Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that!

And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that!

So Jesus called them all together and said, "You know that the rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority.

This, however, is not the way it shall be among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest;

save me from those who in this life have all they want. Punish them with the sufferings you have stored up for them; may there be enough for their children and some left over for their children's children!

(For the pagans of this world are always concerned about all these things.) Your Father knows that you need these things.

In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless

not with a lustful desire, like the heathen who do not know God.

Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him.

As a father is kind to his children, so the LORD is kind to those who honor him.

Would any of you who are fathers give your son a snake when he asks for fish?

As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

(For the pagans of this world are always concerned about all these things.) Your Father knows that you need these things.