• Torah (T): Wayiqra (Leviticus) 5:1-19
• Prophets (P): Zechariah 5:1 – 6:15
• Apostolic (A): Ya’aqov (James) 5:16-20; Matthew 18:15-20
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 7:1-14, 31-36

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Proverbs 29:24 (T)
• Matthew 26:59-68 (T)
• Numbers 19:11-22 (T)
• Numbers 30:1-16 (T)
• Psalms 19:12-14 (T)
• Haggai 2:10-14 (T)
• Isaiah 52:11 (T)
• Acts 11:1-8 (T)
• 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (T)
• Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (T)
• Matthew 14:1-10 (T)
• Acts 23:1-14 (T)
• Numbers 5:1-8 (T)
• Joshua 7:19-22 (T)
• Ezra 10:10-14 (T)
• Psalms 32:5 (T)
• Job 33:27; Proverbs 28:13 (T)
• Romans 10:1-11 (T)
• 1 John 1:5-10 (T)
• Numbers 6:1-12 (T)
• Luke 2:21-24 (T)
• Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:25-32; Deuteronomy 12:5-12 (T)
• Leviticus 19:12-18 (T, A)
• Matthew 6:7-15; Luke 11:1-4 (T, A.D.D)

RELATED ADDITIONAL READINGS

• Sirach 23:7-15 (T)
• 2 Esdras 15:26 (T)
• Additions to Daniel (Greek Daniel) 9:7-11 (T)
• 1 Maccabees 1:41-50 (T)
• Leviticus 5:1-19 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Jubilees 5:11-19; Jubilees 21:1-4; Jubilees 22:14-23; Jubilees 23:9-17; Jubilees 34:17-19 (T)

Note: (T) means the verse relates to that week’s Torah portion. (P) means the verse relates to that week’s Prophets portion. (A) means the verse relates to that week’s Apostolic portion. (ADD) means the verse relates to that week’s Additional portion.

Torah Portion (T)

5:1 If anyone sins, in that he hears the voice which demands swearing that he is a witness, whether he has seen or known, if he doesn’t report it, then he will bear his iniquity. 2 Or if anyone touches any thing unclean, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it be out of sight from him, and he is unclean, then he will be guilty. 3 Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever his uncleanness is with which he is unclean, and it be out of sight from him, and he knows, then he will be guilty. 4 Or if anyone swears rashly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man might utter rashly with an oath, and it be out of sight from him, and he knows, then he will be guilty of one of these. 5 It will be, when he is guilty of one of these, he will confess that in which he has sinned; 6 and he will bring his trespass offering to YHWH for his sin which he has sinned: a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering; and the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin [and it will be forgiven him].^(DSS)(LXX) 7 If his hand is not able to touch a lamb, then he will bring his trespass offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves, or two sons of a dove, to YHWH; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. 8 He will bring them to the priest, who will first bring the one which is for the sin offering. He will wring off its head from its neck, but will not sever it completely. 9 He will sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood will be drained out at the base of the altar, for it is a sin offering. 10 He will prepare the second for a burnt offering, according to the judgment; and the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin which he has sinned, and he will be forgiven. 11 If his hand is not able to overtake two turtledoves or two sons of a dove, then he will bring as his offering for that in which he has sinned, one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He will put no oil on it, and he will not put any frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. 12 He will bring it to the priest, and the priest will take his handful of it as the memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, on the offerings of YHWH made by fire. It is a sin offering. 13 The priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned in any of these things, and he will be forgiven; and the rest will be the priest’s, as the grain offering. 14 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 15 “If anyone commits a transgression, and sins in error [unintentionally]^(LXX) regarding YHWH’s holy, then he will bring his trespass offering to YHWH: a ram, a perfect one from the flock, according to your estimation in silver by shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering. 16 He will make restitution for that which he has done wrong regarding the holy, and will add a fifth part to it, and give it to the priest; and the priest will make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and he will be forgiven. 17 If anyone sins, doing any of the things which YHWH has commanded not to be done, though he didn’t know it, he is still guilty, and will bear his iniquity. 18 He will bring a ram, a perfect one from of the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest; and the priest will make atonement for him concerning the thing in which he sinned and didn’t know it, and he will be forgiven. 19 For it is a trespass offering; he is certainly guilty before YHWH.”

