24. Vayikra

Parasha 24: Vayikra

Leviticus 1:1–6:7 (LEB)

Laws for Burnt Offerings

1 Then Yahweh called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of assembly, saying, ² “Speak to the _⌊Israelites_⌋, and say to them, ‘When a person from you presents an offering to Yahweh, you shall present your offering from domestic animals, from the cattle or from the flock. ³ If his offering is a burnt offering from the cattle, then he must present an unblemished male; he must present it at the door of the tent of assembly for his acceptance _⌊before_⌋ Yahweh.

⁴ “ ‘He must lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering and it will be accepted for him in order to make atonement for him. ⁵ He must slaughter _⌊the young bull_{⌋ ⌊}before_⌋ Yahweh, then Aaron’s sons, the priests, will present the blood and sprinkle the blood all around the altar that is at the door of the tent of assembly. ⁶ Then he must remove the skin of the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces. ⁷ The sons of Aaron the priest will put fire on the altar and arrange the wood on the fire. ⁸ Then Aaron’s sons, the priests, will arrange the pieces of meat, the head, and the suet on the wood that is on the fire that is on the altar. ⁹ Then he must wash its inner parts and its lower leg bones with water, and the priest will turn into smoke the whole animal on the altar as a burnt offering by fire, as an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh.

¹⁰ “ ‘But if his offering is from the flock, from the sheep or from the goats for a burnt offering, he must present an unblemished male. ¹¹ He must slaughter it on the north side of the altar _⌊before_⌋ Yahweh; then Aaron’s sons, the priests, will sprinkle its blood all around the altar. ¹² Then he must cut it into pieces along with its head and its suet; and the priest will arrange them on the wood that is on the fire that is on the altar. ¹³ Then he must wash the inner parts and the lower leg bones with water and the priest shall present the whole animal and will turn it into smoke on the altar; it is a burnt offering by fire as an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh.

¹⁴ “ ‘But if his offering for Yahweh is a burnt offering from the birds, then he must present his offering from the turtledoves or from _⌊the young doves_⌋. ¹⁵ The priest will present it at the altar and must wring off its head and turn it into smoke on the altar, and its blood will be drained out on the wall of the altar. ¹⁶ He must remove its crop with its plumage and throw it to the east beside the altar on the place of the fatty ashes. ¹⁷ Then he must tear it apart by its wings but must not sever it; then the priest will turn it into smoke on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering by fire as an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh.’ ”

Laws for Grain Offerings

2 “ ‘When a person brings a grain offering to Yahweh, his offering must be finely milled flour, and he must pour out oil on it and place frankincense on it. ² And he shall bring it to the sons of Aaron, the priests, and he shall take _⌊his handful from its finely milled flour_⌋ and from its oil in addition to all its frankincense. The priest shall turn its token portion into smoke on the altar as an offering made by fire, as an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh. ³ The remainder of the grain offering _⌊belongs to_⌋ Aaron and to his sons—_⌊it is a most holy thing_⌋ from the offerings made by fire for Yahweh.

⁴ “ ‘But if you bring a grain offering of something oven-baked, it must be of finely milled flour as ring-shaped unleavened bread mixed with oil or wafers of unleavened bread smeared with oil. ⁵ If your offering is a grain offering baked on a flat baking pan, it must be finely milled flour, unleavened bread mixed with oil; ⁶ break it into pieces and pour out oil on it; it is a grain offering.

⁷ “ ‘If your offering is a grain offering prepared in a cooking pan, it must be with finely milled flour in oil. ⁸ And you shall bring the grain offering that is made from these things to Yahweh, and the offerer shall bring it to the priest, and he shall bring it to the altar. ⁹ And the priest shall take away from the grain offering its token portion, and he shall turn it into smoke on the altar as an offering made by fire, as an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh. ¹⁰ And the remainder of the grain offering _⌊belongs to_⌋ Aaron and to his sons—_⌊it is a most holy thing_⌋ from the offerings made by fire for Yahweh.

