Jesus warns us against standing in judgment over others because we?re not worthy ourselves, and because we don?t see everything clearly.

Several times in this text Jesus gives the same simple command: don?t be anxious. To those of us who struggle with anxiety, that can sound a bit like blaming the victim. Who would really choose to be anxious, after all? But what Jesus offers isn?t a dismissive charge to get over it. Nor is it a comprehensive explanation of everything that goes into anxiety. What he offers are weapons for the battle with anxiety that are powerful no matter what your unique struggle looks like.

Jesus warns us that we can only serve one Master. His words challenge us to make God our beloved treasure, not earthly wealth that will only decay.

In the discipline of fasting?as in anything we sacrifice for God and his kingdom?either we will be celebrated for the costliness of our commitment or God will be celebrated for the value of his friendship.

Jesus has warned us not to pray like hypocrites or pagans, but what does healthy Christian prayer look like? Christian prayer is based on who God is, it?s focused on what God wants, and it?s honest about what we need.

Before teaching us how to pray, Jesus first clarifies why we should pray to God in the first place. We should come to God because we love him, not from a hypocritical desire to impress other people. And we should come to God because we trust him, not from some attempt to control him by saying just the right thing.

The righteousness of Jesus?s followers will always stand out, but his followers are never righteous in order to stand out.

Jesus finishes his examples of kingdom behavior with the primary mark of all those who are with him?love. But not just any love. The distinctive love of Jesus?s followers?a love that reflects the love of their Father?is love for those who don?t love them well in return.

Jesus says his followers don?t resist when they?re mistreated. But what does it look like to obey? And wouldn?t it be dangerous for us and for others if we did obey? Jesus offer four examples that show us both how his words challenge us and how his words help us.

trivial. In fact, our words reveal what?s inside our hearts and for those of us that follow Jesus, the truthfulness of our words show the world who He is.