Prophets Portion (P)

5:1 Then again I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll. 2 He said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.” Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the surface of the whole land, for everyone who steals will be cut off according to it on the one side; and everyone who swears falsely will be cut off according to it on the other side. 4 I will cause it to go out,” says YHWH of Armies, “and it will enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him who swears falsely by my name; and it will remain in the middle of his house, and will destroy it with its timber and its stones.” 5 Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, “Lift up now your eyes and see what this is that is appearing.” 6 I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the ephah basket that is appearing.” He said moreover, “This is their [iniquity]^(mss)(LXX) in all the land— 7 and behold, a lead cover weighing one talent was lifted up—and there was a woman sitting in the middle of the ephah basket.” 8 He said, “This is Wickedness;” and he threw her down into the middle of the ephah basket; and he threw the lead weight on its mouth. 9 Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, there were two women; and the wind was in their wings. Now they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah basket between land and the heavens. 10 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are these carrying the ephah basket?” 11 He said to me, “To build her a house in the land of Shinar. When it is prepared, she will be set there in her own place.”

6:1 Again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 In the first chariot were red horses. In the second chariot were black horses. 3 In the third chariot were white horses. In the fourth chariot were dappled horses, all of them powerful. 4 Then I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of the heavens, which go out from standing before the Lord of all the land. 6 The one with the black horses goes out toward the north country; and the white went out after them; and the dappled went out toward the south country.” 7 The strong went out, and sought to go that they might walk back and forth through the land. He said, “Go around and through the land!” So they walked back and forth through the land. 8 Then he called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.” 9 the word of YHWH came to me, saying, 10 “Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and come the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have come from Babylon. 11 Yes, take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest; 12 and speak to him, saying, ‘YHWH of Armies says, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch! (cf. Matthew 2:23) He will grow up out of his place; and he will build the temple of YHWH. 13 He will build the temple of YHWH. (cf. John 2:19; Hebrews 3:3,6) He will bear the glory, and will sit and rule on his throne. He will be a priest on his throne. (cf. Hebrews 8:1) The counsel of peace will be between them both. 14 The crowns will be to [Heldai],^(Syr) to Tobijah, to Jedaiah, and to [Josiah]^(Syr) the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of YHWH. 15 Those who are far off will come and build in the temple of YHWH; and you will know that YHWH of Armies has sent me to you. This will happen, if you will diligently obey YHWH your Elohim’s voice.” ‘ ”

Apostolic Portion (A)

Ya’aqov (James) 5:16 Therefore^(mss) confess your [sins]^(mss) to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person prevails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the land for three years and six new moons. 18 He prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the land produced its fruit. 19 [My]^(mss) brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save [his]^(mss) soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Matthew 18:15 If your brother sins against you,^(mss) go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15). 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, amen, I tell you, whatever things you bind on land will have been bound in the heavens, and whatever things you release on land will have been released in the heavens. 19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on land concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in the heavens. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”

Additional Portion (ADD)

7:1 Do no evil, so no evil will overtake you. 2 Depart from wrong, and it will turn away from you. 3 My son, don’t sow upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and you won’t reap them sevenfold. 4 Do not seek from the Lord the highest office, nor the seat of honor from the king. 5 Don’t justify yourself in the face of the Lord, and don’t display your wisdom before the king. 6 Don’t seek to be a judge, lest you not be able to take away iniquities, lest perhaps you fear the person of a mighty man, and lay a stumbling block in the way of your uprightness. 7 Don’t sin against the multitude of the city. Don’t cast yourself down in the crowd. 8 Don’t commit a sin twice, for even in one you will not be unpunished. 9 Don’t say, “He will look upon the multitude of my gifts. When I make an offering to the Most High Elohim, he will accept it.” 10 Don’t be faint-hearted in your prayer. Don’t neglect to give alms. 11 Don’t laugh a man to scorn when he is in the bitterness of his soul, for there is one who humbles and exalts. 12 Don’t devise a lie against your brother, or do the same to a friend. 13 Don’t love to make any manner of lie, for that is not a good habit. 14 Don’t babble in the multitude of elders. Don’t repeat your words in your prayer … 31 Fear the Lord and honor the priest. Give him his portion, even as it is commanded you: the first fruits, the trespass offering, the gift of the shoulders, the slaughter of sanctification, and the first fruits of holy. 32 Also stretch out your hand to the poor man, that your blessing may be complete. 33 A gift has grace in the sight of every living man. Don’t withhold grace for a dead man. 34 Don’t avoid those who weep, and mourn with those who mourn. 35 Don’t be slow to visit a sick man, for by such things you will gain love. 36 In all your words, remember eternity, and you will never sin.

Related Scriptures

29:24 Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.

26:59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false witness against Yeshua, that they might put him to death, 60 and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of Elohim, and to build it in three days.’ ” 62 The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?” 63 But Yeshua stayed silent. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living Elohim that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of Elohim.” 64 Yeshua said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the heavens.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!” 67 Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you?”