¹¹ “ ‘Every grain offering you bring to Yahweh must not be made of yeasted food, because you must not turn into smoke any yeast or any honey from an offering made by fire for Yahweh. ¹² As an offering of the choicest portion, you may bring them to Yahweh, but they must not be offered on the altar as an appeasing fragrance. ¹³ Also all of your grain offerings you must season with salt; you must not omit the salt of your God’s covenant from your offering. With all your offerings you shall present salt.

¹⁴ “ ‘And if you bring to Yahweh a grain offering of firstfruits, you must bring an ear of new grain roasted by fire, coarsely crushed ripe grain, as the grain offering of your firstfruits. ¹⁵ And you shall put oil on it and place frankincense on it; it is a grain offering. ¹⁶ The priest shall turn into smoke its token portion from its coarsely crushed grain and from its oil together with all of its frankincense—it is an offering made by fire for Yahweh.’ ”

Laws for Fellowship Offerings

3 “ ‘Now if his offering is a sacrifice of fellowship offering, if he brings it from the cattle, whether male or female, he must bring it without defect before Yahweh. ² He must lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the tent of assembly, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood on the altar all around. ³ He shall present from the sacrifice of the fellowship offering an offering made by fire for Yahweh consisting of the fat covering the inner parts and all the fat that is on the inner parts, ⁴ the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and he must remove the lobe on the liver in addition to the kidneys. ⁵ Aaron’s sons shall turn it to smoke on the altar in addition to the burnt offering that is on the wood, which is on the fire; it is an offering made by fire as an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh.

⁶ “ ‘But if his offering for a sacrifice of fellowship offering for Yahweh is from the flock, he must bring a male or a female without defect. ⁷ If he brings a sheep as his offering, then he shall present it before Yahweh, ⁸ and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and he shall slaughter it before the tent of assembly, and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood on the altar all around. ⁹ He shall present from the sacrifice of the fellowship offering an offering made by fire for Yahweh: he must remove its fat, the entire fat tail near the tailbone, and the fat covering the inner parts and all the fat that is on the inner parts, ¹⁰ the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and he must remove the lobe on the liver in addition to the kidneys. ¹¹ The priest shall turn it into smoke on the altar as a food offering made by fire for Yahweh.

¹² “ ‘And if his offering is a goat, then he shall bring it before Yahweh, ¹³ and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and he shall slaughter it before the tent of assembly, and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood on the altar all around. ¹⁴ He shall present his offering from it as an offering made by fire for Yahweh: the fat covering the inner parts and all the fat that is on the inner parts, ¹⁵ the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and he must remove the lobe on the liver in addition to the kidneys. ¹⁶ The priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar as a food offering; all the fat is an offering made by fire as an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh. ¹⁷ This is a lasting statute for your generations in all your dwellings: you must not eat any fat or any blood.’ ”

Laws for Sin Offerings

4 Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² “Speak to the _⌊Israelites_⌋, saying, ‘If a person sins by an unintentional wrong from any of Yahweh’s commands that should not be _⌊violated_⌋, and he _⌊violates_{⌋ ⌊}any of them_⌋— ³ if the anointed priest sins, _⌊bringing guilt on the people_⌋, then, concerning the sin that he has _⌊committed_⌋, he shall bring _⌊a young bull_⌋ without defect for Yahweh as a sin offering. ⁴ He shall bring the bull to the tent of assembly’s entrance before Yahweh, place his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter the bull before Yahweh. ⁵ The anointed priest shall take _⌊some of_⌋ the bull’s blood and shall bring it to the tent of assembly, ⁶ and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and shall spatter _⌊some of_⌋ the blood seven times before Yahweh in front of the sanctuary’s curtain. ⁷ The priest shall put _⌊some of_⌋ the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before Yahweh, which is in the tent of assembly, and all the rest of the bull’s blood he must pour out on the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the entrance of the tent of assembly.

