¹⁵ Yet ^(A)the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.

⁶ and you shall be to me a ^(A)kingdom of priests and ^(B)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

⁷ And ^(A)you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and ^(B)that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift,^[a] and ^(C)any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”

⁴ Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.

^7 (A)The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their heritage. ^(B)And Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.”

¹⁰ For he was looking forward to ^(A)the city that has ^(B)foundations, ^(C)whose designer and builder is God.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²³ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him ^(A)deny himself and ^(B)take up his cross ^(C)daily and follow me.