19:11 He who touches the dead body of any man will be unclean seven days. 12 He will purify himself with water on the third day, and on the seventh day he will be clean; but if he doesn’t purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he will not be clean. 13 Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn’t purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of YHWH; and that soul will be cut off from Israel; because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him, he will be unclean. His uncleanness is yet on him. 14 This is the law when a man dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent, and everyone who is in the tent, will be unclean seven days. 15 Every open vessel, which has no covering bound on it, is unclean. 16 Whoever in the face of the field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, will be unclean seven days. 17 For the unclean, they will take of the ashes of the burning of the sin offering; and living water will be poured on them in a vessel. 18 A clean person will take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, on the persons who were there, and on him who touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave. 19 The clean person will sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he will purify him. He will wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and will be clean at evening. 20 But the man who will be unclean, and will not purify himself, that soul will be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of YHWH. The water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him. He is unclean. 21 It will be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity will wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity will be unclean until evening. 22 Whatever the unclean person touches will be unclean; and the soul that touches it will be unclean until evening.

30:1 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which YHWH has commanded. 2 When a man vows a vow to YHWH, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he will not break his word. He will do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. 3 “Also, when a woman vows a vow to YHWH and binds herself by a pledge, being in her father’s house, in her youth, 4 and her father hears her vow and her pledge with which she has bound her soul, and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows will stand, and every pledge with which she has bound her soul will stand. 5 But if her father forbids her in the day that he hears, none of her vows or of her pledges with which she has bound her soul, will stand. YHWH will forgive her, because her father has forbidden her. 6 “If she has a husband, while her vows are on her, or the rash utterance of her lips with which she has bound her soul, 7 and her husband hears it, and says nothing to her in the day that he hears it; then her vows will stand, and her pledges with which she has bound her soul will stand. 8 But if her husband forbids her in the day that he hears it, then he makes void her vow which is on her and the rash utterance of her lips, with which she has bound her soul. YHWH will forgive her. 9 “But the vow of a widow, or of her who is divorced, everything with which she has bound her soul will stand against her. 10 “If she vowed in her husband’s house or bound her soul by a bond with an oath, 11 and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her and didn’t disallow her, then all her vows will stand, and every pledge with which she bound her soul will stand. 12 But if her husband made them null and void in the day that he heard them, then whatever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, will not stand. Her husband has made them void. YHWH will forgive her. 13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. 14 But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows or all her pledges which are on her. He has established them, because he said nothing to her in the day that he heard them. 15 But if he makes them null and void after he has heard them, then he will bear her iniquity.” 16 These are the statutes which YHWH commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between a father and his daughter, being in her youth, in her father’s house.

19:12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous people. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, YHWH, my rock, and my redeemer.

2:10 In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth new moon, in the second year of Darius, the word of YHWH came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “YHWH of Armies says: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 12 ‘If someone carries holy flesh in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?’ ” The priests answered, “No.” 13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?” The priests answered, “It will be unclean.” 14 Then Haggai answered, So is this people, and so is this nation before me,’ says YHWH; ‘and so is every work of their hands. That which they bring there is unclean.

52:11 Depart! Depart! Go out from there! Touch no unclean! Go out from among her! Cleanse yourselves, you who carry the vessels of YHWH.

11:1 Now the emissaries and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Nations had also received the word of Elohim. 2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!” 4 But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from the heavens by four corners. It came as far as me. 6 When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the land, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the heavens. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ 8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’

6:14 Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What agreement does Messiah have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement does a temple of Elohim have with idols? For you are a temple of the living Elohim. Even as Elohim said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their Elohim and they will be my people.” 17 Therefore Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says YHWH. ‘Touch no unclean. I will receive you. 18 I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says YHWH Almighty.”

5:1 Guard your steps when you go to Elohim’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the slaughter of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil. 2 Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before Elohim; for Elohim is in the heavens, and you on land. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words. 4 When you vow a vow to Elohim, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the angel that this was a mistake. Why should Elohim be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words; but you must fear Elohim.

