Amos 5:18-20

Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you?  It will be darkness, and not light.  It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him!  Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?

Grace for the Moment Daily Bible (Max Lucado)

It is the quality that produces not momentary heroics but monumental lives. The Bible has its share … Consistent and predictable, these saints were spurred by a gut-level conviction that they had been called by no one less than God himself. As a result, their work wasn’t affected by moods, cloudy days, or rocky trails. Their performance graph didn’t rise and fall with roller-coaster irregularity. They weren’t addicted to accolades or applause nor deterred by grumpy bosses or empty wallets … And since their loyalty was not determined by their comfort, they were just as faithful in dark prisons as they were in spotlighted pulpits.

John 14:1-3

1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

Luke 11:37-52

37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal,was surprised. 39 Then the LORD said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give what is inside [the dish] to the poor,and everything will be clean for you. 42 "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. 43 "Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 "Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it." 45 One of the experts in the law answered him, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also." 46 Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. 47 "Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.' 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all. 52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering." 

Amos 9:13-15

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Psalm 103:15-16 and Isaiah 42:3-4

Psalm 103:15-16:
As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.


Isaiah 42:3-4:
A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth. 

Colossians 3

1 Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above--where Christ holds the highest position. 2 Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. 3 You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 Christ is your life. When he appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory. 5 Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). 6 It is because of these sins that God's anger comes on those who refuse to obey him. 7You used to live that kind of sinful life. 8 Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. 9Don't lie to each other. You've gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, 10 and you've become a new person. This new person is continually renewed in knowledge to be like its Creator.11 Where this happens, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, uncivilized person, slave, or free person. Instead, Christ is everything and in everything. 12 As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13 Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 Above all, be loving.This ties everything together perfectly. 15 Also, let Christ's peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one body. Be thankful. 16 Let Christ's word with all its wisdom and richness live in you. Use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct yourselves about [God's] kindness. Sing to God in your hearts. 17Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18 Wives, place yourselves under your husbands' authority. This is appropriate behavior for the Lord's people. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and don't be harsh with them. 20 Children, always obey your parents. This is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, don't make your children resentful, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, always obey your earthly masters. Don't obey them only while you're being watched, as if you merely wanted to please people. Be sincere in your motives out of respect for your real master. 23 Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans. 24You know that your real master will give you an inheritance as your reward. It is Christ, your real master, whom you are serving. 25 The person who does wrong will be paid back for the wrong he has done. God does not play favorites.

Zepheniah 3:17

The LORD your God is with you. He is a hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with his love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy.

Psalm 77

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

 ¹ I cried out to God for help;
       I cried out to God to hear me. ² When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
       at night I stretched out untiring hands
       and my soul refused to be comforted.
 ³ I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
       I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
       Selah
 ⁴ You kept my eyes from closing;
       I was too troubled to speak.
 ⁵ I thought about the former days,
       the years of long ago;
 ⁶ I remembered my songs in the night.
       My heart mused and my spirit inquired:
 ⁷ "Will the Lord reject forever?
       Will he never show his favor again?
 ⁸ Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
       Has his promise failed for all time?
 ⁹ Has God forgotten to be merciful?
       Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
       Selah
 ¹⁰ Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
       the years of the right hand of the Most High."
 ¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
       yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
 ¹² I will meditate on all your works
       and consider all your mighty deeds.
 ¹³ Your ways, O God, are holy.
       What god is so great as our God?
 ¹⁴ You are the God who performs miracles;
       you display your power among the peoples.
 ¹⁵ With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
       the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
       Selah
 ¹⁶ The waters saw you, O God,
       the waters saw you and writhed;
       the very depths were convulsed.
 ¹⁷ The clouds poured down water,
       the skies resounded with thunder;
       your arrows flashed back and forth.
 ¹⁸ Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
       your lightning lit up the world;
       the earth trembled and quaked.
 ¹⁹ Your path led through the sea,
       your way through the mighty waters,
       though your footprints were not seen.
 ²⁰ You led your people like a flock
       by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Proverbs 8

