This Sabbath Reading List gathers the weekly Torah, Haftarah, Brit Hadashah, and Psalm readings into one place to help you prepare for Sabbath. Each week this page is updated with the current readings, a theme, and short summaries for study and reflection.

📖 Torah Portion Reading & Summary

מַּטּוֹת–מַסְעֵי — Mattot–Massei

“Tribes” / “Stages”
Double Portion

Torah Portion: Numbers 30:1–36:13
Date: Sabbath, July 11, 2026
Zadok Date: Month 04 · Day 18

📜 Torah Portion

Numbers 30:1–36:13 — Words, Wilderness Stages, Inheritance, and Refuge

Mattot–Massei closes the book of Numbers by bringing Israel to the edge of the promised land. The wilderness journey is nearly complete, but before Israel crosses the Jordan, Yahuah gives final instructions concerning vows, covenant responsibility, inheritance, boundaries, justice, and refuge. This double portion reminds us that Yahuah cares about our words, our journey, our worship, our families, and the way His people walk together.

Mattot begins with vows and oaths. Yahuah teaches Israel that words spoken before Him are not casual. A promise, vow, or spoken commitment carries weight because covenant people are called to truthfulness and faithfulness. This connects directly with Yeshua’s words in Matthew 5:37: “Let your yes be yes, and your no, no.” The people of Yahuah should not need dramatic oaths to prove honesty; their character should make their words trustworthy.

The portion then moves to Israel’s judgment against Midian. Midian had helped lead Israel into the sin of Baal Peor, bringing corruption, idolatry, and judgment into the camp. This is a sobering reminder that compromise cannot be treated lightly. Yahuah’s people are called to remove what leads them away from Him, not protect it or make peace with it.

Mattot also records the request of Reuben and Gad, who desired land east of the Jordan because it was good for their livestock. Moses warns them not to discourage the rest of Israel from entering the land, as the previous generation had done. They agree to go armed before their brothers and help them receive their inheritance before returning to their own. This teaches responsibility, unity, and love for the whole congregation.

Massei then records the stages of Israel’s journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab. Every place they camped is remembered. Some stages were marked by deliverance, others by testing, rebellion, correction, mercy, and provision. The list teaches that no part of the journey was wasted. Yahuah remembered every step, and He was faithful through every stage.

Yahuah then gives instructions for entering the land. Israel must drive out idolatry, remove false worship, and not allow the ways of the nations to become snares among them. The land was not simply a new location; it was an inheritance that had to be received with faithfulness.

The portion also gives the borders of the land, the leaders appointed to divide the inheritance, the cities for the Levites, and the cities of refuge. The cities of refuge show both justice and mercy. Yahuah provides protection for the one who killed unintentionally, while still preserving righteous judgment concerning bloodshed.

The double portion ends by returning to the daughters of Zelophehad. Their inheritance is protected, and Yahuah also preserves the inheritance of the tribe. This final section shows that Yahuah cares about family, order, inheritance, and long-term covenant faithfulness.

Mattot–Massei teaches that our words matter, every stage of the journey matters, and inheritance must be guarded with faithfulness. Yahuah brings His people out, leads them through the wilderness, orders their steps, provides refuge, and prepares them to enter the promise.

Haftarah

Jeremiah 1:1–2:28; Jeremiah 3:4; 4:1–2 — Return to the Fountain of Living Waters

The Haftarah begins with the calling of Jeremiah. Yahuah tells Jeremiah that He knew him before He formed him in the womb and appointed him as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah feels young and unqualified, but Yahuah tells him not to be afraid because He will put His words in his mouth.

This connects with Mattot because both readings emphasize the seriousness of words. In the Torah portion, vows must be guarded and promises must be kept. In Jeremiah, the prophet must faithfully speak the words Yahuah gives him, even when the message is difficult.

Jeremiah then confronts Judah for forsaking Yahuah, the fountain of living waters, and digging broken cisterns that cannot hold water. The people had turned away from the One who gave them life and trusted in empty substitutes. This connects with Massei because Israel is preparing to enter the land and must not bring idolatry, mixture, or false worship into their inheritance.

The selected verses from Jeremiah 3 and 4 call Israel to return to Yahuah in truth, justice, and righteousness. This matches the heart of Mattot–Massei. Yahuah does not only want His people to arrive at the promise; He wants them to enter with clean hearts, truthful words, and faithful worship.

New Testament Readings

Matthew 5:33–37 — Let Your Yes Be Yes

Yeshua teaches that His people should not rely on dramatic oaths to prove they are telling the truth. Instead, their words should be simple, honest, and trustworthy. This connects directly with Mattot’s teaching on vows and reminds us that covenant faithfulness includes the way we speak.