14:1 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Yeshua, 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Immerser. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.” 3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask. 8 She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Immerser.” 9 The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given, 10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

23:1 Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before Elohim in all good conscience until today.” 2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “Elohim will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the Torah, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Do you malign Elohim’s high priest?” 5 Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You will not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ” (cf. Exodus 22:28) 6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” 7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these. 9 A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against Elohim!” 10 When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have witnessed about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.” 12 When it was day, some of the Judeans banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

5:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the sons of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper, everyone who has a discharge, and whoever is unclean by a corpse. 3 You will put both male and female outside of the camp so that they don’t defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.” 4 The sons of Israel did so, and put them outside of the camp; as YHWH spoke to Moses, so the sons of Israel did. 5 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Speak to the sons of Israel: ‘When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit, so as to trespass against YHWH, and that soul is guilty, 7 then he will confess his sin which he has done; and he will make restitution for his guilt in full, add to it the fifth part of it, and give it to him in respect of whom he has been guilty. 8 But if the man has no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made to YHWH will be the priest’s, in addition to the ram of the atonement, by which atonement will be made for him.

7:19 Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done! Don’t hide it from me!” 20 Achan answered Joshua, and said, “I have truly sinned against YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, and this is what I have done. 21 When I saw among the plunder a beautiful Babylonian robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. Behold, they are hidden in the ground in the middle of my tent, with the silver under it.” 22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent. Behold, it was hidden in his tent, with the silver under it.

10:10 Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, increasing the guilt of Israel. 11 Now therefore make confession to YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers and do his pleasure. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women.” 12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “We must do as you have said concerning us. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside. This is not a work of one day or two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. 14 Now let our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city and its judges, until the fierce wrath of our Elohim is turned from us, until this matter is resolved.”

32:5 I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to YHWH, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Job 33:27 He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.

Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

10:1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to Elohim is for Israel, that they may be saved. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for Elohim, but not according to knowledge. 3 For being ignorant of Elohim’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of Elohim. 4 For Messiah is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.” (cf. Leviticus 18:5) 6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into the heavens?’ (cf. Deuteronomy 30:12) that is, to bring Messiah down; 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (cf. Deuteronomy 30:13) that is, to bring Messiah up from the dead.” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart;” (cf. Deuteronomy 30:14) that is, the word of faith which we proclaim: 9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord and believe in your heart that Elohim raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.” (cf. Isaiah 28:16)

1:5 This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that Elohim is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie and don’t tell the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua the Messiah his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

6:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them: ‘When either man or woman will make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to YHWH, 3 he will separate himself from wine and strong drink. He will drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink, neither will he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried. 4 All the days of his separation he will eat nothing that is made of the grapevine, from the seeds even to the skins. 5 All the days of his vow of separation no razor will come on his head, until the days are fulfilled in which he separates himself to YHWH. He will be holy. He will let the locks of the hair of his head grow long. 6 All the days that he separates himself to YHWH he will not go near a dead body. 7 He will not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to Elohim is on his head. 8 All the days of his separation he is holy to YHWH. 9 If any man dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles the head of his separation, then he will shave his head in the day of his cleansing. On the seventh day he will shave it. 10 On the eighth day he will bring two turtledoves or two sons of a dove to the priest, to the door of the Appointed Tent. 11 The priest will prepare one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make atonement for him, because he sinned by reason of the dead, and will make his head holy that same day. 12 He will separate to YHWH the days of his separation, and will bring a male lamb a year old for a trespass offering; but the former days will be void, because his separation was defiled.

2:21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Yeshua, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 When the days of their purification according to the Torah of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to YHWH 23 (as it is written in the Torah of YHWH, “Every male who opens the womb will be called holy to YHWH”), (cf. Exodus 13:2) 24 and to bring a slaughter according to that which is said in the Torah of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two sons of a dove.” (cf. Leviticus 12:1-8)

Leviticus 27:30 All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is YHWH’s. It is holy to YHWH. 31 If a man redeems anything of his tithe, he will add a fifth part to it. 32 All the tithe of the herds or the flocks, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth will be holy to YHWH. 33 He will not examine whether it is good or bad, neither will he exchange it. If he exchanges it at all, then both it and that for which it is exchanged will be holy. It will not be redeemed.

Numbers 18:25 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 26 “Moreover you will speak to the Levites, and tell them, ‘When you take of the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you will raise up a wave offering of it for YHWH, a tithe of the tithe. 27 Your wave offering will be credited to you, as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the wine press. 28 Thus you also will raise a wave offering to YHWH of all your tithes, which you receive of the sons of Israel; and of it you will give YHWH’s wave offering to Aaron the priest. 29 Out of all your gifts, you will raise every wave offering to YHWH, of all its best parts, even the holy part of it.’ 30 “Therefore you will tell them, ‘When you heave its best from it, then it will be credited to the Levites as the increase of the threshing floor, and as the increase of the wine press. 31 You may eat it anywhere, you and your households, for it is your reward in return for your service in the Appointed Tent. 32 You will bear no sin by reason of it, when you have heaved from it its best. You will not profane the holy of the sons of Israel, that you not die.’ ”

