Exodus 38-40
Making the Ark
1 Now Bezalel made the ark. 2 He overlaid it with pure gold inside and out. 3 He cast for it four golden rings (two rings on one side and two on the other), 4 wide enough for the poles with which to carry it. 5 He also made the mercy seat above the ark of pure gold, 6 and two cherubim of pure gold 7 (a cherub at one end of the mercy seat and one at the other end), 8 spreading out their wings above the mercy seat.
The Table of Offering
9 Then he made the table of offertory of pure gold 10 and cast for it four rings (two on one side and two on the other), wide enough for the poles with which to carry it. 11 Then he made the poles of the ark and the table and gilded them with gold. 12 He also made the utensils of the table, the dishes, the censers, the cups, and the pitchers for pouring drink offerings, of gold.
The Lampstand
13 He then made the lampstand to give light, of gold, 14 both its solid stem and the branches on each side thereof, 15 and the blossoms projecting from its branches, three on one side and three on the other, symmetrical to one another. 16 As to the lamps on top of them, almond blossoms budded from them; and there were sockets to hold the lamps, the seventh of which was atop the lampstand itself at its summit, all of solid gold. 17 The seven lamps, their snuffers and funnels were also made of gold.
The Altar
18 Then he overlaid the posts with silver and cast golden rings for the posts; and he gilded the posts supporting the veil with gold and made the hooks of gold. 19 He also made the rings of the tabernacle of gold; and the rings of the court and those for drawing out the veil above he made of bronze. 20 He then cast in silver the capitals of the tabernacle, and in bronze, the capitals of the door of the tabernacle and the gate of the court; and he made silver hooks to be attached to the posts. 21 He made of bronze all the pegs of the tabernacle and the court. 22 He made the altar of bronze from the censers used by the men engaged in Korah’s rebellion. 23 He made of bronze all the utensils of the altar, and also its grate, its base, its bowls, and its flesh-hooks. 24 As an appendage to the altar, he made a network under the grate, beneath it as far as the middle of it; and he fastened four rings of bronze to the four sides of the appendage, wide enough for the bars so as to carry the altar with them. 25 He also made the holy anointing oil and the composition of the incense, the pure work of the perfumer.
A Laver of Bronze
26 He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze from the bronze mirrors of the women who fasted by the doors of the tabernacle of witness on the day he set it up. 27 He made the laver that in it Moses and Aaron and his sons might wash their hands and feet. Whenever they went into the tabernacle of testimony or came near to minister at the altar, they washed in it, as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Use of the Offerings
1 Now all the gold used in all the production of the holy places was that of the offerings: twenty-nine talents and seven hundred and twenty shekels, according to the holy shekel. 2 The offering of silver from the numbered men of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels (one drachma per head being a half shekel, according to the holy shekel), 3 for everyone surveyed in the tally from twenty years old and up, to the number of six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty. 4 The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the one hundred capitals of the tabernacle and the capitals of the veil; a hundred capitals to the hundred talents, a talent to a capital. 5 Then from the one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the posts, gilded their capitals, and decorated them. 6 The bronze from the offering was seventy talents and a thousand five hundred shekels, 7 and with it they made the bases for the doors of the tabernacle of testimony, 8 the bases for the court all around, the bases for the court gate, the pegs for the tabernacle, the pegs for all around the court, 9 the bronze appendage of the altar, all the vessels of the altar, and all the instruments of the tabernacle of testimony. 10 So the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded; thus did they.
11 Also of the gold that remained from the offering they made vessels with which to minister before the Lord. 12 The remaining blue, purple, and scarlet cloth they made into liturgical vestments for Aaron, to minister in them in the holy place.
Presentation to Moses
13 So they brought to Moses the garments, the tabernacle and all its vessels, the bases and their bars, the posts, 14 the ark of the covenant and its poles, 15 the altar and all its vessels, the anointing oil, the incense compound, 16 the pure lamp and its lamps (lamps for burning), the oil for light, 17 the table of offertory and the bread set forth upon it and all its utensils, 18 the garments of the holy place, which belong to Aaron and his sons for ministering as priests, 19 the curtains of the court and their posts, the veil for the door of the tabernacle, the court gate, all the utensils for the tabernacle and all its instruments, 20 the rams’ skins dyed red, the blue coverings and the other coverings, 21 the pegs, and all the instruments for the work of the tabernacle of testimony. 22 Whatever things the Lord commanded Moses, thus the children of Israel made and prepared in every respect. 23 Then Moses looked over all the work, and it was done in the manner the Lord commanded Moses. They did it in this way, and Moses blessed them.