⁸ “ ‘He must remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering: the fat that covers the inner parts and all of the fat that is on the inner parts, ⁹ the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, which is at the loins, and the liver’s lobe that he must remove in addition to the kidneys— ¹⁰ just as it is removed from the ox of the fellowship offerings’ sacrifice—and the priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar of the burnt offering. ¹¹ But the bull’s skin and its meat, in addition to its head, _⌊its lower leg bones_⌋, its inner parts, and its offal— ¹² he shall carry all of the bull _⌊outside the camp_⌋ to a ceremonially clean place, to the fatty ashes’ dump, and he shall burn it on wood in the fire; it must be burned up on the fatty ashes’ dump.

¹³ “ ‘If Israel’s whole assembly did wrong unintentionally and the matter was concealed from the assembly’s eyes, and they acted against _⌊any of_⌋ Yahweh’s commands that should not be _⌊violated_⌋, so that they incur guilt, ¹⁴ when the sin that they have _⌊committed_⌋ against that command becomes known, the assembly shall present _⌊a young bull_⌋ as a sin offering, and they shall bring it before the tent of assembly. ¹⁵ And the elders of the community shall place their hands on the bull’s head before Yahweh, and he shall slaughter the bull before Yahweh. ¹⁶ Then the anointed priest shall bring _⌊some of_⌋ the bull’s blood to the tent of assembly, ¹⁷ and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and shall spatter it seven times before Yahweh in front of the curtain. ¹⁸ He must put _⌊some of_⌋ the blood on the altar’s horns before Yahweh _⌊in the tent of assembly_⌋, and all the rest of the blood he must pour out on the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the tent of assembly’s entrance. ¹⁹ He must remove all its fat from it, and he shall turn it into smoke on the altar. ²⁰ He shall do to the bull _⌊just as_⌋ he did to the sin offering’s bull, so he must do to it. The priest shall make atonement for them, and _⌊they will be forgiven_⌋. ²¹ He shall bring the rest of the bull _⌊outside the camp_⌋, and he shall burn it _⌊just as_⌋ he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly.

²² “ ‘When a leader sins and commits an unintentional wrong against _⌊any of_⌋ the commands of Yahweh his God that should not be _⌊violated_⌋, so that he incurs guilt, ²³ or his sin he has _⌊committed_⌋ is made known to him, he shall bring _⌊a male goat_⌋ without defect as his offering. ²⁴ He shall place his hand on the he-goat’s head and slaughter it in the place where he slaughtered the burnt offering before Yahweh; it is a sin offering. ²⁵ The priest shall take _⌊some of_⌋ the sin offering’s blood with his finger, and he shall put it on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and he must pour out the rest of its blood on the base of the altar of the burnt offering. ²⁶ He must turn all of its fat into smoke on the altar like the fat of the fellowship offerings’ sacrifice, and the priest shall make atonement for him _⌊because of_⌋ his sin, and _⌊he will be forgiven_⌋.

²⁷ “ ‘If _⌊anyone_⌋ of the people of the land sins by an unintentional wrong by _⌊violating_⌋ one of Yahweh’s commands that should not be _⌊violated_⌋, so that he incurs guilt, ²⁸ or his sin he has _⌊committed_⌋ is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering _⌊a female goat without defect_⌋ as his offering for his sin that he _⌊committed_⌋. ²⁹ He shall place his hand on the sin offering’s head and slaughter the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. ³⁰ The priest shall take _⌊some of_⌋ its blood with his finger, and he shall put it on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and he must pour out all the rest of its blood on the altar’s base. ³¹ He must remove all of its fat _⌊just as_⌋ the fat was removed from the fellowship offerings’ sacrifice, and the priest shall turn it into smoke on the altar as an appeasing fragrance for Yahweh. The priest shall make atonement for him, and _⌊he will be forgiven_⌋.