Deuteronomy 12:5 But to the place which YHWH your Elohim will choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, you will seek his habitation, and you will come there. 6 You will bring your burnt offerings, your slaughters, your tithes, the wave offering of your hand, your vows, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock there. 7 There you will eat before YHWH your Elohim, and you will rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, in which YHWH your Elohim has blessed you. 8 You will not do all the things that we do here today, every man whatever is right in his own eyes; 9 for you haven’t yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which YHWH your Elohim gives you. 10 But when you go over the Jordan and dwell in the land which YHWH your Elohim causes you to inherit, and he gives you rest from all your enemies around you, so that you dwell in safety, 11 then it will happen that to the place which YHWH your Elohim will choose, to cause his name to dwell there, there you will bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your slaughters, your tithes, the wave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to YHWH. 12 You will rejoice before YHWH your Elohim—you, and your sons, your daughters, your male servants, your maids, and the Levite who is within your gates, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you.

Leviticus 19:12-18 (T, A)

19:12 Do not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your Elohim. I am YHWH. 13 Do not oppress your neighbor, nor [pluck away]. The wages of a hired-servant will not remain with you all night until the morning. 14 Do not belittle the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you will fear your Elohim. I am YHWH. 15 You will do no injustice in judgment. Do not lift up the face of the helpless and do not give honor to the face of the great one; but you will judge your fellow in righteousness. 16 Do not go around as a talebearer among your people. Do not stand upon the blood of your neighbor. I am YHWH. 17 Do not hate your brother in your heart. You will surely rebuke your fellow and not lift up sin upon him. 18 Do not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people; but you will love your neighbor as yourself. I am YHWH.

Matthew 6:7 In praying, don’t repeat over and over as the Nations do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. 8 Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him. 9 Pray like this: Our Father in the heavens, let your name be holy. 10 Let your reign come. Let your will be done on land as it is in the heavens. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13 Lead us not into trial, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your the heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Luke 11:1 When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be holy. Let your reign come. Let your will be done on land, as it is in the heavens. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Lead us not into trial, but deliver us from the evil one.’ ”

Related Additional Readings​

Sirach, or Wisdom of Sirach, and also known as the Book of Ecclesiasticus (abbreviated Ecclus.) or Ben Sira, is a work of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 B.C., written by the Jewish scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira. The Sirach was almost completely uncovered in Hebrew in the Dead Sea Scrolls, at Masada, and the Cairo Geniza. The multiplicity of manuscript fragments uncovered in the Cairo Genizah evidence its authoritative status among Egyptian Jewry until the Middle Ages. Quotes from Sirach can be found in Rabbinic literature in multiple places  including the Talmud in Bava Kamma 92b:13 and Hagigah 13a:2. Additionally, the Gospels and other Apostolic Scriptures quote from the Book of Sirach including the Song of Miriam in Luke 1:52 (cf. Sirach 10:14); the description of the seed in Mark 4:5, 16–17 (cf. Sirach 40:15); the statement by Yeshua in Matthew 7:16,20 (cf. Sirach 27:6); and Ya’aqov (James) 1:19 (cf. Sirach 5:11).

23:7 Listen, my children, to the discipline of the mouth. He who keeps it will not be taken. 8 The sinner will be overpowered through his lips. By them, the insulter and the arrogant will stumble. 9 Don’t accustom your mouth to an oath, and don’t be accustomed to naming the Holy One, 10 for as a servant who is continually scourged will not lack a bruise, so he also who swears and continually utters the Name will not be cleansed from sin. 11 A man of many oaths will be filled with iniquity. The scourge will not depart from his house. If he offends, his sin will be upon him. If he disregards it, he has sinned doubly. If he has sworn in vain, he will not be justified, for his house will be filled with calamities. 12 There is a manner of speech that is clothed with death. Let it not be found in the heritage of Jacob, for all these things will be far from the pious, and they will not wallow in sins. 13 Don’t accustom your mouth to gross rudeness, for it involves sinful speech. 14 Remember your father and your mother, for you sit in the midst of great men, that you be not forgetful before them, and become a fool by your custom; so you may wish that you had not been born, and curse the day of your nativity. 15 A man who is accustomed to abusive language won’t be corrected all the days of his life.

