Old/New Testament
Rewards for Obeying God
26 “‘Don’t make idols for yourselves or set up ·statues [carved images] or ·memorials [pillars]. Don’t put stone statues in your land to bow down to, because I am the Lord your God [19:4; Ex. 20:4–6; Deut. 5:8–10].
2 “‘·Remember [Keep; Guard] my Sabbaths, and ·respect [fear] my ·Holy Place [sanctuary; 19:3, 30; 23:3; Ex. 20:8–14; Deut. 5:12–15]. I am the Lord.
3 “‘If you ·remember [keep; guard] my ·laws [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and commands and obey them, 4 I will give you rains at the right season [Deut. 11:14]; the land will produce crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will continue until it is time to plant. Then you will have plenty to eat and live ·safely [securely] in your land. 6 I will give peace to your country; you will lie down ·in peace, and no one will make you afraid [L and not be afraid]. I will keep ·harmful [dangerous] animals out of your country, and ·armies [L the sword] will not pass through it.
7 “‘You will ·chase [pursue] your enemies and ·defeat them, killing them with your [L they will fall before you by the] sword. 8 Five of you will ·chase [pursue] a hundred men; a hundred of you will ·chase [pursue] ten thousand men [Deut. 32:30; Josh. 23:10; Is. 30:17]. ·You will defeat your enemies and kill them with your [L They will fall before you by the] sword.
9 “‘Then I will ·show kindness to [L turn toward] you and ·let you have many children [L I will make you fruitful and multiply you]; I will ·keep my agreement [establish my covenant/treaty] with you. 10 You will ·have enough crops to last for more than a year [old grain long stored]. When you harvest the new crops, you will have to throw out the old ones to make room for them. 11 Also I will place my ·Holy Tent [sanctuary] among you, and I will not ·turn away from [L abhor] you. 12 I will walk with you and be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, where you were slaves. I broke the ·heavy weights that were on your shoulders [bars of your yoke] and let you walk ·proudly [erect; standing tall] again.
Punishment for Not Obeying God
14 “‘But if you do not ·obey [keep; guard] me and ·keep [obey] all my commands, 15 and if you ·turn away from [disdain] my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·hate [abhor] my ·laws [regulations], refusing to obey all my commands, you have broken our ·agreement [covenant; treaty]. 16 As a result, I will do this to you: I will ·cause terrible things to happen to [bring dread/terror on] you. I will cause you to have disease and fever that will destroy your eyes and slowly kill you. You will not have success when you plant your seed, and your enemy will eat your crops. 17 I will ·be [L set my face] against you, and your enemies will defeat you. These people who hate you will ·rule [exercise dominion] over you, and you will run away even when no one is ·chasing [pursuing] you.
18 “‘If after all this you still do not ·obey [listen to] me, I will ·punish [discipline] you seven times more for your sins. 19 I will break your great pride, and I will make the sky like iron and the earth like bronze [C there would be no rain]. 20 ·You will work hard, but it will not help [L Your strength will be for no purpose]. Your land will not grow any crops, and your trees will not give their fruit.
21 “‘If you still turn against me and refuse to ·obey [listen to] me, I will ·beat [strike] you seven times harder. The more you sin, the more you will be punished. 22 I will send wild animals to attack you, and they will ·take your children away from you and destroy [L bereave you and cut off] your cattle. They will make you so few in number the roads will be empty.
23 “‘If you don’t learn your lesson after all these things, and if you still turn against me, 24 I will also turn against you. I will ·punish [strike] you seven more times for your sins. 25 You broke my agreement, and I will ·punish [L have my revenge against] you. I will bring ·armies [L the sword] against you, and if you go into your cities for safety, I will cause ·diseases [plagues] to spread among you so that ·your enemy will defeat you [L you will be given into the enemy’s hand]. 26 ·There will be very little bread to eat; [L When I break your staff of bread,] ten women will ·be able to cook all [bake] your bread in one oven. They will measure [L by weight] each piece of bread, and you will eat, but you will ·still be hungry [L not be satisfied].