³² “ ‘But if he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he must bring a female without defect. ³³ He shall place his hand on the sin offering’s head, and he shall slaughter it as a sin offering in the place where he slaughtered the burnt offering. ³⁴ The priest shall take _⌊some of_⌋ the sin offering’s blood with his finger, and he shall put it on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and he must pour out all the rest of its blood on the altar’s base. ³⁵ He must remove all of its fat _⌊just as_⌋ the lamb’s fat from the fellowship offerings’ sacrifice was removed, and the priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar upon Yahweh’s offerings made by fire; and the priest shall make atonement for him because of his sin that he _⌊committed_⌋, and _⌊he will be forgiven_⌋.’ ”

More Laws Regarding Sin Offerings

5 “ ‘When a person sins in that he hears the utterance of a curse and he is a witness or he sees or he knows, if he does not make it known, then he shall bear his guilt. ² Or if a person touches anything unclean, _⌊whether_⌋ an unclean wild animal’s dead body or an unclean domestic animal’s dead body or an unclean swarmer’s dead body, but _⌊he is unaware of it_⌋, he is unclean and he is guilty. ³ Or when he touches human uncleanness, _⌊namely_⌋ any uncleanness of his by which he might become unclean, but _⌊he is unaware of it_⌋, and he himself finds out, then he will be guilty. ⁴ Or when a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips, to do evil or to do good _⌊with regard to_⌋ anything that the person in a sworn oath speaks thoughtlessly, but _⌊he is unaware of it_⌋, and he finds out, he will be guilty _⌊in any of_⌋ these. ⁵ When he becomes guilty _⌊in any of_⌋ these, he shall confess what he has sinned _⌊regarding_⌋ it, ⁶ and he shall bring his guilt offering to Yahweh for his sin that he has _⌊committed_⌋: a female from the flock, a ewe-lamb or _⌊a she-goat_⌋, as a sin offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.

⁷ “ ‘If _⌊he cannot afford a sheep_⌋, he shall bring as his guilt offering for what he sinned two turtledoves or two _⌊young doves_⌋ for Yahweh, one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering. ⁸ He shall bring them to the priest, and he shall present that which is for the sin offering first, and the priest shall wring its head off _⌊at the back of its neck_⌋, but he must not sever it, ⁹ and he shall spatter _⌊some of_⌋ the sin offering’s blood on the altar’s side, and the leftover blood must be drained out on the altar’s base; it is a sin offering. ¹⁰ The second bird he must prepare as a burnt offering according to the regulation, and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin that he has _⌊committed_⌋, and he shall be forgiven.

¹¹ “ ‘But if _⌊he cannot afford_⌋ two turtledoves or two _⌊young doves_⌋, then, because he has sinned, he shall bring as his offering a tenth of an ephah of finely milled flour as a sin offering. He must not put oil on it, nor should he put frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering. ¹² He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest _⌊shall take a handful of it_⌋ for its token portion, and he shall turn it to smoke on the altar _⌊in addition to_⌋ the offerings made by fire to Yahweh; it is a sin offering. ¹³ Thus the priest shall make atonement for him because of the sin that he has _⌊committed_{⌋ ⌊}in any of these_⌋, and he shall be forgiven. It shall be for the priest, like the grain offering.’ ”

Laws for Guilt Offerings

¹⁴ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁵ “When a person _⌊displays infidelity_⌋ and he sins in an unintentional wrong _⌊in any of_⌋ Yahweh’s holy things, then he shall bring his guilt offering to Yahweh: a ram without defect from the flock as a guilt offering by your valuation in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel. ¹⁶ And he shall make restitution for what he sinned _⌊because of_⌋ a holy thing and shall add one-fifth of _⌊its value_⌋ onto it and shall give it to the priest. The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.

¹⁷ “If a person when he sins _⌊violates_⌋ one from all of Yahweh’s commands that should not _⌊be violated_⌋, but he did not know, then he is guilty and he shall bear his guilt. ¹⁸ He shall bring to the priest a ram without defect from the flock as a guilt offering by your valuation, and the priest shall make atonement for him because of his unintentional wrong (although he himself did not know), and he will be forgiven. ¹⁹ It is a guilt offering; he certainly was guilty before Yahweh.”

