright spot, and its appearance 'is' deeper than the skin; leprosy it 'is', in the burning it hath broken out, and the priest hath pronounced him unclean; it 'is' a plague of leprosy. 26 'And if the priest see it, and lo, there is no white hair on the bright spot, and it is not lower than the skin, and it is become weak, then the priest hath shut him up seven days; 27 and the priest hath seen him on the seventh day, if it spread greatly in the skin, then the priest hath pronounced him unclean; a plague of leprosy it 'is'. 28 'And if the bright spot stay in its place, it hath not spread in the skin, and is become weak; a rising of the burning it 'is', and the priest hath pronounced him clean; for it 'is' inflammation of the burning. 29 'And when a man (or a woman) hath in him a plague in the head or in the beard, 30 then hath the priest seen the plague, and lo, its appearance is deeper than the skin, and in it a thin shining hair, and the priest hath pronounced him unclean; it 'is' a scall—it 'is' a leprosy of the head or of the beard. 31 'And when the priest seeth the plague of the scall, and lo, its appearance is not deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then hath the priest shut up 'him who hath' the plague of the scall seven days. 32 'And the priest hath seen the plague on the seventh day, and lo, the scall hath not spread, and a shining hair hath not been in it, and the appearance of the scall is not deeper than the skin, 33 then he hath shaved himself, but the scall he doth not shave; and the priest hath shut up 'him who hath' the scall a second seven days. 34 And the priest hath seen the scall on the seventh day, and lo, the scall hath not spread in the skin, and its appearance is not deeper than the skin, and the priest hath pronounced him clean, and he hath washed his garments, and hath been clean. 35 'And if the scall spread greatly in the skin after his cleansing, 36 and the priest hath seen him, and lo, the scall hath spread in the skin, the priest seeketh not for the shining hair, he is unclean; 37 and if in his eyes the scall hath stayed, and black hair hath sprung up in it, the scall hath been healed—he 'is' clean—and the priest hath pronounced him clean.
38 'And when a man or woman hath in the skin of their flesh bright spots, white bright spots, 39 and the priest hath seen, and lo, in the skin of their flesh white weak bright spots, it 'is' a freckled spot broken out in the skin; he 'is' clean. 40 'And when a man's head 'is' polished, he 'is' bald, he 'is' clean; 41 and if from the corner of his face his head is polished, he 'is' bald of the forehead; he 'is' clean. 42 'And when there is in the bald back of the head, or in the bald forehead, a very red white plague, it 'is' a leprosy breaking out in the bald back of the head, or in the bald forehead; 43 and the priest hath seen him, and lo, the rising of the very red white plague in the bald back of the head, or in the bald forehead, 'is' as the appearance of leprosy, in the skin of the flesh, 44 he 'is' a leprous man, he 'is' unclean; the priest doth pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague 'is' in his head. 45 'As to the leper in whom 'is' the plague, his garments are rent, and his head is uncovered, and he covereth over the upper lip, and 'Unclean! unclean!' he calleth; 46 all the days that the plague 'is' in him he is unclean; he 'is' unclean, alone he doth dwell, at the outside of the camp 'is' his dwelling.
47 'And when there is in any garment a plague of leprosy,—in a garment of wool, or in a garment of linen, 48 or in the warp, or in the woof, of linen or of wool, or in a skin, or in any work of skin, 49 and the plague hath been very green or very red in the garment, or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any vessel of skin, it 'is' a plague of leprosy, and it hath been shewn the priest. 50 'And the priest hath seen the plague, and hath shut up 'that which hath' the plague, seven days; 51 and he hath seen the plague on the seventh day, and the plague hath spread in the garment, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, of all that is made of skin for work; the plague 'is' a fretting leprosy, it 'is' unclean. 52 'And he hath burnt the garment, or the warp, or the woof, in wool or in linen, or any vessel of skin in which the plague is; for it 'is' a fretting leprosy; with fire it is burnt. 53 'And if the priest see, and lo, the plague hath not spread in the garment, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any vessel of skin, 54 then hath the priest commanded, and they have washed that in which the plague 'is', and he hath shut it up a second seven days. 55 And the priest hath seen 'that which hath' the plague after it hath been washed, and lo, the plague hath not changed its aspect, and the plague hath not spread,—it 'is' unclean; with fire thou dost burn it; it 'is' a fretting in its back-part or in its front-part. 56 'And if the priest hath seen, and lo, the plague 'is' become weak after it hath been washed, then he hath rent it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof; 57 and if it still be seen in the garment, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any vessel of skin, it 'is' a fretting; with fire thou dost burn it—that in which the plague 'is'. 58 'And the garment, or the warp, or the woof, or any vessel of skin which thou dost wash when the plague hath turned aside from them, then it hath been washed a second time, and hath been clean. 59 'This 'is' the law of a plague of leprosy 'in' a garment of wool or of linen, or of the warp or of the woof, or of any vessel of skin, to pronounce it clean or to pronounce it unclean.'
26 And while they were eating, Jesus having taken the bread, and having blessed, did brake, and was giving to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat, this is my body;' 27 and having taken the cup, and having given thanks, he gave to them, saying, 'Drink ye of it—all; 28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, that for many is being poured out—to remission of sins; 29 and I say to you, that I may not drink henceforth on this produce of the vine, till that day when I may drink it with you new in the reign of my Father.'
30 And having sung a hymn, they went forth to the mount of the Olives;
31 then saith Jesus to them, 'All ye shall be stumbled at me this night; for it hath been written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad; 32 but, after my having risen, I will go before you to Galilee.' 33 And Peter answering said to him, 'Even if all shall be stumbled at thee, I will never be stumbled.' 34 Jesus said to him, 'Verily I say to thee, that, this night, before cock-crowing, thrice thou wilt deny me.' 35 Peter saith to him, 'Even if it may be necessary for me to die with thee, I will not deny thee;' in like manner also said all the disciples.
36 Then come with them doth Jesus to a place called Gethsemane, and he saith to the disciples, 'Sit ye here, till having gone away, I shall pray yonder.' 37 And having taken Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful, and to be very heavy; 38 then saith he to them, 'Exceedingly sorrowful is my soul—unto death; abide ye here, and watch with me.' 39 And having gone forward a little, he fell on his face, praying, and saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou.' 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and he saith to Peter, 'So! ye were not able one hour to watch with me! 41 watch, and pray, that ye may not enter into temptation: the spirit indeed is forward, but the flesh weak.' 42 Again, a second time, having gone away, he prayed, saying, 'My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from me except I drink it, Thy will be done;' 43 and having come, he findeth them again sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And having left them, having gone away again, he prayed a third time, saying the same word; 45 then cometh he unto his disciples, and saith to them, 'Sleep on henceforth, and rest! lo, the hour hath come nigh, and the Son of Man is delivered up to the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go; lo, he hath come nigh who is delivering me up.'
47 And while he is yet speaking, lo, Judas, one of the twelve did come, and with him a great multitude, with swords and sticks, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 And he who did deliver him up did give them a sign, saying, 'Whomsoever I will kiss, it is he: lay hold on him;' 49 and immediately, having come to Jesus, he said, 'Hail, Rabbi,' and kissed him; 50 and Jesus said to him, 'Comrade, for what art thou present?' Then having come near, they laid hands on Jesus, and took hold on 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!
