Daily Bible CEV March 28 Scroll

Jesus Condemns the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law of Moses
(Mark 12.38-40; Luke 11.37-52; 20.45-47)

Matthew 23 Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

²The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are experts in the Law of Moses. ³So obey everything they teach you, but don't do as they do. After all, they say one thing and do something else.

⁴They pile heavy burdens on people's shoulders and won't lift a finger to help. ⁵Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels for everyone to see. ⁶They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the meeting places. ⁷And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers.

⁸But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters. ⁹Don't call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven. ¹⁰None of you should be called the leader. The Messiah is your only leader. ¹¹Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others. ¹²If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.

Numbers 22 ⁴¹The next morning, Balak took Balaam to the town of Bamoth-Baal. From there, Balaam could see some of the Israelites.

Balaam's First Message

Numbers 23 Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars here, then bring seven bulls and seven rams."

²After Balak had done this, they sacrificed a bull and a ram on each altar. ³Then Balaam said, "Wait here beside your offerings, and I'll go somewhere to be alone. Maybe the LORD will appear to me. If he does, I will tell you everything he says." And he left.

⁴When God appeared to him, Balaam said, "I have built seven altars and have sacrificed a bull and a ram on each one."

⁵The LORD gave Balaam a message, then sent him back to tell Balak. ⁶When Balaam returned, he found Balak and his officials standing beside the offerings.

⁷Balaam said:

"King Balak of Moab brought me from the hills of Syria

to curse Israel and announce its doom.

⁸But I can't go against God!

He did not curse or condemn Israel.

^*9"From the mountain peaks, I look down and see Israel,

the obedient people of God.

¹⁰They are living alone in peace.

And though they are many, they don't bother

the other nations.

"I hope to obey God for as long as I live

and to die in such peace."

¹¹Balak said, "What are you doing? I asked you to come and place a curse on my enemies. But you have blessed them instead!"

¹²Balaam answered, "I can say only what the LORD tells me."

Balaam's Second Message

¹³Balak said to Balaam, "Let's go somewhere else. Maybe if you see a smaller part of the Israelites, you will be able to curse them for me." ¹⁴So he took Balaam to a field on top of Mount Pisgah where lookouts were stationed. Then he built seven altars there and sacrificed a bull and a ram on each one.

¹⁵"Wait here beside your offerings," Balaam said. "The LORD will appear to me over there."

¹⁶The LORD appeared to Balaam and gave him another message, then he told him to go and tell Balak. ¹⁷Balaam went back and saw him and his officials standing beside the offerings.

Balak asked, "What did the LORD say?"

¹⁸Balaam answered:

"Pay close attention to my words--

¹⁹God is no mere human!

He doesn't tell lies or change his mind.

God always keeps his promises.

²⁰"My command from God was to bless these people,

and there's nothing I can do

to change what he has done.

²¹Israel's king is the LORD God.

He lives there with them

and intends them no harm.

²²With the strength of a wild ox,

God led Israel out of Egypt.

²³No magic charms can work against them--

just look what God has done for his people.

²⁴They are like angry lions ready to attack;

and they won't rest until their victim

is gobbled down."

²⁵Balak shouted, "If you're not going to curse Israel, then at least don't bless them."

²⁶"I've already told you," Balaam answered. "I will say only what the LORD tells me."

The Groom and the Wedding Party

Their Friends Speak:
Song of Songs 3 ⁶What do we see approaching from the desert

like a cloud of smoke?

With it comes the sweet smell of spices,

including myrrh and frankincense.

⁷It is King Solomon carried on a throne,

surrounded by sixty of Israel's best soldiers.

⁸Each of them wears a sword.

They are experts at fighting, even in the dark.

⁹The throne is made of trees from Lebanon.

¹⁰Its posts are silver, the back is gold,

and the seat is covered with purple cloth.

You women of Jerusalem have taken great care

to furnish the inside.

¹¹Now come and see the crown given to Solomon

by his mother on his happy wedding day.

What a Beautiful Bride

He Speaks:
Song of Songs 4 My darling, you are lovely, so very lovely--

as you look through your veil,

your eyes are those of a dove.

Your hair tosses about as gracefully as goats

coming down from Gilead.

²Your teeth are whiter than sheep freshly washed;

they match perfectly, not one is missing.

³Your lips are crimson cords, your mouth is shapely;

behind your veil are hidden beautiful rosy cheeks.

⁴Your neck is more graceful than the tower of David,

decorated with thousands of warriors' shields.

⁵Your breasts are perfect;

they are twin deer feeding among lilies.

⁶I will hasten to those hills sprinkled with sweet perfume

and stay there till sunrise.

⁷

My darling, you are lovely in every way.

⁸My bride, together we will leave Lebanon!

We will say good-by to the peaks

of Mount Amana, Senir, and Hermon,

where lions and leopards live in the caves.

⁹My bride, my very own, you have stolen my heart!

With one glance from your eyes

and the glow of your necklace,

you have stolen my heart.

¹⁰Your love is sweeter than wine;

the smell of your perfume

is more fragrant than spices.

¹¹Your lips are a honeycomb;

milk and honey flow from your tongue.

Your dress has the aroma of cedar trees from Lebanon.

¹²My bride, my very own, you are a garden,

a fountain closed off to all others.

¹³Your arms are vines, covered with delicious fruits

and all sorts of spices--

henna, nard, ¹⁴

saffron, calamus, cinnamon,

frankincense, myrrh, and aloes --

all the finest spices.

¹⁵You are a spring in the garden, a fountain of pure water,

and a refreshing stream from Mount Lebanon.

She Speaks:
¹⁶Let the north wind blow, the south wind too!
Let them spread the aroma of my garden,
so the one I love may enter
and taste its delicious fruits.

He Speaks:
Song of Songs 5 My bride, my very own, I come to my garden
and enjoy its spices.
I eat my honeycomb and honey;
I drink my wine and milk.

Their Friends Speak:
Eat and drink
until you are drunk with love.

These daily Bible readings from the Contemporary English Version (CEV) are published by BibleNetUSA. The web site and BibleCard® designs are by iCreative. BibleCard® images copyright iCreative. All rights reserved.