Additional Laws for Burnt Offerings

6  Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² “When a person _⌊displays infidelity_⌋ against Yahweh and he deceives his fellow citizen regarding something entrusted or _⌊a pledge_⌋ or stealing or he exploits his fellow citizen, ³ or he finds lost property and lies about it and swears _⌊falsely_{⌋ ⌊}in regard to_⌋ any one of these things by which _⌊a person_⌋ might commit sin, ⁴ _⌊and when_⌋ he sins and is guilty, then he shall bring back _⌊the things he had stolen_⌋ or _⌊what he had extorted_⌋ or _⌊something with which he had been entrusted_⌋ or the lost property that he had found, ⁵ or _⌊regarding_⌋ anything about which he has sworn _⌊falsely_⌋, then he shall repay it _⌊according to_⌋ its value and shall add one-fifth of its value to it—he must give it _⌊to whom it belongs_⌋ on the day of his guilt offering. ⁶ And he must bring as his guilt offering to Yahweh a ram without defect from the flock by your valuation as a guilt offering to the priest, ⁷ and the priest shall make atonement for him _⌊before_⌋ Yahweh, and he shall be forgiven _⌊anything_⌋ from all that he might do _⌊by which he might incur guilt_⌋.”

PROPHETS

Isaiah 43:21–44:23 (LEB)

²¹ this people whom I formed for myself,

so they might _⌊make known_⌋ my praise.

²² But you did not call me, Jacob;

for you have become weary of me, Israel.

²³ You have not brought me your sheep for a burnt offering

nor honored me with your sacrifice.

I have not made you serve with offerings,

nor have I made you weary with frankincense.

²⁴ You have not bought me spice reed with money

or satisfied me with the fat of sacrifices.

But you have burdened me with your sins;

you have made me weary with your iniquities.

²⁵ I, I am the one who blots out your transgressions for my sake,

and I will not remember your sins.

²⁶ Take me to court; let us enter into judgment together.

You, _⌊make an account_⌋ so that you may be in the right.

²⁷ Your first ancestor sinned,

and your _⌊representatives_⌋ transgressed against me.

²⁸ And I profaned the princes of the sanctuary,

and I gave Jacob to destruction, and Israel to reviling.

Yahweh Blesses Chosen Israel

44 “But now hear, Jacob my servant,

and Israel, whom I have chosen.

² Thus says Yahweh, who made you,

and who formed you in the womb and will help you:

you must not fear, my servant Jacob,

and Jeshurun whom I have chosen.

³ For I will pour out water on a thirsty land

and streams on dry ground.

I will pour my spirit out on your descendants

and my blessing on your offspring.

⁴ And they shall sprout _⌊among_⌋ the grass

like willows by a watercourse of water.

⁵ This one will say, ‘I belong to Yahweh!’

And that one will be called by the name of Jacob,

and another will write on his hand ‘Yahweh’s’

and _⌊take the name_⌋ of Israel.”

Yahweh the Only God

⁶ Thus says Yahweh, the king of Israel,

and its redeemer, Yahweh of hosts:

“I am the first, and I am the last,

and there is no god besides me.

⁷ And who is like me? Let him proclaim it!

And let him declare it and set it in order for me

_⌊since I established an eternal people_⌋ and things that are to come,

and let them tell them the things that are coming.

⁸ You must not tremble,

and you must not be paralyzed with fear.

Have I not made you hear from of old

and declared it, and you are my witnesses?

Is there a god besides me?

And there is no rock! I know none!”

Idolatry Is Ridiculous

⁹ All those who form an idol are nothing,

and their delightful things do not profit.

And their witnesses do not see or know,

so they will be ashamed.

¹⁰ Who would form a god

and cast an image of which he cannot profit?

¹¹ Look! all his companions shall be ashamed,

and the artisans are human!

Let all of them assemble;

let them stand up.

They shall tremble;

they shall be ashamed together.

¹² The _⌊ironsmith_⌋ works in the coals with his tool

and forms it with hammers.