Setting Up the Tabernacle
1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “On the first day of the first month, the new moon, you shall set up the tabernacle of testimony. 3 You shall put in it the ark of the testimony and cover the ark with the veil. 4 You shall bring in the table and lay out its offering, and bring in the lampstand and install its lamps. 5 You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark, and put up the veil for the door of the tabernacle of testimony. 6 Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offerings before the door of the tabernacle of testimony. 7 You shall put a cover over the tabernacle and consecrate everything pertaining to it. 8 You shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; and you shall consecrate it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy. 9 You shall anoint the altar of burnt offerings and all its utensils and consecrate the altar. The altar shall be most holy.
Entrance of the Priests
10 “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doors of the tabernacle of testimony and wash them with water. 11 You shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint and consecrate him that he may minister to Me as priest. 12 You shall also bring his sons and put garments on them. 13 You shall anoint them as you anointed their father, so they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” 14 Thus Moses did; according to all the Lord commanded him, so he did.
The Work Is Finished
15 Then it came to pass in the first month of the second year after their departure from Egypt, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. 16 So Moses set up the tabernacle, placed the capitals, inserted the bars, and set up the posts. 17 He spread out the curtains over the tabernacle and put the veil of the tabernacle on it above, as the Lord commanded Moses.
18 Then he took the testimonies, put them into the ark, and inserted the poles under the ark. 19 He then brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the testimony, as the Lord commanded Moses. 20 He put the table in the tabernacle of testimony, on the north side of the tabernacle of testimony, outside the veil of the tabernacle. 21 He also set the bread of the offertory upon it before the Lord, in the manner the Lord commanded Moses. 22 Then he put the lampstand in the tabernacle of testimony, on the south side of the tabernacle; 23 and he placed its lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. 24 He also put the gold altar in the tabernacle of testimony in front of the veil; 25 and he burned the incense compound on it, as the Lord commanded Moses. 26 Then he put the altar of burnt offering before the doors of the tabernacle. 27 He also set up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar. So Moses finished all the work.
The Overshadowing Cloud
28 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of testimony, and the tabernacle was filled with the Lord’s glory. 29 But Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of testimony because the cloud overshadowed it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 30 Whenever the cloud ascended from the tabernacle, the children of Israel prepared to depart with their belongings. 31 But if the cloud did not ascend, they did not prepare to depart until the cloud ascended. 32 For before all Israel, throughout all their journeys, the cloud was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night.
Psalm 32:1–12
1 By David.
Rejoice greatly in the Lord, O righteous ones;
Praise is fitting for the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord on the lyre;
Sing praises to Him on a ten-stringed instrument.
3 Sing to Him a new song;
Sing praises beautifully with a shout.
4 For the word of the Lord is right,
And all His works are done in faithfulness.
5 He loves mercy and judgment;
The earth is full of the Lord’s mercy.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were established,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth,
7 Who gathers the waters of the sea together as in a wineskin,
Who put the abysses in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord,
And let all the world’s inhabitants be shaken by Him;
9 For He spoke, and they were made;
He commanded, and they were created.
10 The Lord scatters abroad the counsels of the nations,
And He sets aside the reasoning of peoples;
And He rejects the counsels of rulers.
11 The counsel of the Lord abides forever,
The thoughts of His heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He chose as an inheritance for Himself.
Proverbs 6:20–25
20 For he rejoices in everything the Lord hates,
And he shall be broken because of his soul’s uncleanness:
21 A haughty eye, an unrighteous tongue,
Hands that shed righteous blood,
22 A heart that devises evil thoughts,
And feet that hasten to do evil;
23 As a false witness he kindles injustice
And causes quarrels between brethren.
24 My son, guard the laws of your father,
And do not depart from the rules of your mother.
25 But fasten them to your soul continually
And wear them as a collar upon your neck.
Matthew 21:1–22
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.
3 “And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.
8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”
10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant
16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,
‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”
17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.
The Fig Tree Withered
18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.
19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.22 “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”