The Divisions of the Levites

23 When David was old and full of days,^(A) he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.^{(B) 2} Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites. ³ The Levites thirty years old or more were counted;^(C) the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand by headcount.^{(D) 4} “Of these,” David said, “twenty-four thousand are to be in charge of the work on the Lord’s temple,^(E) six thousand are to be officers and judges,^{(F) 5} four thousand are to be gatekeepers, and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the instruments that I have made for worship.”^(G)

⁶ Then David divided them into divisions according to Levi’s sons:^(H) Gershom,^[a] Kohath, and Merari.

Aaron, along with his descendants,^(J) was set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense in the presence of the Lord,^(K) to minister to him, and to pronounce blessings in his name forever. ¹⁴ As for Moses the man of God,^(L) his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

²⁴ These were the descendants of Levi by their ancestral families^[d]—the family heads, according to their registration by name in the headcount—twenty years old or more, who worked in the service of the Lord’s temple.^{(M) 25} For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given rest to his people,^(N) and he has come to stay in Jerusalem forever. ²⁶ Also, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service”^(O)— ²⁷ for according to the last words of David, the Levites twenty years old or more were to be counted— ²⁸ “but their duty will be to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the Lord’s temple, being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God’s temple— ²⁹ as well as the rows of the Bread of the Presence,^(P) the fine flour for the grain offering,^(Q) the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking,^[e](R) the mixing,^(S) and all measurements of volume and length.^{(T) 30} They are also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and likewise in the evening. ³¹ Whenever burnt offerings are offered to the Lord on the Sabbaths, New Moons,^(U) and appointed festivals, they are to offer them regularly in the Lord’s presence according to the number prescribed for them.^{(V) 32} They are to carry out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting, for the holy place,^(W) and for their relatives, the descendants of Aaron,^(X) in the service of the Lord’s temple.”

Following Christ

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered^[a] in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding^[b]—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished^(A) with sin^[c]— ² in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.^{(B) 3} For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,^(C) drunkenness, orgies,^(D) carousing, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander^[d] you. ⁵ They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(E) 6} For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead,^[e](F) so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards,^(G) they might live^(H) in the spirit according to God’s standards.

End-Time Ethics

⁷ The end of all things is near;^(I) therefore, be alert and sober-minded^(J) for prayer. ⁸ Above all, maintain constant love^(K) for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.^{[f](L) 9} Be hospitable^(M) to one another without complaining. ¹⁰ Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others,^(N) as good stewards of the varied grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides,^(O) so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Christian Suffering

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.^{(P) 13} Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ,^(Q) so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.^{(R) 14} If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,^(S) you are blessed, because the Spirit^(T) of glory and of God^[g] rests on you. ¹⁵ Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.^{[h] 16} But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.^{[i] 17} For the time has come for judgment^(U) to begin with God’s household,^(V) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

¹⁹ So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves^(X) to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.

Oppressors Judged

³ Therefore, the Lord says:

God’s Word Rejected

The Remnant Regathered

The Lord’s Prayer

11 He was praying^(A) in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”^(B)

² He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say,^(C)

Ask, Search, Knock

⁵ He also said to them, “Suppose one of you^[f] has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, ⁶ because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ ⁷ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness,^[g] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.^(L)

⁹ “So^(M) I say to you, ask,^(N) and it will be given to you. Seek,^(O) and you will find. Knock,^(P) and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹ What father among you, if his son^[h] asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil,^(Q) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father^(R) give the Holy Spirit^(S) to those who ask him?”

A House Divided

¹⁴ Now^(T) he was driving out a demon^(U) that was mute.^(V) When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul,^(W) the ruler^(X) of the demons.”^{(Y) 16} And others, as a test,^(Z) were demanding of him a sign^(AA) from heaven.

¹⁷ Knowing their thoughts,^(AB) he told them, “Every kingdom divided^(AC) against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. ¹⁸ If Satan^(AD) also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom^(AE) stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons^(AF) drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. ²⁰ If I drive out demons by the finger of God,^(AG) then the kingdom of God^(AH) has come upon you. ²¹ When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. ²² But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers^(AI) him, he takes from him all his weapons^[i](AJ) he trusted^(AK) in, and divides up his plunder.^{(AL) 23} Anyone who is not with me is against me,^(AM) and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.

An Unclean Spirit’s Return

²⁴ “When^(AN) an unclean spirit^(AO) comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest,^(AP) and not finding rest, it then^[j] says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ ²⁵ Returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. ²⁶ Then it goes and brings seven other spirits^(AQ) more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first.”^(AR)

True Blessedness

²⁷ As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd^(AS) raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the one who nursed you!” ^(AT)

²⁸ He said, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God^(AU) and keep it.”^(AV)

The Sign of Jonah

²⁹ As the crowds were increasing, he began saying, “This generation^(AW) is an evil generation.^(AX) It demands a sign,^(AY) but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.^{[k](AZ) 30} For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man^(BA) will be to this generation. ³¹ The queen of the south^(BB) will rise up at the judgment^(BC) with the men of this generation and condemn^(BD) them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon,^(BE) and look—something greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s preaching, and look—something greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body

³³ “No^(BF) one lights a lamp^(BG) and puts it in the cellar or under a basket,^[l] but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light. ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of the body.^(BH) When your eye is healthy, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad,^(BI) your body is also full of darkness. ³⁵ Take care, then, that the light in you is not darkness. ³⁶ If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Religious Hypocrisy Denounced

³⁷ As he was speaking, a Pharisee^(BJ) asked him to dine with him. So he went in and reclined at the table. ³⁸ When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that he did not first perform the ritual washing^[m](BK) before dinner.^{(BL) 39} But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed^(BM) and evil.^{(BN) 40} Fools!^(BO) Didn’t he who made the outside make the inside too? ⁴¹ But give from what is within to the poor,^[n](BP) and then everything is clean^(BQ) for you.

⁴² “But woe^(BR) to you Pharisees! You give a tenth^[o](BS) of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass^[p] justice^(BT) and love for God.^[q](BU) These things you should have done without neglecting the others.

⁴³ “Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat^(BV) in the synagogues^(BW) and greetings in the marketplaces.

⁴⁴ “Woe to you!^[r] You are like unmarked graves; ^(BX) the people who walk over them don’t know it.”

⁴⁵ One of the experts in the law^(BY) answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.”

⁴⁶ Then he said, “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens^(BZ) that are hard to carry, and yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers.^(CA)

⁴⁷ “Woe to you! You build tombs^[s] for the prophets,^(CB) and your fathers killed^(CC) them. ⁴⁸ Therefore, you are witnesses^(CD) that you approve^[t](CE) the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments.^{[u] 49} Because of this, the wisdom of God^(CF) said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles,^(CG) and some of them they will kill and persecute,’^{(CH) 50} so that this generation^(CI) may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world^[v](CJ) — ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel^(CK) to the blood of Zechariah,^(CL) who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.

“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.^[w]

⁵² “Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge.^(CM) You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered^(CN) those who were trying to go in.”

⁵³ When he left there,^[x] the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose^(CO) him fiercely and to cross-examine him about many things; ⁵⁴ they were lying in wait^(CP) for him to trap him in something he said.^[y](CQ)