Philippians 3:7–21 — Pressing Toward the Goal

Paul speaks of counting all things as loss compared to knowing Messiah. He presses on toward the goal and does not live as though he has already arrived. This connects beautifully with Massei because Israel’s wilderness stages were leading toward an inheritance, just as believers are called to keep pressing forward in faith.

James 4:1–12 — Humble Yourselves Before Yahuah

James warns against pride, selfish desire, worldliness, and double‑mindedness. He calls believers to submit to Elohim, resist the devil, draw near to Elohim, cleanse their hands, purify their hearts, and humble themselves before Yahuah. This connects with Mattot–Massei because entering the next stage faithfully requires clean speech, clean hands, clean hearts, and separation from compromise.

🎶 Psalms

Psalm 15 — Truthful Speech and Covenant Integrity

Psalm 15 asks who may dwell in Yahuah’s tent and live on His holy hill. The answer includes the one who speaks truth in his heart and keeps his word even when it costs him. This Psalm fits Mattot because the portion begins with vows and the seriousness of speech before Yahuah.

Psalm 90 — Teach Us to Number Our Days

Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses and fits the closing chapters of Numbers well. As Massei records the wilderness stages, Psalm 90 reminds us that life is brief and that wisdom comes from numbering our days before Yahuah. It helps us look back over the journey with humility and reverence.

Psalm 91 — Yahuah Our Refuge

Psalm 91 connects with the cities of refuge in Massei. It declares Yahuah as shelter, fortress, and place of safety. While the Torah gives physical cities of refuge, this Psalm points our hearts to Yahuah Himself as the refuge of His people.

Psalm 107 — He Led Them by the Right Way

Psalm 107 remembers those who wandered, cried out to Yahuah, and were delivered. It fits Massei because Yahuah led Israel through wilderness stages and brought them toward the promised inheritance. This Psalm reminds us that Yahuah hears, delivers, leads, and gathers His people by mercy.

Sabbath Reflection

Parashah Pinchas reminds us that Sabbath peace is not separated from holiness. Pinchas received Yahuah’s covenant of peace because he stood against open rebellion and honored Yahuah when compromise threatened the camp. This portion also shows Yahuah preparing Israel for the land: the people are counted, inheritance is ordered, the daughters of Zelophehad receive justice, Joshua is appointed, and the appointed times are reaffirmed. On the Sabbath, we remember that Yahuah is not only bringing His people into promise; He is shaping them to walk rightly within it. True rest includes repentance, faithful leadership, righteous judgment, and worship in His appointed rhythm. Pinchas calls us to guard the covenant and seek peace through obedience.

Parashah Summary

Main Themes

Faithful Speech — Mattot teaches that vows, promises, and words spoken before Yahuah must be taken seriously.

Covenant Responsibility — Reuben and Gad must help their brothers receive their inheritance before settling into their own.

Rejecting Compromise — Israel is warned not to tolerate the corruption and idolatry that led them away from Yahuah.

Every Stage Matters — Massei records the wilderness journey to show that Yahuah remembers every step.

Inheritance and Boundaries — Yahuah gives order, borders, family inheritance, and tribal responsibility.

Justice and Mercy — The cities of refuge show Yahuah’s righteous judgment and compassion together.

Returning to Yahuah — Jeremiah calls the people away from broken cisterns and back to the fountain of living waters.

Pressing Toward the Goal — Philippians 3 reminds us to keep moving forward toward the calling of Elohim.

Humility and Repentance — James 4 calls us to submit to Elohim, resist evil, cleanse our hearts, and draw near.

Short Summary

This week’s double portion is Mattot–Massei, meaning “Tribes” and “Stages.” Mattot teaches the seriousness of vows, truthful speech, and covenant responsibility among the tribes of Israel. Massei records the stages of Israel’s wilderness journey and prepares them to enter the land with boundaries, inheritance, Levite cities, and cities of refuge. The Haftarah from Jeremiah calls Yahuah’s people to return from broken cisterns to the fountain of living waters. The New Testament readings remind us to speak truthfully, press toward the goal, humble ourselves, and draw near to Elohim.

Discussion Questions

Why does Yahuah take vows and spoken promises so seriously?
How does Yeshua’s teaching, “Let your yes be yes,” connect with Mattot?
What can we learn from Reuben and Gad about helping others receive their inheritance?
Why do you think Yahuah recorded every stage of Israel’s wilderness journey?
What do the cities of refuge teach us about justice and mercy?
How does Jeremiah’s warning about broken cisterns connect with entering the land faithfully?
What does Philippians 3 teach us about pressing forward toward the promise?
According to James 4, what needs to be humbled, cleansed, or surrendered before Yahuah?