• Torah (T): Wayiqra (Leviticus) 6:1-11
• Prophets (P): Jeremiah 7:21-28
• Apostolic (A): 1 Peter 2:21-25
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 5:1 – 6:5

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Numbers 5:5-10 (T)
• Leviticus 19:11-18 (T)
• Matthew 5:23-26; Luke 12:54-59 (T)
• 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 (T)
• John 8:30-47 (T)
• Acts 5:1-11 (T)
• Ephesians 4:17-25 (T)
• Colossians 3:1-11 (T)
• Revelation 22:14-15 (T)
• Proverbs 24:28-29 (T)
• Proverbs 26:18-19 (T)
• Jeremiah 9:1-6 (T)
• Amos 8:4-8 (T)
• Micah 6:6-16 (T)
• Deuteronomy 22:1-3 (T)
• Exodus 23:1-7 (T)
• Job 24:1-14 (T)
• Micah 2:1-2 (T)
• Proverbs 6:30-31 (T)
• Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 (T)
• Luke 19:1-10 (T)
• Matthew 5:23-26 (T)
• Isaiah 61:8 (T)
• Ezekiel 22:29 (T)
• Isaiah 53:1-12 (A)
• 1 Peter 2:1-25 (A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL READINGS

• Sirach 41:17-24 (T)
• Sirach 23:1-15 (T)
• Wisdom of Solomon 14:22-31 (T)
• Jubilees 5:11-19; Jubilees 21:1-4; Jubilees 22:14-23; Jubilees 23:9-17; Jubilees 34:17-19 (T)
• Leviticus 6:1-11 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.9.1-2 (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)

6:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “If anyone sins and commits a transgression against YHWH and he lies to his fellow about a deposit or security deposit of the hand or with robbery or oppresses his fellow, 3 or has found that which was lost, and lied about it, and swearing to a lie—in any of these things that a man sins in his actions— 4 then it will be, if he has sinned, and is guilty, he will return the robbed thing which he robbed, or the thing which he has gotten by oppression, or the deposited thing which he set over him, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or of all which he has sworn falsely he will restore its head and will add a fifth part more to it. He will return it to him to whom it belongs in the day of his being found guilty. 6 He will bring his trespass offering to YHWH: a ram, a perfect one from the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest. 7 The priest will make atonement for him before YHWH, and he will be forgiven concerning whatever he does to become guilty.” 8 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 9 “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the Torah of the burnt offering: the burnt offering will be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning; and the fire of the altar will be kept burning on it, [it must not be put out].^(LXX) 10 The priest will put on his linen garment, and he will put on his linen trousers upon his body; and he will remove the ashes from where the fire has consumed the burnt offering on the altar, and he will put them beside the altar. 11 He will take off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.

Prophets Portion (P)

7:21 YHWH of Armies, the Elohim of Israel says: “Add your burnt offerings to your slaughters and eat flesh. 22 For I didn’t speak to your fathers or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt concerning burnt offerings or slaughters; 23 but this thing I commanded them, saying, ‘Listen to my voice, and I will be your Elohim, and you will be my people. Walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 But they didn’t listen or turn their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. 26 Yet they didn’t listen to me or incline their ear, but made their neck stiff. They did worse than their fathers. 27 You will speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You will also call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 You will tell them, ‘This is the nation that has not listened to YHWH their Elohim’s voice, nor received instruction. Truth has perished, and is cut off from their mouth…’

Apostolic Portion (A)

2:21 For you were called to this, because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, 22 who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.” (cf. Isaiah 53:9) 23 When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his stripes. (cf. Isaiah 53:5) 25 For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Additional Portion (ADD)

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).