And he makes it with _⌊his strong arm_⌋;

indeed, he becomes hungry, and _⌊he lacks_⌋ strength;

he does not drink water, and he is faint.

¹³ The _⌊woodworker_⌋ stretches out a line;

he makes an outline of it with a marker.

He makes it with a knife

and makes an outline of it with a compass.

He makes it like the image of a man,

like the beauty of a human, to dwell in a temple.

¹⁴ Cutting down cedars for himself,

he _⌊chooses_⌋ a holm tree and an oak,

and he lets it grow strong for him among the trees of the forest.

He plants a cedar, and the rain makes it grow.

¹⁵ And it _⌊becomes fuel for a human_⌋,

and he takes some of it and grows warm;

also, he kindles a fire and bakes bread.

Also, he makes a god and bows in worship;

he makes himself an image and bows down to it!

¹⁶ He burns half of it in the fire;

he eats meat over half of it;

he roasts a roast and is satisfied.

Also he grows warm and says, “Ah!

I am warm! I see the fire!”

¹⁷ And he makes the remainder of it into a god!

He bows down to his idol,

and he bows in worship and prays to him,

and he says, “Save me, for you are my god!”

¹⁸ They do not know,

and they do not understand,

for their eyes are besmeared _⌊so that they cannot see_⌋,

their _⌊minds_{⌋ ⌊}so that they have no insight_⌋.

¹⁹ And _⌊no one takes it to heart_⌋, and there is no knowledge

and no understanding to say, “I burned half of it in the fire

and also I baked bread on its coals;

I roasted meat, and I have eaten.

And I shall make the rest of it into an abomination!

I shall bow down to a block of wood!”

²⁰ He feeds on ashes; a _⌊deceived mind_⌋ misleads him.

And he cannot save _⌊himself_⌋, and he cannot say,

“Is this not an illusion in my right hand?”

Yahweh Remembers Israel

²¹ “Remember these things, Jacob,

and Israel, for you are my servant:

I formed you; you are my servant;

Israel, you will not be forgotten by me!

²² I have wiped your transgressions out like a cloud

and your sins like mist.

Return to me,

for I have redeemed you!”

²³ Sing for joy, heavens, for Yahweh has done it!

Shout, depths of the earth!

Break forth, mountains, in rejoicing,

forest and every tree in it,

for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob,

and he will show his glory in Israel!

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:1–30 (LEB)

The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes

5 Now when he* saw the crowds, he went up the mountain and after he* sat down, his disciples approached him. ² And opening his mouth he began to teach them, saying,

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Blessed are the ones who mourn,

because they will be comforted.

⁵ Blessed are the meek,

because they will inherit the earth.

⁶ Blessed are the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

because they will be satisfied.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful,

because they will be shown mercy.

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,

because they will see God.

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,

because they will be called sons of God.

¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ Blessed are you

when they insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

The Sermon on the Mount: Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, by what will it be made salty? It is good for nothing any longer except to be thrown outside and* trampled under foot by people. ¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city located on top of a hill cannot be hidden, ¹⁵ nor do they light a lamp and place it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines on all those in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

The Sermon on the Mount: The Law and the Prophets Fulfilled

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one tiny letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all takes place. ¹⁹ Therefore whoever abolishes one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever keeps them and teaches them, this person will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say to you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The Sermon on the Mount: Anger Toward Others

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the _⌊people of old_⌋, ‘Do not commit murder,’ and ‘whoever commits murder will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry at his brother will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Stupid fool!’ will be subject to the council, and whoever says, ‘Obstinate fool!’ will be subject to fiery hell. ²³ Therefore if you present your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and first go be reconciled to your brother, and then come and* present your gift. ²⁵ _⌊Settle the case quickly with your accuser_⌋ while you are with him on the way, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I say to you, you will never come out of there until you have paid back the last penny!

The Sermon on the Mount: Adultery and Lust

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ And if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it from you! For it is better for you that one of your members be destroyed than your whole body be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it from you! For it is better for you that one of your limbs be destroyed than your whole body go into hell.