Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law ¹  and the Pharisees, ²  you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

But I say to you, do not take oaths at all – not by heaven, because it is the throne of God,

“Be ¹  careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. ²  Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.

But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet ¹  with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ²  in the kingdom of heaven,

From ¹  the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it. ² 

He replied, ¹  “You have been given ²  the opportunity to know ³  the secrets ⁴  of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.

He presented them with another parable: ¹  “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field.

He gave ¹  them another parable: ²  “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed ³  that a man took and sowed in his field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea that caught all kinds of fish.

And Jesus answered him, ¹  “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood ²  did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven!

and said, “I tell you the truth, ¹  unless you turn around and become like little children, ²  you will never ³  enter the kingdom of heaven!

Again, I tell you the truth, ¹  if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. ² 

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ¹ 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, ¹  it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner ¹  who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

“But as for that day and hour no one knows it – not even the angels in heaven ¹  – except the Father alone.

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.