The Excellence of Wisdom

 ¹ Does not wisdom cry out,
      And understanding lift up her voice?
       ² She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,
      Beside the way, where the paths meet.
       ³ She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
      At the entrance of the doors:
       ⁴ “ To you, O men, I call,
      And my voice is to the sons of men.
       ⁵ O you simple ones, understand prudence,
      And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
       ⁶ Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,
      And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
       ⁷ For my mouth will speak truth;
      Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
       ⁸ All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
      Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
       ⁹ They are all plain to him who understands,
      And right to those who find knowledge.
       ¹⁰ Receive my instruction, and not silver,
      And knowledge rather than choice gold;
       ¹¹ For wisdom is better than rubies,
      And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
       ¹² “ I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
      And find out knowledge and discretion.
       ¹³ The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
      Pride and arrogance and the evil way
      And the perverse mouth I hate.
       ¹⁴ Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
      I am understanding, I have strength.
       ¹⁵ By me kings reign,
      And rulers decree justice.
       ¹⁶ By me princes rule, and nobles,
      All the judges of the earth.^{[a]
       17} I love those who love me,
      And those who seek me diligently will find me.
       ¹⁸ Riches and honor are with me,
      Enduring riches and righteousness.
       ¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
      And my revenue than choice silver.
       ²⁰ I traverse the way of righteousness,
      In the midst of the paths of justice,
       ²¹ That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
      That I may fill their treasuries.
       ²² “ The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,
      Before His works of old.
       ²³ I have been established from everlasting,
      From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
       ²⁴ When there were no depths I was brought forth,
      When there were no fountains abounding with water.
       ²⁵ Before the mountains were settled,
      Before the hills, I was brought forth;
       ²⁶ While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
      Or the primal dust of the world.
       ²⁷ When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
      When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
       ²⁸ When He established the clouds above,
      When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
       ²⁹ When He assigned to the sea its limit,
      So that the waters would not transgress His command,
      When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
       ³⁰ Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;^[b]
      And I was daily His delight,
      Rejoicing always before Him,
       ³¹ Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
      And my delight was with the sons of men.
       ³² “ Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
      For blessed are those who keep my ways.
       ³³ Hear instruction and be wise,
      And do not disdain it.
       ³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me,
      Watching daily at my gates,
      Waiting at the posts of my doors.
       ³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life,
      And obtains favor from the LORD;
       ³⁶ But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
      All those who hate me love death.”

Job 11:18

You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

Psalm 145: 15-16

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Isaiah 25

 ¹ O LORD, You are my God.
      I will exalt You,
      I will praise Your name,
      For You have done wonderful things;
      Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
       ² For You have made a city a ruin,
      A fortified city a ruin,
      A palace of foreigners to be a city no more;
      It will never be rebuilt.
       ³ Therefore the strong people will glorify You;
      The city of the terrible nations will fear You.
       ⁴ For You have been a strength to the poor,
      A strength to the needy in his distress,
      A refuge from the storm,
      A shade from the heat;
      For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
       ⁵ You will reduce the noise of aliens,
      As heat in a dry place;
      As heat in the shadow of a cloud,
      The song of the terrible ones will be diminished.
       ⁶ And in this mountain
      The LORD of hosts will make for all people
      A feast of choice pieces,
      A feast of wines on the lees,
      Of fat things full of marrow,
      Of well-refined wines on the lees.
       ⁷ And He will destroy on this mountain
      The surface of the covering cast over all people,
      And the veil that is spread over all nations.
       ⁸ He will swallow up death forever,
      And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces;
      The rebuke of His people
      He will take away from all the earth;
      For the LORD has spoken.
       ⁹ And it will be said in that day:
       "Behold, this is our God;
      We have waited for Him, and He will save us.
      This is the LORD;
      We have waited for Him;
      We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."
       ¹⁰ For on this mountain the hand of the LORD will rest,
      And Moab shall be trampled down under Him,
      As straw is trampled down for the refuse heap.
       ¹¹ And He will spread out His hands in their midst
      As a swimmer reaches out to swim,
      And He will bring down their pride
      Together with the trickery of their hands.
       ¹² The fortress of the high fort of your walls
      He will bring down, lay low,
      And bring to the ground, down to the dust.