5:1 Don’t set your heart upon your goods. Don’t say, “They are sufficient for me.” 2 Don’t follow your own mind and your strength to walk in the desires of your heart. 3 Don’t say, “Who will have dominion over me?” for the Lord will surely take vengeance on you. 4 Don’t say, “I sinned, and what happened to me?” for the Lord is patient. 5 Don’t be so confident of atonement that you add sin upon sins. 6 Don’t say, “His compassion is great. He will be pacified for the multitude of my sins,” for mercy and wrath are with him, and his indignation will rest on sinners. 7 Don’t wait to turn to the Lord. Don’t put off from day to day; for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come on you, and you will perish in the time of vengeance. 8 Don’t set your heart upon unrighteous gains, for you will profit nothing in the day of calamity. 9 Don’t winnow with every wind. Don’t walk in every path. This is what the sinner who has a double tongue does. 10 Be steadfast in your understanding. Let your speech be consistent. 11 Be swift to hear and answer with patience. 12 If you have understanding, answer your neighbor; but if not, put your hand over your mouth. 13 Glory and dishonor is in talk. A man’s tongue may be his downfall. 14 Don’t be called a whisperer. Don’t lie in wait with your tongue; for shame is on the thief, and an evil condemnation is on him who has a double tongue. 15 Don’t be ignorant in a great or small matter. 6:1 Don’t become an enemy instead of a friend; for an evil name will inherit shame and reproach. So it is with the sinner who has a double tongue. 2 Don’t exalt yourself in the counsel of your soul, that your soul not be torn in pieces like a bull. 3 You will eat up your leaves, destroy your fruit, and leave yourself like a dry tree. 4 A wicked soul will destroy him who has it, and will make him a laughing stock to his enemies. 5 Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends. A gracious tongue will multiply courtesies.

Related Scriptures

5:5 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 transgress 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. 9 Every heave offering of all the holy of the sons of Israel, which they present to the priest, will be his. 10 Every man’s holy will be his; whatever any man gives the priest, it will be his.’ ”

19:11 You will not steal. You will not lie. You will not deal falsely a man with his neighbor. 12 You will not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your Elohim. I am YHWH. 13 You will not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired-servant will not remain with you all night until the morning. 14 You will not curse 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. You will not be partial to the helpless, nor show favoritism to the great; but you will judge your fellow in righteousness. 16 You will not go around as a slanderer among your people. You will not stand against the blood of your neighbor. I am YHWH. 17 You will not hate your brother in your heart. You will surely rebuke your fellow, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You will 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 5:23-26; Luke 12:54-59 (T)

Matthew 5:23 “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. 26 Most certainly I tell you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.

Luke 12:54 He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. 55 When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the heavens, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time? 57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the very last penny.”

6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the holy ones? 2 Don’t you know that the holy ones will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly? 5 I say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers? 6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers! 7 Therefore it is already altogether a defeat in you that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 No, but you yourselves do wrong and deprive, and that against your brothers.

8:30 As he spoke these things, many believed in him. 31 Yeshua therefore said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Yeshua answered them, “Amen, amen, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. 35 A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. 38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.” 39 They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Yeshua said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from Elohim. Abraham didn’t do this. 41 You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of whoring. We have one Father, Elohim.” 42 Therefore Yeshua said to them, “If Elohim were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from Elohim. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who is of Elohim hears the words of Elohim. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of Elohim.”

5:1 But a certain man named Hananiah, with Shappirah his wife, sold a possession, 2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at the emissaries’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Hananiah, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to Elohim.” 5 Hananiah, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things. 6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8 Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11 Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.

4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Nations also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of Elohim because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts. 19 They, having become callous, gave themselves up to coveting, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you didn’t learn Messiah that way, 21 if indeed you heard him and were taught in him, even as truth is in Yeshua: 22 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the coveting of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of Elohim has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. 25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

3:1 If then you were raised together with Messiah, seek the things that are above, where Messiah is, seated on the right hand of Elohim. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the land. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in Elohim. 4 When Messiah, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the land: whoring, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 For these things’ sake the wrath of Elohim comes on the children of disobedience. 7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them, 8 but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. 9 Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, 10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, 11 where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Messiah is all, and in all.

22:14 Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

24:28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips. 29 Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”

26:18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death, 19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”

9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a spring of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! 2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people and go from them! For they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. 3 “They bend their tongue, as their bow, for falsehood. They have grown strong in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they don’t know me,” says YHWH. 4 “Everyone beware of his neighbor, and don’t trust in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go around like a slanderer. 5 Friends deceive each other, and will not speak the truth. They have taught their tongue to speak lies. They weary themselves committing iniquity. 6 Your habitation is in the middle of deceit. Through deceit, they refuse to know me,” says YHWH.

