¹³When it was day, he called his disciples. He chose twelve of them and called them apostles. ¹⁴They were Simon (whom Jesus named Peter) and Simon’s brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, ¹⁵Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the Zealot), ¹⁶Judas (son of James), and Judas Iscariot (who became a traitor).

Many People Are Cured—Mark 3:7–12

¹⁷Jesus came down from the mountain with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples and many other people were there. They had come from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. ¹⁸They wanted to hear him and be cured of their diseases. Those who were tormented by evil spirits were cured. ¹⁹The entire crowd was trying to touch him because power was coming from him and curing all of them.

Jesus Teaches His Disciples

²⁰Jesus looked at his disciples and said,

“Blessed are those who are poor.

God’s kingdom is theirs.

²¹Blessed are those who are hungry.

They will be satisfied.

Blessed are those who are crying.

They will laugh.

²²Blessed are you when people hate you, avoid you,

insult you, and slander you

because you are committed to the Son of Man.

²³Rejoice then, and be very happy!

You have a great reward in heaven.

That’s the way their ancestors treated the prophets.

²⁴“But how horrible it will be for those who are rich.

They have had their comfort.

²⁵How horrible it will be for those who are well-fed.

They will be hungry.

How horrible it will be for those who are laughing.

They will mourn and cry.

²⁶How horrible it will be for you

when everyone says nice things about you.

That’s the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.

Love Your Enemies—Matthew 5:38–48

²⁷“But I tell everyone who is listening: Love your enemies. Be kind to those who hate you. ²⁸Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who insult you. ²⁹If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other cheek as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t stop him from taking your shirt. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you for something. If someone takes what is yours, don’t insist on getting it back.

³¹“Do for other people everything you want them to do for you.

³²“If you love those who love you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³If you help those who help you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners do that too. ³⁴If you lend anything to those from whom you expect to get something back, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners also lend to sinners to get back what they lend. ³⁵Rather, love your enemies, help them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward. You will be the children of the Most High God. After all, he is kind to unthankful and evil people. ³⁶Be merciful as your Father is merciful.

Stop Judging—Matthew 7:1–5

³⁷“Stop judging, and you will never be judged. Stop condemning, and you will never be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you.”

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