Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Alef ^[a]

Living in the Law of God

Laws Concerning Theft of Personal Property

22 ^[a]“If a man steals an ox or sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he is to repay five oxen^[b] for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.

² “If a thief is found while breaking into a house,^[c] and is struck down and dies, it is not a capital crime^[d] in that case,^{[e] 3} but if the sun has risen on him, then it is a capital crime^[f] in that case.^[g] A thief^[h] is certainly to make restitution, but if he has nothing, he is to be sold^[i] for his theft. ⁴ If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox, a donkey or a sheep, he is to repay double.

⁵ “When a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed over or releases his livestock so that they graze in another man’s field, he is to make restitution from the best of his field or vineyard.^[j]

⁶ “When a fire breaks out and spreads into thorn bushes and consumes stacked grain or standing grain or the field, the one who started the fire certainly is to make restitution.

⁷ “When a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and it’s stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if found, is to repay double. ⁸ If the thief is not found, the owner of the house is to appear before the judges^[k] to see^[l] whether or not the thief took^[m] his neighbor’s property.

⁹ “In every ownership dispute^[n] involving an ox, donkey, sheep, garment, or anything that is lost where a person says, ‘This is mine,’^[o] the case between the two of them is to come before the judges,^[p] and the one that the judges^[q] declare guilty is to repay double to his neighbor.

¹⁰ “When a man gives a donkey, ox, sheep, or any animal to his neighbor for safe keeping, and it dies or is injured or is driven away when no one is looking, ¹¹ the two of them are to take an oath in the Lord’s presence that the accused^[r] has not taken^[s] his neighbor’s property. Its owner is to accept this, and the neighbor^[t] is not to make restitution. ¹² But if it was actually stolen from him, the neighbor^[u] is to make restitution to its owner. ¹³ If it was torn to pieces, let the neighbor^[v] bring the remains^[w] as evidence, and he is not to make restitution for what was torn apart.

¹⁴ “When a man borrows^[x] an animal from his neighbor, and it’s injured or dies while its owner was not with it, he is certainly to make restitution. ¹⁵ If its owner was with it, he is not to make restitution. If it was hired, its fee covers the loss.”^[y]

The Earthly Sanctuary and Its Ritual

9 Now even the first covenant^[a] had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. ² For a tent was set up, and in the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the bread of the Presence.^[b] This was called the Holy Place. ³ Behind the second curtain was the part of the tent called the Most Holy Place, ⁴ which had the gold altar for incense and the Ark of the Covenant completely covered with gold. In it were the gold jar holding the manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the Tablets of the Covenant. ⁵ Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of atonement. (We cannot discuss these things in detail now.)

⁶ When everything had been arranged like this, the priests always went into the first part of the tent to perform their duties. ⁷ But only the high priest went^[c] into the second part, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins committed by the people in ignorance. ⁸ The Holy Spirit was indicating by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first part of the tent was still standing. ⁹ This illustration for today indicates that the gifts and sacrifices being offered could not clear the conscience of a worshiper, ¹⁰ since they deal only with food, drink, and various washings, which are required for the body until the time when things would be set right.

The Messiah Has Offered a Superior Sacrifice

¹¹ But when the Messiah^[d] came as a high priest of the good things that have come,^[e] he went^[f] through the greater and more perfect tent that was not made by human^[g] hands and that is not a part of this creation. ¹² Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he went into the Most Holy Place once for all and secured our eternal redemption.