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Leviticus 4

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Procedures for the Sin Offering

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, ^2 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. This is how you are to deal with those who sin unintentionally by doing anything that violates one of the Lord’s commands.

^3 “If the high priest sins, bringing guilt upon the entire community, he must give a sin offering for the sin he has committed. He must present to the Lord a young bull with no defects. ^4 He must bring the bull to the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the Lord. ^5 The high priest will then take some of the bull’s blood into the Tabernacle, ^6 dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord in front of the inner curtain of the sanctuary. ^7 The priest will then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar for fragrant incense that stands in theLord’s presence inside the Tabernacle. He will pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar for burnt offerings at the entrance of the Tabernacle. ^8 Then the priest must remove all the fat of the bull to be offered as a sin offering. This includes all the fat around the internal organs, ^9 the two kidneys and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. He must remove these along with the kidneys, ^10 just as he does with cattle offered as a peace offering, and burn them on the altar of burnt offerings. ^11 But he must take whatever is left of the bull—its hide, meat, head, legs, internal organs, and dung— ^12 and carry it away to a place outside the camp that is ceremonially clean, the place where the ashes are dumped. There, on the ash heap, he will burn it on a wood fire.

^13 “If the entire Israelite community sins by violating one of the Lord’s commands, but the people don’t realize it, they are still guilty. ^14 When they become aware of their sin, the people must bring a young bull as an offering for their sin and present it before the Tabernacle. ^15 The elders of the community must then lay their hands on the bull’s head and slaughter it before the Lord. ^16 The high priest will then take some of the bull’s blood into the Tabernacle, ^17 dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord in front of the inner curtain. ^18 He will then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar for fragrant incense that stands in the Lord’s presence inside the Tabernacle. He will pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar for burnt offerings at the entrance of the Tabernacle. ^19 Then the priest must remove all the animal’s fat and burn it on the altar, ^20 just as he does with the bull offered as a sin offering for the high priest. Through this process, the priest will purify the people, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven. ^21 Then the priest must take what is left of the bull and carry it outside the camp and burn it there, just as is done with the sin offering for the high priest. This offering is for the sin of the entire congregation of Israel.

^22 “If one of Israel’s leaders sins by violating one of the commands of the Lord his God but doesn’t realize it, he is still guilty.^23 When he becomes aware of his sin, he must bring as his offering a male goat with no defects. ^24 He must lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it at the place where burnt offerings are slaughtered before the Lord. This is an offering for his sin. ^25 Then the priest will dip his finger in the blood of the sin offering and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. ^26 Then he must burn all the goat’s fat on the altar, just as he does with the peace offering. Through this process, the priest will purify the leader from his sin, making him right with theLord, and he will be forgiven.

^27 “If any of the common people sin by violating one of the Lord’s commands, but they don’t realize it, they are still guilty.^28 When they become aware of their sin, they must bring as an offering for their sin a female goat with no defects. ^29 They must lay a hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place where burnt offerings are slaughtered. ^30 Then the priest will dip his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. ^31 Then he must remove all the goat’s fat, just as he does with the fat of the peace offering. He will burn the fat on the altar, and it will be a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Through this process, the priest will purify the people, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven.

^32 “If the people bring a sheep as their sin offering, it must be a female with no defects. ^33 They must lay a hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place where burnt offerings are slaughtered. ^34 Then the priest will dip his finger in the blood of the sin offering and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. ^35 Then he must remove all the sheep’s fat, just as he does with the fat of a sheep presented as a peace offering. He will burn the fat on the altar on top of the special gifts presented to the Lord. Through this process, the priest will purify the people from their sin, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven.

Leviticus 5

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Sins Requiring a Sin Offering

5 “If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.

^2 “Or suppose you unknowingly touch something that is ceremonially unclean, such as the carcass of an unclean animal. When you realize what you have done, you must admit your defilement and your guilt. This is true whether it is a wild animal, a domestic animal, or an animal that scurries along the ground.

^3 “Or suppose you unknowingly touch something that makes a person unclean. When you realize what you have done, you must admit your guilt.

^4 “Or suppose you make a foolish vow of any kind, whether its purpose is for good or for bad. When you realize its foolishness, you must admit your guilt.

^5 “When you become aware of your guilt in any of these ways, you must confess your sin. ^6 Then you must bring to the Lordas the penalty for your sin a female from the flock, either a sheep or a goat. This is a sin offering with which the priest will purify you from your sin, making you right with the Lord.

^7 “But if you cannot afford to bring a sheep, you may bring to the Lord two turtledoves or two young pigeons as the penalty for your sin. One of the birds will be for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. ^8 You must bring them to the priest, who will present the first bird as the sin offering. He will wring its neck but without severing its head from the body. ^9 Then he will sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering against the sides of the altar, and the rest of the blood will be drained out at the base of the altar. This is an offering for sin. ^10 The priest will then prepare the second bird as a burnt offering, following all the procedures that have been prescribed. Through this process the priest will purify you from your sin, making you right with the Lord, and you will be forgiven.

