Joshua 23, Acts 3, Jeremiah 12, Matthew 26

Joshua 23,

1 After a long time had passed and the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then old and well advanced in years,
 
2 summoned all Israel-their elders, leaders, judges and officials-and said to them: "I am old and well advanced in years.
 
3 You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you.
 
4 Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain-the nations I conquered-between the Jordan and the Great Sea in the west.
 
5 The LORD your God himself will drive them out of your way. He will push them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.
 
6 "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.
 
7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them.
 
8 But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.
 
9 "The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.
 
10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised.
 
11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God.
 
12 "But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them,
 
13 then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the LORD your God has given you.
 
14 "Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.
 
15 But just as every good promise of the LORD your God has come true, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil he has threatened, until he has destroyed you from this good land he has given you.
 
16 If you violate the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the LORD's anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you."

Acts 3,
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer-at three in the afternoon.
 
2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
 
3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.
 
4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!"
 
5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
 
6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
 
7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.
 
8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
 
9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
 
10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
 
11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.
 
12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
 
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.
 
14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
 
15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
 
16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
 
17 "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
 
18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer.
 
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
 
20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-even Jesus.
 
21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
 
22 Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.
 
23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'
 
24 "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days.
 
25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'
 
26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

Jeremiah 12,

1 You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
 
2 You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.
 
3 Yet you know me, O LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter!
 
4 How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, "He will not see what happens to us."
 
5 "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
 
6 Your brothers, your own family-even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.
 
7 "I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies.
 
8 My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her.
 
9 Has not my inheritance become to me like a speckled bird of prey that other birds of prey surround and attack? Go and gather all the wild beasts; bring them to devour.
 
10 Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland.
 
11 It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before me; the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares.
 
12 Over all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will swarm, for the sword of the LORD will devour from one end of the land to the other; no one will be safe.
 
13 They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing. So bear the shame of your harvest because of the LORD's fierce anger."
 
14 This is what the LORD says: "As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them.
 
15 But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to his own inheritance and his own country.
 
16 And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives'-even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal-then they will be established among my people.
 
17 But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it," declares the LORD.

Matthew 26

1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,
 
2 "As you know, the Passover is two days away-and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."
 
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
 
4 and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him.
 
5 "But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people."
 
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper,
 
7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
 
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked.
 
9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
 
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
 
11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.
 
12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
 
13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
 
14 Then one of the Twelve-the one called Judas Iscariot-went to the chief priests
 
15 and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.
 
16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
 
17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
 
18 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' "
 
19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
 
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
 
21 And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."
 
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
 
23 Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
 
24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
 
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."
 
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
 
27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
 
28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
 
29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
 
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
 
31 Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
 
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
 
33 Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."
 
34 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."
 
35 But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.
 
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
 
37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
 
38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
 
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
 
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.
 
41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
 
42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
 
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
 
44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
 
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
 
46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
 
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
 
48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."
 
49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
 
50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
 
51 With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
 
52 "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
 
53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
 
54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
 
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.
 
56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
 
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.
 
58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
 
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.
 
60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward
 
61 and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' "
 
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?"
 
63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
 
64 "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
 
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
 
66 What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered.
 
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
 
68 and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"
 
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said.
 
70 But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.
 
71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth."
 
72 He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!"
 
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away."
 
74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed.
 
75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.