Luke 12:32

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

John 17:3

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Psalm 114

Psalm 114

 ¹ When Israel came out of Egypt,
       the house of Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
 ² Judah became God's sanctuary,
       Israel his dominion.
 ³ The sea looked and fled,
       the Jordan turned back;
 ⁴ the mountains skipped like rams,
       the hills like lambs.
 ⁵ Why was it, O sea, that you fled,
       O Jordan, that you turned back,
 ⁶ you mountains, that you skipped like rams,
       you hills, like lambs?
 ⁷ Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
       at the presence of the God of Jacob,
 ⁸ who turned the rock into a pool,
       the hard rock into springs of water.

Psalm 34

 ¹ I will extol the LORD at all times;
       his praise will always be on my lips.
 ² My soul will boast in the LORD;
       let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
 ³ Glorify the LORD with me;
       let us exalt his name together.
 ⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
       he delivered me from all my fears.
 ⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
       their faces are never covered with shame.
 ⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
       he saved him out of all his troubles.
 ⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
       and he delivers them.
 ⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good;
       blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
 ⁹ Fear the LORD, you his saints,
       for those who fear him lack nothing.
 ¹⁰ The lions may grow weak and hungry,
       but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
 ¹¹ Come, my children, listen to me;
       I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
 ¹² Whoever of you loves life
       and desires to see many good days,
 ¹³ keep your tongue from evil
       and your lips from speaking lies.
 ¹⁴ Turn from evil and do good;
       seek peace and pursue it.
 ¹⁵ The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
       and his ears are attentive to their cry;
 ¹⁶ the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
       to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
 ¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
       he delivers them from all their troubles.
 ¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
       and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
 ¹⁹ A righteous man may have many troubles,
       but the LORD delivers him from them all;
 ²⁰ he protects all his bones,
       not one of them will be broken.
 ²¹ Evil will slay the wicked;
       the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
 ²² The LORD redeems his servants;
       no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

Isaiah 55: 12-13

¹² You will go out in joy 
       and be led forth in peace; 
       the mountains and hills 
       will burst into song before you, 
       and all the trees of the field 
       will clap their hands.
 ¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, 
       and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. 
       This will be for the LORD's renown, 
       for an everlasting sign, 
       which will not be destroyed."

Romans 8: 5-6

Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

2 Peter 3: 3-18

 ³First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ⁴They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." ⁵But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. ⁶By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. ⁷By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
 ⁸But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
 ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
 ¹¹Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹²as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
 ¹⁴So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. ¹⁵Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. ¹⁶He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
 ¹⁷Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. ¹⁸But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

1 John 3: 1-10

 ¹How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ²Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
 ⁴Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. ⁵But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. ⁶No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
 ⁷Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. ⁸He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. ⁹No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. ¹⁰This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

Psalm 43:3-5

 ³ Send forth your light and your truth,
       let them guide me;
       let them bring me to your holy mountain,
       to the place where you dwell.
 ⁴ Then will I go to the altar of God,
       to God, my joy and my delight.
       I will praise you with the harp,
       O God, my God.
 ⁵ Why are you downcast, O my soul?
       Why so disturbed within me?
       Put your hope in God,
       for I will yet praise him,
       my Savior and my God.

Psalm 100:5

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.

Matthew 5

 ¹Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ²and he began to teach them saying:

 ³"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 ⁴Blessed are those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted.
 ⁵Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth.
 ⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
      for they will be filled.
 ⁷Blessed are the merciful,
      for they will be shown mercy.
 ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart,
      for they will see God.
 ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers,
      for they will be called sons of God.
 ¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 ¹¹"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

 ¹³"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.  ¹⁴"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

 ¹⁷"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹Anyone who breaks 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 practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder

 ²¹"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' ²²But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.  ²³"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
 ²⁵"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

 ²⁷"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' ²⁸But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

 ³¹"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' ³²But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

 ³³"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' ³⁴But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; ³⁵or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

An Eye for an Eye

 ³⁸"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' ³⁹But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴²Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

 ⁴³"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.