THE WORDS OF JESUS

THE BEATITUDES (Matthew 5:2-12 ESV)

The following "BEATITUDES" are recorded in the New Testament in the book of Matthew in chapter 5, when Jesus preached the 'Sermon on the Mount.'

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

JESUS' WORDS ON FORGIVENESS

Jesus taught extensively on the importance of forgiveness, emphasizing its significance in our salvation with God and relationship with others. Here are some of his key teachings on forgiveness:

Forgive without limit: Jesus answered Peter’s question, “How many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me?” by saying, “I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21-22). This teaches us to forgive without limit, without condition, and without expectation of reciprocation.
Forgive as you have been forgiven: Jesus taught that we should forgive others as God has forgiven us. He said, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14-15).
Forgive from the heart: Jesus taught that forgiveness is not just a mental decision, but a heart issue. He said, “When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25).
Forgive as an act of love: Jesus taught that forgiveness is an act of love, demonstrating God’s love for us. He said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31) and “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Forgive even when it’s hard: Jesus taught that forgiveness is not always easy, but it is necessary. He said, “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14-15).
Forgiveness is a choice: Jesus taught that forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling. He said, “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive you” (Matthew 6:14-15).
Forgiveness brings freedom: Jesus taught that forgiveness brings freedom from the burden of resentment and bitterness. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT REPENTANCE?

According to the Bible, Jesus emphasized the importance of repentance for salvation. Here are some key quotes and teachings (KJV):

Luke 5:32: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Matthew 4:17: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus’s first sermon was a call to repentance, announcing the arrival of the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 13:5: “I tell you Nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Jesus warned that without repentance, people will perish.
Matthew 18:3-4: "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." - Jesus taught that repentance involves a change of heart and a willingness to humble oneself.
Luke 24:47: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” - Jesus commanded his disciples to preach repentance and to stop sinning to all nations.

There are times when I want to read exactly what Jesus said and taught from his own mouth. When this is the case, it's helpful to have a "red letter" bible version which displays all of Jesus' spoken words in red ink, while all the other text remains printed in black ink. Here's a couple red-letter Bible versions you can order off Amazon:

KJV RED LETTER STUDY BIBLE

This version is fantastic if you want extensive commentary and study notes to help with understanding context and background. It's the "King James Version" so it uses the old English grammar style.

ESV RED LETTER BIBLE

This version is fantastic if you prefer an easier to read translation that uses modern grammar style (English Standard Version). It's also more compact and lightweight because it doesn't contain extra content like a study guide or commentary.