2 Esdras, consisting of chapters 3-14, (also called 4 Esdras, Latin Esdras, or Latin Ezra) is the name of a book in many English versions of the Bible. Its authorship is ascribed to Ezra, a scribe and priest of the 5th century B.C., although modern scholarship places its composition between 70 and 218 A.D.. It is reckoned among the apocrypha by Roman Catholics, Protestants, and most Eastern Orthodox Christians. The Ethiopian Church considers 4 Ezra to be canonical, written during the Babylonian captivity, and calls it “Izra Sutuel” (ዕዝራ ሱቱኤል). It was also often cited by the Fathers of the Church. In the Eastern Armenian tradition it is called 3 Ezra.

15:20 Behold, says Elohim, I call together all the kings of the land, to stir up those who are from the rising of the sun, from the south, from the east, and Libanus; to turn themselves one against another, and repay the things that they have done to them. 21 Just as they do yet this day to my chosen, so I will do also, and recompense in their bosom. The Lord Elohim says: 22 My right hand will not spare the sinners, and my sword will not cease over those who shed innocent blood upon the land. 23 And a fire is gone forth from his wrath, and has consumed the foundations of the land, and the sinners, like the straw that is kindled. 24 Woe to those who sin, and keep not my commandments! says the Lord. 25 I will not spare them: go your way, you rebellious children, defile not my sanctuary. 26 For the Lord knows all those who trespass against him, therefore has he delivered them to death and destruction. 27 For now are the evils come upon the whole land, and you will remain in them: for Elohim will not deliver you, because you have sinned against him.

The Additions to Daniel comprise three chapters not found in the Hebrew/Aramaic text of Daniel. The text of these chapters is found in the Koine Greek Septuagint, the earliest Old Greek translation. In the third century A.D., these additions were accepted as Scripture by all extant Christian writers except Jerome. They are accepted as canonical and translated as such in Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Syriac Bibles. They are listed in Article VI of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England.[2] However, most Protestant Bibles exclude these passages as biblical apocrypha, retaining only the text available today in the Hebrew/Aramaic manuscripts.

9:7 “Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of face, as it is today; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, who are near, and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you. 8 Lord, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our Elohim belong mercies and forgiveness; for we have rebelled against him. 10 We haven’t obeyed YHWH our Elohim’s voice, to walk in his Torot, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, turning aside, that they should not obey your voice

1:41 And king Antiochus wrote to his whole reign, that all should be one people, 42 and that each should forsake his own laws. And all the nations agreed according to the word of the king; 43 and many of Israel consented to his worship, and slaughtered to the idols, and profaned the Sabbath. 44 And the king sent letters by the hand of messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, that they should follow laws strange to the land, 45 and should forbid whole burnt offerings and slaughter and libation offerings in the sanctuary; and should profane the Sabbaths and feasts, 46 and pollute the sanctuary and those who were holy; 47 that they should build altars, and temples, and shrines for idols, and should slaughter swine’s flesh and unclean beasts: 48 and that they should leave their sons uncircumcised, that they should make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation; 49 so that they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances. 50 And whoever will not do according to the word of the king, he will die.

Between 1947 and 1956 approximately 15 Jubilees scrolls were found in five caves at Qumran, all written in Hebrew. The large number of manuscripts (more than for any biblical books except for Psalms, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Exodus, and Genesis, in descending order) indicates that Jubilees was widely used at Qumran. A comparison of the Qumran texts with the Ethiopic version, performed by James VanderKam, found that the Ethiopic was in most respects an accurate and literalistic translation. Scholars have dated Jubilees to have been written sometime around 160-150 B.C.

Jubilees 5:11 And He †destroyed† all from their places, and there †was† not left one of them whom He judged not according to all their wickedness. 12. And He †made† for all His works a new and righteous nature, 1 so that they should not sin in their whole nature for ever, but should be all righteous each in his kind alway. 13. And the judgment of all is ordained and written on the heavenly tables in righteousness–even (the judgment of) all who depart from the path which is ordained for them to walk in; and if they walk not therein judgment is written down for every creature and for every kind. 14. And there is nothing in the heavens or on land, or in light or in darkness, or in Sheol or in the depth, or in the place of darkness (which is not judged); and all their judgments are ordained and written and engraved. 15. In regard to all He will judge, the great according to his greatness, and the small according to his smallness, and each according to his way. 16. And He is not one who will regard the person (of any), nor is He one who will receive gifts, if He saith that He will execute judgment on each: if one gave everything that is on the land, He will not regard the gifts or the person (of any), nor accept anything at his hands, for He is a righteous judge. [17. And of the sons of Israel it hath been written and ordained: If they turn to Him in righteousness, He will forgive all their transgressions and pardon all their sins. 18. It is written and ordained that He will show mercy to all who turn from all their guilt once each year.] 19. And as for all those who corrupted their ways and their thoughts before the flood, no man’s person was accepted save that of Noaḥ alone; for his person was accepted in behalf of his sons, whom (Elohim) saved from the waters of the flood on his account; for his heart was righteous in all his ways, according as it was commanded regarding him, and he had not departed from aught that was ordained for him.

