And as soon as Jesus was baptized, He at once went up out of the water, and look! the heavens opened, and John saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove upon Him,

"Also, whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners, to attract the attention of people. I solemnly say to you, they already have their reward.

So then you must not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

"Also whenever you fast, you must not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they put on a gloomy countenance, to let people see them fasting. I solemnly say to you, they already have their reward.

but I tell you, not even Solomon, in all his gorgeous splendor, was ever dressed up like a single one of these.

Then you must practice dealing with others as you would like for them to deal with you, for this is the summing up of the law and the prophets.

"So everyone who listens to my words and practices their teaching, will be like a prudent man who built his house on a rocky foundation.

And anyone who listens to my words and does not practice their teaching, will be like an imprudent man who built his house on sand.

and after the demon had been driven out, the dumb man could talk. So the crowds were dumbfounded, saying, "Never before among the Jews was anything like this?

When He saw the crowds, His heart was moved with pity for them, because they were tired and scattered like sheep without a shepherd.

"Listen! I am sending you out as sheep surrounded by wolves. So you must be sensible like serpents and guileless like doves.

The pupil should be satisfied to become like his teacher, and the slave should be satisfied to become like his master. If men have called the Head of the house Beelzebub, how much worse names will they heap upon the members of His family!

"But to what can I compare the leaders of this age? They are like little children sitting in the market places and calling to their fellows in the game,

Then He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." And he held it out, and it was cured so that it became like the other.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him as follows: "Teacher, we would like to see a spectacular sign given by you."

He told them another story, as follows: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed seed in his field.

Then the upright will shine out like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears listen!

"The kingdom of heaven is like a pot of gold which was buried in a field, which a man found and buried again; and for joy over it he went and sold all he had and bought that field.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a gem-dealer who was looking for beautiful pearls.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was let down into the sea, and gathered fish of every kind,

He said to them, "Every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who can bring out of his storeroom new furnishings as well as old."

And I, yes I, tell you, your name from now on is to be Peter, Rock, and on a massive rock like this I will build my church, and the powers of the underworld shall never overthrow it.

And in their presence His appearance was changed and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes turned as white as light.

He answered them, "Because you have so little faith! For I solemnly say to you, if you have the faith that is living like a grain of mustard, you can say to this mountain, 'Move over from here to yonder,' and it will move over, and nothing will be impossible for you to do."

and said: "I solemnly say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you can never get into the kingdom of heaven at all.

and whoever welcomes one little child like this for my sake welcomes me.

"For the kingdom of heaven is like an owner of an estate who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a king, who gave a wedding reception for his son.

The second is like it: 'You must love your neighbor as you do yourself.'

and they like the places of honor at feasts and the front seats in synagogues,

"A curse on you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, for you are like white-washed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead people's bones and everything that is unclean!

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

"For it is just like a man who was going on a long journey from his homeland, who called to him his slaves and turned his property over to them.

The men on guard trembled in awe of him, and became like dead men.