8:4 Hear this, you who desire to swallow up the needy, and cause the afflicted of the land to fail, 5 Saying, ‘When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may market wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel large, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit; 6 that we may buy the helpless for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals, and sell the sweepings with the wheat?’ ” 7 YHWH has sworn by the pride of Jacob, “Surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Won’t the land tremble for this, and everyone mourn who dwells in it? Yes, it will rise up wholly like the River; and it will be stirred up and sink again, like the River of Egypt.

6:6 How will I come before YHWH, and bow myself before the exalted Elohim? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will YHWH be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does YHWH require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim? 9 the voice of YHWH calls to the city— and wisdom fears your name— “Listen to the rod, and he who appointed it. 10 Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah that is accursed? 11 Shall I tolerate dishonest scales, and a bag of deceitful weights? 12 Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech. 13 Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made you desolate because of your sins. 14 You will eat, but not be satisfied. Your hunger will be within you. You will store up, but not save, and that which you save I will give up to the sword. 15 You will sow, but won’t reap. You will tread the olives, but won’t anoint yourself with oil; and crush grapes, but won’t drink the wine. 16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of Ahab’s house. You walk in their counsels, that I may make you a ruin, and your inhabitants a hissing. You will bear the reproach of my people.”

22:1 You will not see your brother’s ox or his sheep go astray and hide yourself from them. You will surely bring them again to your brother. 2 If your brother isn’t near to you, or if you don’t know him, then you will bring it home to your house, and it will be with you until your brother comes looking for it, and you will restore it to him. 3 So you will do with his donkey. So you will do with his garment. So you will do with every lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost and you have found. You may not hide yourself.

23:1 “You will not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness. 2 “You will not follow a crowd to do evil. You will not testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice. 3 You will not favor a helpless in his cause. 4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you will surely bring it back to him again. 5 If you see the donkey of him who hates you fallen down under his burden, don’t leave him. You will surely help him with it. 6 “You will not deny justice to your needy in their lawsuits. 7 “Keep far from a false charge, and don’t kill the innocent and righteous; for I will not justify the wicked.

24:1 “Why aren’t times laid up by the Almighty? Why don’t those who know him see his days? 2 There are people who remove the landmarks. They violently take away flocks, and feed them. 3 They drive away the donkey of the fatherless, and they take the widow’s ox for a pledge. 4 They turn the needy out of the way. The afflicted of the land all hide themselves. 5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, they go out to their work, seeking diligently for food. The wilderness yields them bread for their children. 6 They cut their food in the field. They glean the vineyard of the wicked. 7 They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. 8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for lack of a shelter. 9 There are those who pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the afflicted, 10 so that they go around naked without clothing. Being hungry, they carry the sheaves. 11 They make oil within the walls of these men. They tread wine presses, and suffer thirst. 12 From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the wounded cries out, yet Elohim doesn’t regard the folly. 13 “These are of those who rebel against the light. They don’t know its ways, nor stay in its paths. 14 The murderer rises with the light. He kills the afflicted and needy. In the night he is like a thief.

2:1 Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. 2 They covet fields and seize them, and houses, then take them away. They oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

6:30 Men don’t despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry, 31 but if he is found, he will restore seven times. He will give all the wealth of his house.

Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 (T)

8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he lengthen days like a shadow, because he doesn’t fear God.

19:1 He entered and was passing through Jericho. 2 There was a man named Zakkai. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Yeshua was, and couldn’t because of the crowd, because he was short. 4 He ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way. 5 When Yeshua came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zakkai, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully. 7 When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, “He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner.” 8 Zakkai stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much.” 9 Yeshua said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

5:23 “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and bring your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. 26 Amen, amen, I tell you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the last kodrantes.

61:8 “For I, YHWH, love justice. I hate robbery for burnt offering. I will give them their reward in truth and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

22:29 The people of the land have used oppression and exceedingly robbed. Yes, they have troubled the afflicted and needy, and have oppressed the foreigner wrongfully.