27 “‘If you still refuse to ·listen to [obey] me and still turn against me, 28 I will ·show [L turn against you with] my great anger; I will ·punish [discipline] you seven more times for your sins. 29 You will eat the ·bodies [flesh] of your sons and [L the flesh of your] daughters [Deut. 28:53–57; Is. 49:26; Jer. 19:9; Ezek. 5:10]. 30 I will destroy your ·places where gods are worshiped [L high places] and cut down your incense altars. I will pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols [2 Kin. 23:14–16]. I will ·hate [abhor] you. 31 I will ·destroy your cities [make your cities a ruin] and make your holy places ·empty [desolate], and I will not smell the pleasing smell of your offerings. 32 I will make the land ·empty [desolate] so that your enemies who come to live in it will be shocked at it. 33 I will scatter you among the nations, and I will pull out my sword and destroy you. Your land will become empty, your cities a ·waste [ruin]. 34 When you are taken to your enemy’s country, your land will finally get its ·rest [sabbath; 25:1–7]. It will enjoy its ·time of rest [sabbath] all the time it lies empty. 35 During the time the land is empty, it will have the ·rest [sabbath] you should have given it while you lived in it [2 Chr. 36:21].
36 “‘Those of you who are left alive will ·lose their courage [L place despondency in their hearts] in the land of their enemies. ·They will be frightened by the sound of a leaf being blown by the wind [L The sound of a driven leaf will make them flee]. They will ·run [flee] as if someone were chasing them with a sword, and they will fall even when no one is ·chasing [pursuing] them. 37 They will fall over ·each other [L their brother/kinsman], as if ·someone were chasing them with [L before] a sword, even though no one is ·chasing [pursuing] them. You will not be strong enough to stand up against your enemies. 38 You will ·die [perish] among other nations and ·disappear in your enemies’ countries [L the land of your enemies will consume you]. 39 So those who are left alive will ·rot [or pine] away in their enemies’ countries because of their sins. They will also ·rot [or pine] away because of their ·ancestors’ [fathers’] sins.
There Is Always Hope
40 “‘But maybe the people will confess their sins and the sins of their ·ancestors [fathers]; maybe they will admit they turned against me and ·sinned [committed treachery] against me, 41 which made me turn against them and send them into the land of their enemies. If ·these disobedient people [L their uncircumcised hearts; Deut. 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4] are ·sorry for what they did [L humbled] and accept punishment for their sin, 42 I will remember my ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with Jacob [Gen. 35:9–15], my ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with Isaac [Gen. 26:24], and my ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with Abraham [Gen 12:1–3; 15; 17], and I will remember the land. 43 The land will be ·left empty by its people [L forsaken/abandoned of them], and it will enjoy its ·time of rest [sabbath; 25:1–7] as it lies ·bare [desolate] without them. Then those who are left alive will accept the punishment for their sins. They will learn that they were punished because they ·hated [disdained] my ·laws [regulations] and ·refused to obey [abhorred] my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements]. 44 But even though this is true, I will not ·turn away from [disdain] them when they are in the land of their enemies. I will not ·hate [abhor] them so much that I completely destroy them and break my ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with them, because I am the Lord their God. 45 For their good I will remember the ·agreement with their ancestors [L former covenant/treaty], whom I brought out of the land of Egypt [C the covenant with Moses; Ex. 19–24] so I could become their God; the other nations saw these things. I am the Lord.’”
46 These are the ·laws [statutes; ordinances; requirements], ·rules [regulations], and ·teachings [laws; instructions] the Lord made between himself and the Israelites through Moses at Mount Sinai.
Promises Are Important
27 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the ·people [L sons; children] of Israel and tell them: ‘If someone makes a ·special promise [vow] ·to give a person as a servant to the Lord by paying a price that is the same value as that person [L concerning an equivalent for a person; C a person, such as a child or a slave, could be given for God’s service, or money paid instead to fulfill the vow], 3 the ·price [equivalent] for a man twenty to sixty years old is about ·one and one-fourth pounds [L fifty shekels] of silver. (You must use the measure as set by the ·Holy Place [sanctuary].) 4 The ·price [equivalent] for a woman twenty to sixty years old is about ·twelve ounces [L thirty shekels] of silver. 5 The ·price [equivalent] for a man five to twenty years old is about ·eight ounces [L twenty shekels] of silver; for a woman it is about ·four ounces [L ten shekels] of silver. 6 The ·price [equivalent] for a baby boy one month to five years old is about ·two ounces [L five shekels] of silver; for a baby girl the price is about ·one and one-half ounces [L three shekels] of silver. 7 The ·price [equivalent] for a man sixty years old or older is about ·six ounces [L fifteen shekels] of silver; for a woman it is about ·four ounces [L ten shekels] of silver.
8 “‘If anyone is too poor to pay the ·price [equivalent], bring him to the priest, and the priest will set the price. The priest will decide how much money the person making the vow can afford to pay.