Jubilees 21:1 And in the sixth year of the †seventh† week of this jubilee [2057 A.M. or 2050 A.M.] Abraham called Isaac his son, and commanded him, saying: “I am become old, and know not the day of my death, and am full of my days. 2. And behold, I am one hundred and seventy-five years old, and throughout all the days of my life I have remembered the Lord, and sought with all my heart to do His will, and to walk uprightly in all His ways. 3. My soul hath hated idols, (and I have despised those that served them, and I have given my heart and spirit) that I might observe to do the will of Him who created me. 4. For He is the living Elohim, and He is holy and faithful, and He is righteous beyond all, and there is with Him no accepting of (men’s) persons and no accepting of gifts (cf. Deuteronomy 10:7); for Elohim is righteous, and executeth judgment on all those who transgress His commandments and despise His covenant.

Jubilees 22:14 And may He cleanse thee from all unrighteousness and impurity, That thou mayest be forgiven all (thy) transgressions; (and) thy sins of ignorance. And may He strengthen thee, And bless thee. And mayest thou inherit the whole land, 15. And may He renew His covenant with thee, That thou mayest be to Him a nation for His inheritance for all the ages, And that He may be to thee and to thy seed an Elohim in truth and righteousness throughout all the days of the land. 16. And do thou, my son Jacob, remember my words, And observe the commandments of Abraham, thy father: Separate thyself from the nations, And eat not with them: And do not according to their works, And become not their associate; For their works are unclean, And all their ways are a pollution and an abomination and uncleanness. 17. They offer their slaughters to the dead And they worship evil spirits, And they eat over the graves, And all their works are vanity and nothingness. 18. They have no heart to understand And their eyes do not see what their works are, And how they err in saying to a piece of wood: ‘Thou art my Elohim,’ And to a stone: ‘Thou art my Lord and thou art my deliverer.’ [And they have no heart.] 19. And as for thee, my son Jacob, May the Most High Elohim help thee And the Elohim of the heavens bless thee And remove thee from their uncleanness and from all their error. 20. Be thou ware, my son Jacob, of taking a woman from any seed of the daughters of Canaan; For all his seed is to be rooted out of the land. 21, For, owing to the transgression of Ham, Canaan erred, And all his seed will be destroyed from off the land and all the residue thereof, And none springing from him will be saved on the day of judgment. 22. And as for all the worshipers of idols and the profane 9(b) There will be no hope for them in the land of the living; (e) And there will be no remembrance of them on the land; (c) For they will descend into Sheol, (d) And into the place of condemnation will they go, As the children of Sodom were taken away from the land So will all those who worship idols be taken away. 23. Fear not, my son Jacob, And be not dismayed, O son of Abraham: May the Most High Elohim preserve thee from destruction, And from all the paths of error may He deliver thee.

Jubilees 23:9 For the days of the forefathers, of their life, were nineteen jubilees; and after the Flood they began to grow less than nineteen jubilees, and to decrease in jubilees, and to grow old quickly, and to be full of their days by reason of manifold tribulation and the wickedness of their ways, with the exception of Abraham. 10. For Abraham was perfect in all his deeds with the Lord, and well-pleasing in righteousness all the days of his life; and behold, he did not complete four jubilees in his life, when he had grown old by reason of the wickedness and was full of his days. 11. And all the generations which will arise from this time until the day of the great judgment will grow old quickly, before they complete two jubilees, and their knowledge will forsake them by reason of their old age [and all their knowledge will vanish away]. 12. And in those days, if a man live a jubilee and a half of years, they will say regarding him: “He hath lived long, and the greater part of his days are pain and sorrow and tribulation, and there is no peace: 13. For calamity followeth on calamity, and wound on wound, and tribulation on tribulation, and evil tidings on evil tidings, and illness on illness, and all evil judgments such as these, one with another, illness and overthrow, and snow and frost and ice, and fever, and chills, and torpor, and famine, and death, and sword, and captivity, and all kinds of calamities and pains.” 14. And all these will come on an evil generation, which transgresseth on the land: their works are uncleanness and fornication, and pollution and abominations. 15. Then they will say: “The days of the forefathers were many (even), unto a thousand years, and were good; but, behold, the days of our life, if a man hath lived many, are three score years and ten, and, if he is strong, four score years, and those evil and there is no peace in the days of this evil generation.” 16. And in that generation the sons will convict their fathers and their elders of sin and unrighteousness, and of the words of their mouth and the great wickednesses which they perpetrate, and concerning their forsaking the covenant which the Lord made between them and Him, that they should observe and do all His commandments and His ordinances and all His laws, without departing either to the right hand or to the left. 17. For all have done evil, and every mouth speaketh iniquity and all their works are an uncleanness and an abomination, and all their ways are pollution, uncleanness and destruction.

