²⁵ And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, ^(A)to the derision of their enemies), ²⁶ then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. ²⁷ And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you ^(B)kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” ²⁸ And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. ²⁹ And Moses said, “Today you have been ^(C)ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

^26 (A)“If anyone comes to me and ^(B)does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, ^(C)yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

⁴⁸ But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

^37 (A)Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

¹⁰ For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying ^(A)to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a ^(B)servant^[a] of Christ.

¹⁶ From now on, therefore, ^(A)we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

¹⁶ And they sent ^(A)their disciples to him, along with ^(B)the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, ^(C)we know that you are true and teach ^(D)the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for ^(E)you are not swayed by appearances.^[a]

⁵ My covenant with him was one of life and ^(A)peace, and I gave them to him. ^(B)It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. ^6 (C)True instruction^[a] was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he ^(D)turned many from iniquity. ⁷ For ^(E)the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people^[b] should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.