Gifts to the Lord
9 “‘Some animals may be used as ·sacrifices [gifts] to the Lord. If someone ·promises to bring [L gives] one of these to the Lord, it will become holy. 10 That person must not try to ·put another animal in its place [L substitute for it] or exchange it, a good animal for a bad one, or a bad animal for a good one. If this happens, both animals will become holy.
11 “‘Unclean [C in a ritual sense] animals cannot be offered as ·sacrifices [gifts] to the Lord, and if someone brings one of them to the Lord, that animal must be brought to the priest. 12 The priest will decide a ·price [equivalent] for the animal, according to whether it is good or bad; as the priest decides, that is the ·price [equivalent] for the animal. 13 If the person wants to ·buy back [redeem] the animal, an additional one-fifth must be added to the ·price [equivalent].
Value of a House
14 “‘If a person ·gives [dedicates; consecrates] a house as holy to the Lord, the priest must decide its ·value [equivalent], according to whether the house is good or bad; as the priest decides, that is the ·price [equivalent] for the house. 15 But if the person who ·gives [dedicates; consecrates] the house wants to ·buy it back [redeem it], an additional one-fifth must be added to the ·price [equivalent]. Then the house will belong to that person again.
Value of Land
16 “‘If a person ·gives [dedicates; consecrates] some family property to the Lord, the ·value [equivalent] of the fields will depend on how much seed is needed to plant them. It will cost about ·one and one-fourth pounds [L fifty shekels] of silver for each ·six bushels [L homer] of barley seed needed. 17 If the person ·gives [dedicates; consecrates] a field at the year of Jubilee [25:8–22], its value [equivalent] ·will stay at what the priest has decided [L will stand]. 18 But if the person ·gives [dedicates; consecrates] the field after the Jubilee, the priest must ·decide [calculate] the exact ·price [equivalent] by counting the number of years to the next year of Jubilee. Then he will subtract that number from its ·value [equivalent]. 19 If the person who ·gave [dedicated; consecrated] the field wants to ·buy it back [redeem it], one-fifth must be added to that ·price [equivalent], and the field will belong to the first owner again.
20 “‘If the person does not ·buy back [redeem] the field, or if it is sold to someone else, the first person cannot ever ·buy it back [redeem it]. 21 When the land is released at the year of Jubilee, it will become holy to the Lord, like land ·specially given [devoted] to him. It will become the property of the priests.
22 “‘If someone ·gives [dedicates; consecrates] to the Lord a field he has bought, which is not a part of his family land, 23 the priest must ·count [calculate] the years to the next Jubilee. He must decide the ·price [equivalent] for the land, and the ·price [equivalent] must be paid on that day. Then that land will be holy to the Lord. 24 At the year of Jubilee, the land will go back to its first owner, to the family who sold the land.
25 “‘You must use the measure as set by the ·Holy Place [sanctuary] in paying these ·prices [equivalents]; ·it weighs two-fifths of an ounce [L twenty gerahs will make a shekel].
Value of Animals
26 “‘If an animal is the first one born to its parent, it already belongs to the Lord, so people may not ·give [dedicate; consecrate] it again. If it is a ·cow [L ox] or a sheep, it is the Lord’s. 27 If the animal is unclean [C in a ritual sense], the person must ·buy it back [ransom it] for the ·price set by the priest [equivalent], and the person must add one-fifth to that price. If it is not ·bought back [redeemed], the priest must sell it for ·the price he had decided [its equivalent].
28 “‘·There is a special kind of gift that people set apart to give [L All devoted things that are devoted…] to the Lord; it may be a person, animal, or field from the family property. That gift cannot be ·bought back [redeemed] or sold. Every ·special kind of gift [devoted thing] is most holy to the Lord.
29 “‘·If anyone is given for the purpose of being destroyed, he [L Everyone who is devoted from among people] cannot be ·bought back [redeemed]; he must be put to death.
30 “‘One-tenth of all crops belongs to the Lord, including the crops from fields and the fruit from trees. That one-tenth is holy to the Lord. 31 If a person wants to ·get back [redeem] that tenth, one-fifth must be added to its price.
32 “‘·The priest will take every [L Every] tenth animal from a person’s herd or flock, ·and it [L a tenth of all that passes under the shepherd’s rod,] will be holy to the Lord. 33 The owner should not ·pick out the good animals from the bad [inquire whether they are good or bad] or exchange one animal for another. If that happens, both animals will become holy; they cannot be ·bought back [redeemed].’”