Jubilees 34:17 And he mourned for Joseph one year, and did not cease, for he said “Let me go down to the grave mourning for my son.” 18. For this reason it is ordained for the sons of Israel that they should afflict themselves on the tenth of the seventh new moon–on the day that the news which made him weep for Joseph came to Jacob his father–that they should make atonement for themselves thereon with a young goat on the tenth of the seventh new moon, once a year, for their sins; for they had grieved the affection of their father regarding Joseph his son. 19. And this day hath been ordained that they should grieve thereon for their sins, and for all their transgressions and for all their errors, so that they might cleanse themselves on that day once a year.

Josephus was born Joseph ben Mattathias in 37 AD in Jerusalem of a priestly and royal family. He excelled in his studies of Jewish law and studied with the Sadducees, Pharisees, and the Essenes, eventually aligning himself with the Pharisees. In 62 AD he went to Rome to free some imprisoned priests. After accomplishing this mission through the intercession of Nero’s wife, Poppaea, he returned to Jerusalem in 65 AD to find the country in revolt against Rome. Josephus shrewdly reinterpreted the Messianic prophecies. He predicted that Vespasian would become the ruler of the ‘entire world’. His prophecy became true in 68 AD when Nero committed suicide and Vespasian became Ceasar. As a result, Josephus was freed; he moved to Rome and became a Roman citizen, taking the Vespasian family name Flavius. Vespasian commissioned Josephus to write a history of the war, which he finished in 78 AD, the Jewish War. His second major work, the Antiquities of the Jews, was completed in 93 AD. The extant manuscripts of the book Antiquities of the Jews contain two references to Yeshua of Nazareth (18.3.3. and 20.9.1.) and one reference to the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist (18.5.2.).

3.9.1. I Will now, however, make mention of a few of our laws which belong to purifications, and the like sacred offices, since I am accidentally come to this matter of slaughters. These slaughters were of two sorts; of those sorts one was offered for private persons, and the other for the people in general; and they are done in two different ways. In the one case, what is slain is burnt, as a whole burnt offering, whence that name is given to it; but the other is a thank offering, and is designed for feasting those that slaughter. I will speak of the former. Suppose a private man offer a burnt offering, he must slay either a bull, a lamb, or a kid of the goats, and the two latter of the first year, though of bulls he is permitted to slaughter those of a greater age; but all burnt offerings are to be of males. When they are slain, the priests sprinkle the blood round about the altar; they then cleanse the bodies, and divide them into parts, and salt them with salt, and lay them upon the altar, while the pieces of wood are piled one upon another, and the fire is burning; they next cleanse the feet of the slaughters, and the inwards, in an accurate manner and so lay them to the rest to be purged by the fire, while the priests receive the hides. This is the way of offering a burnt offering.

3.9.2. But those that offer thank offerings do indeed slaughter the same creatures, but such as are unblemished, and above a year old; however, they may take either males or females. They also sprinkle the altar with their blood; but they lay upon the altar the kidneys and the caul, and all the fat, and the lobe of the liver, together with the rump of the lamb; then, giving the breast and the right shoulder to the priests, the offerers feast upon the remainder of the flesh for two days; and what remains they burn.

3.9.3. The slaughters for sins are offered in the same manner as is the thank offering. But those who are unable to purchase complete slaughters, offer two doves, or turtle doves; the one of which is made a burnt offering to Elohim, the other they give as food to the priests. But we will treat more accurately about the oblation of these creatures in our discourse concerning slaughters. But if a person fall into sin by ignorance, he offers an ewe lamb, or a female kid of the goats, of the same age; and the priests sprinkle the blood at the altar, not after the former manner, but at the corners of it. They also bring the kidneys and the rest of the fat, together with the lobe of the liver, to the altar, while the priests bear away the hides and the flesh, and spend it in the holy place, on the same day; 23 for the law does not permit them to leave of it until the morning. But if any one sin, and is conscious of it himself, but hath nobody that can prove it upon him, he offers a ram, the law enjoining him so to do; the flesh of which the priests eat, as before, in the holy place, on the same day. And if the rulers offer slaughters for their sins, they bring the same oblations that private men do; only they so far differ, that they are to bring for slaughters a bull or a kid of the goats, both males.