The Divisions of the Priests

24 The divisions of the descendants of Aaron were as follows: Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.^{(A) 2} But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.^{(B) 3} Together with Zadok^(C) from the descendants of Eleazar and Ahimelech from the descendants of Ithamar, David divided them according to the assigned duties of their service. ⁴ Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than Ithamar’s, they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of ancestral families^[a] were from Eleazar’s descendants, and eight heads of ancestral families were from Ithamar’s. ⁵ They^(D) were assigned by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.

⁶ The secretary, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the officers, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech^(E) son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites. One ancestral family^[b] was taken for Eleazar, and then one for Ithamar.

¹⁹ These had their assigned duties for service when they entered the Lord’s temple, according to their regulations, which they received from their ancestor Aaron, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.

The Rest of the Levites

Those were the descendants of the Levites according to their ancestral families.^{[f] 31} They also cast lots the same way as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.^(H)

The Levitical Musicians

25 David and the officers of the army also set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman,^(I) and Jeduthun, who were to prophesy^(J) accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals.^(K) This is the list of the men who performed their service:

⁶ All these men were under their own fathers’ authority for the music in the Lord’s temple, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king’s authority. ⁷ They numbered 288 together with their relatives who were all trained and skillful in music for the Lord. ⁸ They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.^(N)

About the Elders

5 I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness^(A) to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:^{(B) 2} Shepherd God’s flock among you,^(C) not overseeing^[a] out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you;^[b] not out of greed for money but eagerly; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd^(D) appears, you will receive the unfading crown^(E) of glory. ⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with^[c] humility toward one another, because

Conclusion

⁶ Humble^(G) yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand^(H) of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.^{(I) 8} Be sober-minded,^(J) be alert.^(K) Your adversary the devil^(L) is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. ⁹ Resist him,^(M) firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

¹⁰ The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory^(N) in Christ,^[e] will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.^{[f] 11} To him be dominion^[g] forever.^[h] Amen.

¹² Through Silvanus,^[i](O) a faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! ¹³ She who is in Babylon,^(P) chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love.^(Q) Peace^(R) to all of you who are in Christ.^[j]

Unjust Leaders Judged

False Prophets Judged

Zion’s Destruction

Beware of Religious Hypocrisy

12 Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling^(A) on one another. He began to say to his disciples first,^(B) “Be on your guard^(C) against the leaven^[a](D) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.^{(E) 2} There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered,^(F) nothing hidden that won’t be made known.^{(G) 3} Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms^(H) will be proclaimed on the housetops.^(I)

Fear God

⁴ “I say to you, my friends,^(J) don’t fear^(K) those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. ⁵ But I will show you the one to fear: Fear^(L) him who has authority to throw people into hell^(M) after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! ⁶ Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?^[b] Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.^{(N) 7} Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Acknowledging Christ

⁸ “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges^(O) me before others, the Son of Man^(P) will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,^{(Q) 9} but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.^{(R) 10} Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,^(S) but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit^(T) will not be forgiven. ¹¹ Whenever^(U) they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities,^(V) don’t worry^(W) about how you should defend^(X) yourselves or what you should say. ¹² For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”^(Y)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³ Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher,^(Z) tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴ “Friend,”^[c] he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard^(AA) against all greed,^(AB) because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”^(AC)

¹⁶ Then he told them a parable:^(AD) “A rich^(AE) man’s land was very productive. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? ¹⁸ I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. ¹⁹ Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy;^(AF) eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’^(AG)

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool!^(AH) This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’^(AI)

²¹ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure^(AJ) for himself and is not rich toward God.”^(AK)

The Cure for Anxiety

²² Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you,^(AL) don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.^{(AM) 23} For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens:^(AN) They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them.^(AO) Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? ²⁵ Can any of you add one moment to his life span^[d] by worrying?^{(AP) 26} If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

²⁷ “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon^(AQ) in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. ²⁸ If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith?^{(AR) 29} Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. ³⁰ For the Gentile world eagerly seeks^(AS) all these things, and your Father^(AT) knows that you need them.

³¹ “But seek his kingdom,^(AU) and these things will be provided for you.^{(AV) 32} Don’t be afraid,^(AW) little flock,^(AX) because your Father delights^(AY) to give you the kingdom.^{(AZ) 33} Sell^(BA) your possessions and give to the poor.^(BB) Make money-bags^(BC) for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure^(BD) in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(BE)

Ready for the Master’s Return

³⁵ “Be ready for service^[e] and have your lamps lit.^{(BF) 36} You are to be like people waiting for their master^(BG) to return from the wedding banquet^(BH) so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.^{(BI) 37} Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert^(BJ) when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready,^[f] have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.^{(BK) 38} If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,^[g] and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. ³⁹ But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,^(BL) he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also be ready,^(BM) because the Son of Man^(BN) is coming at an hour you do not expect.”^(BO)

Rewards and Punishment

⁴¹ “Lord,” Peter asked, “are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?”

⁴² The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager^(BP) his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food^(BQ) at the proper time? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’^(BR) and starts to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶ that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces^[h] and assign him a place with the unfaithful.^{[i] 47} And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it^[j] will be severely beaten.^{(BS) 48} But the one who did not know and did what deserved^(BT) punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.^[k](BU)

Not Peace but Division

⁴⁹ “I came^(BV) to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to undergo,^(BW) and how it consumes^(BX) me until it is finished!^{(BY) 51} Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth?^(BZ) No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵² From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.

Interpreting the Time

⁵⁴ He also said to the crowds,^(CB) “When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, ‘A storm is coming,’ and so it does.^{(CC) 55} And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites!^(CD) You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don’t you know how to interpret this present time?^(CE)