“The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they left for their country by another road.

“Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who showed you how to flee from God’s coming anger?

Do those things that prove you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act.

Don’t think you can say, ‘Abraham is our ancestor.’ I can guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.

His winnowing  shovel is in his hand, and he will clean up his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into a barn, but he will burn the husks in a fire that can never be put out.”

Jesus answered him, “This is the way it has to be now. This is the proper way to do everything that God requires of us.” Then John gave in to him.

After Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up from the water. Suddenly, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove to him.

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Jesus answered, “Scripture says, ‘A person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks.’ ”

He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump! Scripture says, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you. They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “Again, Scripture says, ‘Never tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 

Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! Scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”

From then on, Jesus began to tell people, “Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near!”

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval. They will be satisfied.

Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure. They will see God.

Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called God’s children.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

God’s People Make a Difference in the World

“You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.

I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God’s approval and do it more faithfully than the experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

“Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.

“So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell.

And if your right hand leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it go into hell.

But I tell you don’t swear an oath at all. Don’t swear an oath by heaven, which is God’s throne,