The Rewards of Wisdom

1My son, do not forget my teaching,

But let your heart keep my commandments;

2For length of days and years of life

And peace they will add to you.

3Do not let kindness and truth leave you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4So you will find favor and good repute

In the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

7Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

8It will be healing to your body

And refreshment to your bones.

28One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; 33and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

35And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36David himself said in the Holy Spirit,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand,

Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet.” ’

37David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him.

38In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, 39and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 40who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Mite

41And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. 43Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; 44for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

1) How does Solomon’s instruction echo Moses’ call to keep יהוה’s commands?

2) Why does Yeshua place love at the center of obedience and faith?

3) What would it look like for יהוה’s Word to be written on your heart and daily actions?

21The wise in heart will be called understanding,

And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

22Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,

But the discipline of fools is folly.

23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth

And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25There is a way which seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.

26A worker’s appetite works for him,

For his hunger urges him on.

27A worthless man digs up evil,

While his words are like scorching fire.

28A perverse man spreads strife,

And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

29A man of violence entices his neighbor

And leads him in a way that is not good.

30He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;

He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

31A gray head is a crown of glory;

It is found in the way of righteousness.

32He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

33The lot is cast into the lap,

But its every decision is from the Lord.

Jesus Walks on the Water

45Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. 46After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

47When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He *came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” 51Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

Healing at Gennesaret

53When they had crossed over they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. 54When they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55and ran about that whole country and began to carry here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to the place they heard He was. 56Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured.