And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Teaching about Love for Enemies

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”

Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.

They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’

Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.