Exodus 27, John 6, Proverbs 3, Galatians 2

Exodus 27,

1 "Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.
 
2 Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze.
 
3 Make all its utensils of bronze-its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans.
 
4 Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network.
 
5 Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar.
 
6 Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze.
 
7 The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried.
 
8 Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.
 
9 "Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen,
 
10 with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.
 
11 The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.
 
12 "The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases.
 
13 On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide.
 
14 Curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases,
 
15 and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.
 
16 "For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen-the work of an embroiderer-with four posts and four bases.
 
17 All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases.
 
18 The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases.
 
19 All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.
 
20 "Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning.
 
21 In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.

John 6,

1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),
 
2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick.
 
3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.
 
4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
 
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"
 
6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
 
7 Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
 
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up,
 
9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
 
10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them.
 
11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
 
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."
 
13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
 
14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."
 
15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
 
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,
 
17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.
 
18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
 
19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified.
 
20 But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid."
 
21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
 
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.
 
23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
 
24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
 
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"
 
26 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
 
27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
 
28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
 
29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
 
30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?
 
31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "
 
32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
 
33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
 
34 "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
 
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
 
36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
 
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
 
38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
 
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
 
40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
 
41 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."
 
42 They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, I came down from heaven'?"
 
43 "Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered.
 
44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
 
45 It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
 
46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.
 
47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
 
48 I am the bread of life.
 
49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.
 
50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.
 
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
 
52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
 
53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
 
54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
 
55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
 
56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
 
57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
 
58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."
 
59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
 
60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
 
61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?
 
62 What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!
 
63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
 
64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.
 
65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."
 
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
 
67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
 
68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
 
69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
 
70 Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!"
 
71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

Proverbs 3,

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
 
2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
 
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
 
4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
 
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
 
6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
 
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
 
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
 
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
 
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
 
11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
 
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
 
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
 
14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
 
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
 
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
 
17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
 
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
 
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
 
20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
 
21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;
 
22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
 
23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;
 
24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
 
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
 
26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
 
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
 
28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"-when you now have it with you.
 
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
 
30 Do not accuse a man for no reason-when he has done you no harm.
 
31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,
 
32 for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.
 
33 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
 
34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.
 
35 The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.

Galatians 2

1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
 
2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.
 
3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
 
4 This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.
 
5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
 
6 As for those who seemed to be important-whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance-those men added nothing to my message.
 
7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews.
 
8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.
 
9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.
 
10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
 
11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.
 
12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.
 
13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
 
14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
 
15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners'
 
16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
 
17 "If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!
 
18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker.
 
19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.
 
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
 
21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"