53:1 Who has believed our message? To whom has YHWH’s arm been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no good looks or majesty. When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t respect him. 4 Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by Elohim, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and YHWH has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn’t open his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he didn’t open his mouth. 8 He was taken away by oppression and judgment. As for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living and stricken for the disobedience of my people? 9 They made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased YHWH to bruise him. He has caused him to suffer. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he will see his seed. He will prolong his days and YHWH’s pleasure will prosper in his hand. 11 [Out of the suffering of his soul he will see light] and be satisfied. My righteous servant will justify many by the knowledge of himself; and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion with the great. He will divide the plunder with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was counted with the transgressors; yet he bore the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

1 Peter 2:1-25 (A)

2:1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babies, long for the reasonable unadulterated milk, that with it you may grow, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim, precious. 5 You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughters, acceptable to Elohim through Yeshua the Messiah. 6 Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be disappointed.” 7 For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for Elohim’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 In the past, you were not a people, but now are Elohim’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly coveting which war against the soul, 12 having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify Elohim in the day of inspection. 13 Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme, 14 or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well. 15 For this is the will of Elohim, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Live as free people, yet not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of Elohim. 17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear Elohim. Honor the king. 18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked. 19 For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward Elohim. 20 For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with Elohim. 21 For you were called to this, because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, 22 who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.” (cf. Isaiah 53:9) 23 When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his stripes. (cf. Isaiah 53:5) 25 For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

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).

41:17 Be ashamed of whoring before father and mother, and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man, 18 of an offense before a judge and ruler, of iniquity before the congregation and the people, of unjust dealing before a partner and friend, 19 and of theft in the place where you sojourn. Be ashamed in regard of the truth of Elohim and his covenant, of leaning on your elbow at dinner, of contemptuous behavior in the matter of giving and taking, 20 of silence before those who greet you, of looking at a woman who is a whore, 21 of turning away your face from a kinsman, of taking away a portion or a gift, of gazing at a woman who has a husband, 22 of meddling with his maid—and don’t come near her bed, of abusive speech to friends—and after you have given, don’t insult, 23 of repeating and speaking what you have heard, and of revealing of secrets. 24 So you will be ashamed of the right things and find favor in the sight of every man.

23:1 O Lord, Father and Master of my life, don’t abandon me to their counsel. Don’t let me fall by them. 2 Who will set scourges over my thought, and a discipline of wisdom over my heart, that they spare me not for my errors, and not overlook their sins? 3 Otherwise my errors might be multiplied, and my sins abound, I fall before my adversaries, and my enemy rejoice over me.  4 O Lord, Father and Elohim of my life, don’t give me a haughty eyes 5 and turn away evil desire from me. 6 Let neither gluttony nor coveting overtake me. Don’t give me over to a shameless mind. 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.

The Wisdom of Solomon or Book of Wisdom is a Jewish work, written in Greek, and most likely composed in Alexandria, Egypt. Generally dated to the mid first century B.C. It is uncertain whether the book has a single author or comes from a school of writers, but recent scholarship has favored regarding it as a unified work. Fragments of the Wisdom of Solomon were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the first discovered and excavated cave at Qumran in 1949.

14:22 Afterward it was not enough for them to go astray concerning the knowledge of Elohim, but also, while they live in a great war of ignorance, they call a multitude of evils peace. 23 For either slaughtering children in solemn rites, or celebrating secret mysteries, or holding frantic revels of strange ordinances, 24 no longer do they guard either life or purity of marriage, but one brings upon another either death by treachery, or anguish by adultery. 25 And all things confusedly are filled with blood and murder, theft and deceit, corruption, faithlessness, tumult, perjury, 26 confusion about what is good, forgetfulness of favors, ingratitude for benefits, defiling of souls, confusion of sex, disorder in marriage, adultery and wantonness. 27 For the worship of idols that may not be named is a beginning and cause and end of every evil. 28 For their worshipers either make merry to madness, or prophesy lies, or live unrighteously, or lightly commit perjury. 29 For putting their trust in lifeless idols, when they have sworn a wicked oath, they expect not to suffer harm. 30 But for both, the just doom will pursue them, because they had evil thoughts of Elohim by giving heed to idols, and swore unrighteously in deceit through contempt for holiness. 31 For it is not the power of them by whom men swear, but it is the just penalty for those who sin that always visits the transgression of the unrighteous.

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.).

3.9.3. 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.