34 These are the commands the Lord ·gave to [commanded] Moses at Mount Sinai for the ·people [L sons; children] of Israel.
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man(A)
2 A few days later, when Jesus came back to Capernaum, the news spread that he was at home. 2 Many people gathered together so that there was no room in the house, not even ·outside [near; in front of] the door. And Jesus was ·teaching them God’s message [L speaking the word to them]. 3 Four people came, carrying a paralyzed man. 4 Since they could not get to Jesus because of the crowd, they dug a hole in the roof right above where he was speaking. [C Palestinian roofs were generally flat and made of thatch and dried mud.] When they got through, they lowered the ·mat [cot] with the paralyzed man on it. 5 When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralyzed man, “·Young man [Child; Son], your sins are forgiven.”
6 Some of the ·teachers of the law [scribes] were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this man ·say things like that [speak this way]? He is ·speaking as if he were God [L blaspheming]. ·Only God can forgive sins.” [L “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”; cf. Is. 43:25].
8 Jesus knew immediately [in his spirit] what these teachers of the law were thinking. So he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things [L in your hearts]? 9 Which is easier: to tell this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to tell him, ‘Stand up. Take your ·mat [cot] and walk’? 10 But ·I will prove to you [L so that you may know] that the Son of Man [C a title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14] has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I tell you, stand up, take your ·mat [cot], and go home.” 12 Immediately the paralyzed man stood up, took his ·mat [cot], and walked out while everyone was watching him.
The people were [all] amazed and praised God. They said, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Jesus Calls Levi to Follow Him(B)
13 Jesus went to the lake again. The whole crowd ·followed him [came to him] there, and he taught them. 14 While he was walking along, he saw a man named Levi son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax collector’s booth [C probably a tariff booth for taxing goods in transit]. Jesus said to him, “Follow me,” and he stood up and followed Jesus.
15 Later, as Jesus was ·having dinner [L reclining; C around a low table, the posture for a formal banquet or dinner party] at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating there with Jesus and his followers. Many people like this followed Jesus. 16 When the ·teachers of the law [scribes] who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they asked his followers, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [C Tax collectors were despised because they worked for the Roman rulers and were notorious for corruption and extortion.]
17 Jesus heard this and said to them, “It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick. I did not come to ·invite [call] ·good people [the righteous; C meaning the “self-righteous” who feel no need to repent] but to ·invite [call] sinners [C those who recognize their need to repent].”
Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting(C)
18 Now the ·followers [disciples] of John [C the Baptist; 1:4–8] and the Pharisees often fasted [C giving up eating for spiritual purposes]. ·Some people [L They] came to Jesus and said, “Why do John’s ·followers [disciples] and the ·followers [disciples] of the Pharisees often fast, but your ·followers [disciples] don’t?”
19 Jesus answered, “The ·friends of the bridegroom [or wedding guests; L children of the wedding hall] do not fast while the bridegroom is still with them [C Jesus is referring to himself; John 3:29; Rev. 19:7]. As long as the bridegroom is with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the ·time [L days] will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and ·then [in that day] they will fast.
21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth over a hole in an old ·coat [garment]. Otherwise, the patch will shrink and pull away—the new patch will pull away from the old ·coat [garment]. Then the ·hole [tear] will be worse. 22 Also, no one ever pours new wine into old ·leather bags [wineskins]. Otherwise, the new wine will break the ·bags [skins; C as the wine ferments and expands], and the wine will be ·ruined [lost] along with the ·bags [skins]. But new wine should be put into new ·leather bags [wineskins].”
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(D)
23 One Sabbath day, as Jesus was walking through some fields of grain, his ·followers [disciples] began to [make a path and] pick some grain to eat [Deut. 23:25]. 24 The Pharisees said to Jesus, “Why are your followers doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath day?” [C Gleaning was viewed as work, and therefore forbidden on the Sabbath; Ex. 34:21.]
25 Jesus answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and ·those with him [his companions] were hungry and needed food [1 Sam. 21:1–6]? 26 ·During the time of Abiathar [or, In the account about Abiathar] the high priest, David went into God’s house and ate the ·holy bread [consecrated bread; L bread of presentation], which is lawful only for priests to eat [Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5–9]. And David also gave some of the bread to those who were with him.”
27 Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, “The Sabbath day was made ·to help people [T for man]; ·they were not made to be ruled by [T not man for] the Sabbath day. 28 So then, the Son of Man is ·Lord [Master] even of the Sabbath day.”
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.