Shlach, שְׁלַח-לְךָ

Passages

Torah: Numbers 13:21 - 14:7
Gospel: Luke 12:1-34

Torah — Numbers 13:21 - 14:7

13:21 So they went up and explored the land from the desert of Zin until Rehob, at Lebo Hamath.

13:22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai the descendants of the Anakites were. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

13:23 And they came up to the valley of Eshcol, and they cut off a vine branch and one cluster of grapes from there; they carried it on a pole between two men, with pomegranates and figs.

13:24 That place he called the valley of Eshcol on account of the cluster of grapes that the Israelites cut off from there.

13:25 The Spies Return They returned from exploring the land at the end of forty days.

13:26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to the entire community of the Israelites in the desert of Paran at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the community, and they showed them the fruit of the land.

13:27 And they told him, “We came to the land that you sent us, and it is flowing of milk and honey; this is its fruit.

13:28 Yet the people who are inhabiting it are strong and the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of the Anakites there.

13:29 The Amalekites are living in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and the Amorites are living in the hill country; and the Canaanites are living at the sea and on the banks of the Jordan.”

13:30 And Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “Surely, let us go up and let us take possession of it because surely we will be able to prevail over it.”

13:31 And the men who went up with him said, “We are not able to go up to the people because they are stronger than us.”

13:32 And they presented the report of the land that they explored to the Israelites, saying, “The land that we went through to explore is a land that eats its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in its midst are men of great size.

13:33 There we saw the Nephilim (the descendants of Anak came from the Nephilim), and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their eyes.”

14:1 The People Complain Then all the community lifted up their voices, and the people wept during that night.

14:2 And all the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and all the community said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt or in this desert!

14:3 Why did Yahweh bring us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little children will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”

14:4 They said to each other, “Let us appoint a leader, and we will return to Egypt.”

14:5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the assembly of the community of the Israelites.

14:6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, from the explorers of the land, tore their garments.

14:7 And they said to all the community of the Israelites, “The land that we went through to explore is an exceptionally good land.

13:21 So the men went up and checked out the land. They went from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob. It was in the direction of Lebo Hamath.

13:22 They went up through the Negev Desert and came to Hebron. That’s where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai lived. They belonged to the family line of Anak. Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan. Zoan was a city in Egypt.

13:23 The men came to the Valley of Eshcol. There they cut off a branch that had a single bunch of grapes on it. Two of them carried it on a pole between them. They carried some pomegranates and figs along with it.

13:24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol. That’s because the men of Israel cut off a bunch of grapes there.

13:25 At the end of 40 days, the men returned from checking out the land.

13:26 The Men Report on What They Found The men came back to Moses, Aaron and the whole community of Israel. The people were at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There the men reported to Moses and Aaron and all of the people. They showed them the fruit of the land.

13:27 They gave Moses their report. They said, “We went into the land you sent us to. It really does have plenty of milk and honey! Here’s some fruit from the land.

13:28 “But the people who live there are powerful. Their cities have high walls around them and are very large. We even saw members of the family line of Anak there.

13:29 The Amalekites live in the Negev Desert. The Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the central hill country. The Canaanites live near the Mediterranean Sea. They also live along the Jordan River.”

13:30 Then Caleb interrupted the men who were speaking to Moses. He said, “We should go up and take the land. We can certainly do it.”

13:31 But the men who had gone up with him spoke. They said, “We can’t attack those people. They are stronger than we are.”

13:32 The men spread a bad report about the land among the people of Israel. They said, “The land we checked out destroys those who live in it. All of the people we saw there are very big and tall.

13:33 We saw the Nephilim there. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes. And that’s also how we seemed to them.” The children of Anak came from the Nephilim.

14:1 The People Refuse to Obey the Lord That night all of the people in the community raised their voices. They sobbed out loud.

14:2 The people of Israel spoke against Moses and Aaron. The whole community said to them, “We wish we had died in Egypt or even in this desert.

14:3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land? We’re going to be killed with swords. Our enemies will capture our wives and children. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

14:4 They said to one another, “We should choose another leader. We should go back to Egypt.”

14:5 Then Moses and Aaron fell with their faces to the ground. They did it in front of the whole community of Israel that was gathered there.

14:6 Joshua, the son of Nun, tore his clothes. So did Caleb, the son of Jephunneh. Joshua and Caleb were two of the men who had checked out the land.

14:7 They spoke to the whole community of Israel. They said, “We passed through the land and checked it out. It’s very good.

Gospel — Luke 12:1-34

12:1 Warning Against Hypocrisy During this time when a crowd of many thousands had gathered together, so that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware for yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

12:2 But nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, and secret that will not be made known.

