⁴¹ Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”^(A)

³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,^(A) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.^{(B) 4} Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.^{(C) 5} And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.^(D)

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’^(A)

⁴¹ Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.^(A)

⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”^(A)

³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them,^(A) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children^(B) of the Most High,^(C) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

⁹ “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”^(A)

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,^(B) and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

²⁹ The disciples,^(A) as each one was able, decided to provide help^(B) for the brothers and sisters^(C) living in Judea.

¹² For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,^(A) not according to what one does not have.

Generosity Encouraged