Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

ה He

A Person Who Speaks Evil Is Put to Death

¹⁰ There was a man who had an Israelite mother. His father was born in Egypt. The man went out among the Israelites. A fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. ¹¹ The son of the Israelite woman spoke evil things against the Lord by using a curse. So the people brought him to Moses. The name of the man’s mother was Shelomith. She was the daughter of Dibri. Dibri was from the tribe of Dan. ¹² The people kept her son under guard until they could find out what the Lord wanted them to do.

¹³ Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, ¹⁴ “Get the man who spoke evil things against the Lord. Take him outside the camp. All those who heard him say those things must place their hands on his head. Then the whole community must kill him by throwing stones at him. ¹⁵ Say to the Israelites, ‘Anyone who curses me will be held accountable. ¹⁶ Anyone who speaks evil things against my Name must be put to death. The whole community must kill them by throwing stones at them. It does not matter whether they are an outsider or an Israelite. When they speak evil things against my Name, they must be put to death.

¹⁷ “ ‘Anyone who kills another human being must be put to death. ¹⁸ Anyone who kills someone’s animal must pay its owner. A life must be taken for a life. ¹⁹ Suppose someone hurts their neighbor. Then what they have done must be done to them. ²⁰ A bone must be broken for a bone. An eye must be put out for an eye. A tooth must be knocked out for a tooth. The one who has hurt his neighbor must be hurt in the same way. ²¹ Whoever kills an animal must pay its owner. But if they kill a human being, they must be put to death. ²² The same law applies whether they are an outsider or an Israelite. I am the Lord your God.’ ”

²³ Then Moses spoke to the Israelites. They got the man who had spoken evil things against the Lord. They took him outside the camp. There they killed him by throwing stones at him. The Israelites did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Be Fair When You Judge Other People

7 “Do not judge other people. Then you will not be judged. ² You will be judged in the same way you judge others. You will be measured in the same way you measure others.

³ “You look at the bit of sawdust in your friend’s eye. But you pay no attention to the piece of wood in your own eye. ⁴ How can you say to your friend, ‘Let me take the bit of sawdust out of your eye’? How can you say this while there is a piece of wood in your own eye? ⁵ You pretender! First take the piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you will be able to see clearly to take the bit of sawdust out of your friend’s eye.

⁶ “Do not give holy things to dogs. Do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they might walk all over them. They might turn around and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Search, Knock

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. The door will be opened to the one who knocks.

⁹ “Suppose your son asks for bread. Which of you will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or suppose he asks for a fish. Which of you will give him a snake? ¹¹ Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹² In everything, do to others what you would want them to do to you. This is what is written in the Law and in the Prophets.