12:3 Therefore everything that you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

12:4 Fear God Rather Than People “And I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after these things do not have anything more to do.

12:5 But I will show you whom you should fear: fear the one who has authority, after the killing, to throw you into hell! Yes, I tell you, fear this one!

12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.

12:7 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered! Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

12:8 Acknowledgement of Christ and Persecution of Disciples “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man also will acknowledge him before the angels of God,

12:9 but the one who denies me before people will be denied before the angels of God.

12:10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but to the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

12:11 But when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you should speak in your own defense or what you should say,

12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what it is necessary to say.”

12:13 The Parable of the Rich Landowner Who Was a Fool Now someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!”

12:14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

12:15 And he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves from all greediness, because not even when someone has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

12:16 And he told a parable to them, saying, “The land of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.

12:17 And he reasoned to himself, saying, ‘What should I do? For I do not have anywhere I can gather in my crops.’

12:18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will gather in there all my grain and possessions.

12:19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many possessions stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’

12:20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your life is demanded from you, and the things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’

12:21 So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!”

12:22 Anxiety And he said to his disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, or for your body, what you will wear.

12:23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

12:24 Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; to them there is neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds?

12:25 And which of you by being anxious is able to add an hour to his life span?

12:26 If then you are not even able to do a very little thing, why are you anxious about the rest?

12:27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these.

12:28 But if God clothes the grass in the field in this way, although it is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he do so for you, you of little faith?

12:29 And you, do not consider what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious.

12:30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need these things.

12:31 But seek his kingdom and these things will be added to you.

12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.

12:33 Sell your possessions and give charitable gifts. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven where thief does not approach or moth destroy.

12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

12:1 Jesus Gives Words of Warning and Hope During that time a crowd of many thousands had gathered. There were so many people that they were stepping on one another. Jesus spoke first to his disciples. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees,” he said. “They just pretend to be godly.

12:2 Everything that is secret will be brought out into the open. Everything that is hidden will be uncovered.

12:3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. What you have whispered to someone behind closed doors will be shouted from the rooftops.

12:4 “My friends, listen to me. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t do any more than that.

12:5 I will show you whom you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the One who can kill the body and also has the power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him.

12:6 “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God does not forget even one of them.

12:7 In fact, he even counts every hair on your head! So don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

12:8 “What about someone who says in front of others that he knows me? I tell you, the Son of Man will say that he knows that person in front of God’s angels.

12:9 But what about someone who says in front of others that he doesn’t know me? I, the Son of Man, will say that I don’t know him in front of God’s angels.

12:10 “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

12:11 “You will be brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities. But do not worry about how to stand up for yourselves or what to say.

12:12 The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

12:13 The Story of the Rich Man Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “tell my brother to divide the family property with me.”

12:14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge or umpire between you?”

12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has.”

12:16 Then Jesus told them a story. He said, “A certain rich man’s land produced a good crop.

12:17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have any place to store my crops.’

12:18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my storerooms and build bigger ones. I will store all my grain and my other things in them.

12:19 I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things stored away for many years. Take life easy. Eat, drink and have a good time.”’

12:20 “But God said to him, ‘You foolish man! This very night I will take your life away from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

12:21 “That is how it will be for anyone who stores things away for himself but is not rich in God’s eyes.”

12:22 Do Not Worry Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, “I tell you, do not worry. Don’t worry about your life and what you will eat. And don’t worry about your body and what you will wear.

12:23 There is more to life than eating. There are more important things for the body than clothes.

12:24 “Think about the ravens. They don’t plant or gather crops. They don’t have any storerooms at all. But God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds!

12:25 “Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying?

12:26 You can’t do that very little thing. So why worry about the rest?

12:27 “Think about how the lilies grow. They don’t work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in all of his glory was dressed like one of those flowers.

12:28 If that is how God dresses the wild grass, how much better will he dress you! After all, the grass is here only today. Tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. Your faith is so small!

12:29 “Don’t spend time thinking about what you will eat or drink. Don’t worry about it.

12:30 People who are ungodly run after all of those things. Your Father knows that you need them.

12:31 “But put God’s kingdom first. Then those other things will also be given to you.

12:32 “Little flock, do not be afraid. Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

12:33 Sell what you own. Give to those who are poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. Put away riches in heaven that will not be used up. There, no thief can come near it. There, no moth can destroy it.

12:34 Your heart will be where your riches are.

Passages

Torah — Numbers 13:21 - 14:7

LEB translation

NIRV translation

Gospel — Luke 12:1-34

LEB translation

NIRV translation