^11 “If you cannot afford to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, you may bring two quarts of choice flour for your sin offering. Since it is an offering for sin, you must not moisten it with olive oil or put any frankincense on it. ^12 Take the flour to the priest, who will scoop out a handful as a representative portion. He will burn it on the altar on top of the special gifts presented to the Lord. It is an offering for sin. ^13 Through this process, the priest will purify those who are guilty of any of these sins, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the flour will belong to the priest, just as with the grain offering.â€

Procedures for the Guilt Offering

^14 Then the Lord said to Moses, ^15 “If one of you commits a sin by unintentionally defiling the Lord’s sacred property, you must bring a guilt offering to the Lord. The offering must be your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value with silver, as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. ^16 You must make restitution for the sacred property you have harmed by paying for the loss, plus an additional 20 percent. When you give the payment to the priest, he will purify you with the ram sacrificed as a guilt offering, making you right with the Lord, and you will be forgiven.

^17 “Suppose you sin by violating one of the Lord’s commands. Even if you are unaware of what you have done, you are guilty and will be punished for your sin. ^18 For a guilt offering, you must bring to the priest your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value. Through this process the priest will purify you from your unintentional sin, making you right with the Lord, and you will be forgiven. ^19 This is a guilt offering, for you have been guilty of an offense against the Lord.â€

Leviticus 6

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Sins Requiring a Guilt Offering

6 Then the Lord said to Moses, ^2 “Suppose one of you sins against your associate and is unfaithful to the Lord. Suppose you cheat in a deal involving a security deposit, or you steal or commit fraud, ^3 or you find lost property and lie about it, or you lie while swearing to tell the truth, or you commit any other such sin. ^4 If you have sinned in any of these ways, you are guilty. You must give back whatever you stole, or the money you took by extortion, or the security deposit, or the lost property you found, ^5 or anything obtained by swearing falsely. You must make restitution by paying the full price plus an additional 20 percent to the person you have harmed. On the same day you must present a guilt offering. ^6 As a guilt offering to the Lord, you must bring to the priest your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value. ^7 Through this process, the priest will purify you before the Lord, making you right with him, and you will be forgiven for any of these sins you have committed.â€

Further Instructions for the Burnt Offering

^8 Then the Lord said to Moses, ^9 “Give Aaron and his sons the following instructions regarding the burnt offering. The burnt offering must be left on top of the altar until the next morning, and the fire on the altar must be kept burning all night. ^10 In the morning, after the priest on duty has put on his official linen clothing and linen undergarments, he must clean out the ashes of the burnt offering and put them beside the altar. ^11 Then he must take off these garments, change back into his regular clothes, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean. ^12 Meanwhile, the fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must never go out. Each morning the priest will add fresh wood to the fire and arrange the burnt offering on it. He will then burn the fat of the peace offerings on it. ^13 Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.

Further Instructions for the Grain Offering

^14 “These are the instructions regarding the grain offering. Aaron’s sons must present this offering to the Lord in front of the altar. ^15 The priest on duty will take from the grain offering a handful of the choice flour moistened with olive oil, together with all the frankincense. He will burn this representative portion on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. ^16 Aaron and his sons may eat the rest of the flour, but it must be baked without yeast and eaten in a sacred place within the courtyard of the Tabernacle. ^17 Remember, it must never be prepared with yeast. I have given it to the priests as their share of the special gifts presented to me. Like the sin offering and the guilt offering, it is most holy. ^18 Any of Aaron’s male descendants may eat from the special gifts presented to the Lord. This is their permanent right from generation to generation. Anyone or anything that touches these offerings will become holy.â€

Procedures for the Ordination Offering

^19 Then the Lord said to Moses, ^20 “On the day Aaron and his sons are anointed, they must present to the Lord a grain offering of two quarts of choice flour, half to be offered in the morning and half to be offered in the evening. ^21 It must be carefully mixed with olive oil and cooked on a griddle. Then slice this grain offering and present it as a pleasing aroma to theLord. ^22 In each generation, the high priest who succeeds Aaron must prepare this same offering. It belongs to the Lord and must be burned up completely. This is a permanent law. ^23 All such grain offerings of a priest must be burned up entirely. None of it may be eaten.â€

Further Instructions for the Sin Offering

^24 Then the Lord said to Moses, ^25 “Give Aaron and his sons the following instructions regarding the sin offering. The animal given as an offering for sin is a most holy offering, and it must be slaughtered in the Lord’s presence at the place where the burnt offerings are slaughtered. ^26 The priest who offers the sacrifice as a sin offering must eat his portion in a sacred place within the courtyard of the Tabernacle. ^27 Anyone or anything that touches the sacrificial meat will become holy. If any of the sacrificial blood spatters on a person’s clothing, the soiled garment must be washed in a sacred place. ^28 If a clay pot is used to boil the sacrificial meat, it must then be broken. If a bronze pot is used, it must be scoured and thoroughly rinsed with water. ^29 Any male from a priest’s family may eat from this offering; it is most holy. ^30 But the offering for sin may not be eaten if its blood was brought into the Tabernacle as an offering for purification in the Holy Place. It must be completely burned with fire.

Matthew 25

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Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

25 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ^2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ^3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, ^4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. ^5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

^6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

^7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. ^8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

^9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

^10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. ^11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

^12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

^13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

Parable of the Three Servants

^14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. ^15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

^16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. ^17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. ^18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

^19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.^20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’

^21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

^22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’

^23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

^24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. ^25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

^26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, ^27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

^28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. ^29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. ^30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Final Judgment

^31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. ^32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ^33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

^34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ^35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ^36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

^37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ^38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ^39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

^40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

^41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. ^42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. ^43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

^44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

^45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

^46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.â€