But when you give to someone in need,

don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Give your gifts in private,

and your Father, who sees everything,

will reward you. 

Matthew 6:3-4

But I say,

love your enemies!

Pray for those who persecute you!

Matthew 5:44

So if you are presenting a sacrifice 

at the altar in the Temple

and you suddenly remember

that someone has something against you,

leave your sacrifice there at the altar.

Go and be reconciled to that person.

Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

Matthew 5:23-24

You are the light of the world—

like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.

Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand,

where it gives light to everyone in the house.

Matthew 5:14-15

God blesses you when people mock you

and persecute you and lie about you

and say all sorts of evil things against you

because you are my followers.

Be happy about it!

Be very glad!

For a great reward awaits you in heaven.

And remember,

the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Matthew 5:11-12

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

God blesses those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

God blesses those who are humble,

for they will inherit the whole earth.

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,

for they will be satisfied.

God blesses those who are merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5:3-7

Jesus called out to them,

“Come, follow me,

and I will show you how to fish for people!”

And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Matthew 4:19-20

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness

to be tempted there by the devil.

For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. 

During that time the devil came and said to him,

“If you are the Son of God,

tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:1-4

After his baptism,

as Jesus came up out of the water,

the heavens were opened

and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove

and settling on him.

And a voice from heaven said,

“This is my dearly loved Son,

who brings me great joy.”

Matthew 3:16-17

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse

so there will be enough food in my Temple.

“…If you do,” 

says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,

“I will open the windows of heaven for you. 

I will pour out a blessing so great 

you won’t have enough room to take it in!

Try it!

Put me to the test!”

Malachi 3:10