²³ “And ^(A)they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to ^(B)discern between the unclean and the clean.

^26 (A)Her priests have ^[a]violated My law and ^(B)profaned My holy things; they have not ^(C)distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.

¹⁰ that you may ^(A)distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, ^11 (B)and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses.”

⁹ holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

The Elders’ Task

¹⁰ For there are many insubordinate, both idle ^(A)talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, ^(B)for the sake of dishonest gain.

²⁴ And ^(A)a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, ^(B)able to teach, ^(C)patient, ^25 (D)in humility correcting those who are in opposition, ^(E)if God perhaps will grant them repentance, ^(F)so that they may know the truth,

¹¹ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Now, ^(A)ask the priests concerning the law, saying, ¹² “If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?” ’ ”

Then the priests answered and said, “No.”

¹³ And Haggai said, “If one who is ^(B)unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?”

So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.”