“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;

and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Giving to the Needy

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

I Never Knew You

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,