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Key Bible Verses — Important Scriptures to Read and Understand

Important passages from Genesis to Revelation, each shown in full in your chosen Bible version, with where it comes from and what it means in its setting.

Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition

Key passages about Jesus

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Matthew 1:21WEB
She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

He will save his people from their sins

The angel tells Joseph in a dream to name Mary's son Jesus, which means "the LORD saves", because he will save his people from their sins.

Salvation

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Matthew 4:4WEB
But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’”

Not by bread alone

Jesus answers the first temptation in the wilderness by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3: people live by every word that comes from God.

ObedienceTrust

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Matthew 5:3–12WEB
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. 10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Beatitudes

The opening of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus calls blessed those the world overlooks: the poor in spirit, mourners, the meek, the merciful, peacemakers and the persecuted, and describes…

The Kingdom of GodHumilityMercyPeace

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Matthew 5:14–16WEB
14“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

You are the light of the world

Jesus tells his followers they are the light of the world. Their good works should be seen, so that people glorify their Father in heaven, not the doers themselves.

Obedience

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Matthew 5:43–45WEB
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

Love your enemies

Jesus teaches his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, as their Father sends sun and rain on good and evil alike.

LoveForgiveness

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Matthew 6:9–13WEB
9Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’

The Lord's Prayer

Jesus gives his disciples a pattern for prayer: honouring God's name, seeking his kingdom and will, and asking for daily bread, forgiveness and deliverance.

PrayerForgivenessThe Kingdom of God

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Matthew 6:19–21WEB
19“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; 21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Treasures in heaven

Jesus warns against storing up treasure on earth, where it decays or is stolen, and calls for treasure in heaven, "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be…

Generosity

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Matthew 6:33–34WEB
33But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

Seek first the kingdom of God

The conclusion of Jesus' teaching on worry (6:25-34). The Father knows his children need food and clothing; they are to seek his kingdom and righteousness first, and not be anxious…

The Kingdom of GodTrust

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Matthew 7:7–8WEB
7“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 8For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.

Ask, seek, knock

Jesus encourages persistent prayer, and in the verses that follow (7:9-11) compares God to a father who gives good gifts to his children.

Prayer

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Matthew 11:28–30WEB
28“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Come to me, all who are weary

Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to him for rest and to take his easy yoke, contrasting with the heavy burdens religious leaders placed on people.

PeaceGrace

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Matthew 16:24–25WEB
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.

Take up your cross and follow me

After foretelling his death, Jesus tells his disciples that following him means denying themselves and taking up their cross; whoever loses their life for his sake will find it.

ObediencePerseverance

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Matthew 18:21–22WEB
21Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.

Seventy times seven

Peter asks whether forgiving seven times is enough. Jesus answers seventy times seven and tells the parable of the unforgiving servant (18:23-35).

Forgiveness

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Matthew 19:26WEB
Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

With God all things are possible

Spoken after the rich young man goes away sad. The disciples ask who can be saved; Jesus answers that it is impossible for people, but with God all things are…

Faith

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Matthew 22:37–40WEB
37Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and great commandment. 39A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

The greatest commandments

Asked which commandment is greatest, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18: love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.

LoveObedience

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Matthew 25:35–40WEB
35for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. 36I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ 40“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

I was hungry and you gave me food

In his picture of the final judgement, Jesus says that what is done for the least of his brothers and sisters is done for him.

GenerosityJusticeLove

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Matthew 28:18–20WEB
18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Go and make disciples of all nations

The risen Jesus sends his disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptising and teaching them, and promises to be with them always.

ObedienceThe Kingdom of God

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Mark 9:24WEB
Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”

I believe; help my unbelief

A father asks Jesus to heal his son "if you can". Jesus says all things are possible to one who believes, and the father cries out this honest prayer; Jesus…

Faith

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Mark 10:14WEB
But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.

Let the little children come to me

When the disciples turn children away, Jesus is indignant: the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. He takes them in his arms and blesses them.

The Kingdom of GodFamily

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Luke 2:10–11WEB
10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Good news of great joy

The angel announces Jesus' birth to shepherds near Bethlehem: a Saviour, Christ the Lord, is born.

SalvationHope

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Luke 10:25–37WEB
25Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” 29But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” 30Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ 36Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?” 37He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

The good Samaritan

A lawyer asks, "Who is my neighbour?" Jesus tells of a Samaritan who cares for a wounded man that a priest and a Levite passed by, then asks which one…

LoveMercyJustice

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Luke 12:15WEB
He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

Life does not consist in possessions

Asked to settle an inheritance dispute, Jesus warns against every kind of greed and tells the parable of the rich fool (12:16-21).

Generosity

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Luke 15:20WEB
“He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.

His father ran and embraced him

In the parable of the lost son, the father sees his son coming home while he is still far off, runs to him and welcomes him.

ForgivenessGraceFamily

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Luke 23:34WEB
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

Father, forgive them

Jesus prays for those crucifying him. (Some early manuscripts do not include this prayer, so some translations mark it.)

Forgiveness

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John 1:1–14WEB
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 6There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 9The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Word became flesh

John opens his Gospel by calling Jesus the Word who was with God and was God, through whom all things were made, and who became flesh and lived among us.

FaithSalvation

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John 3:16WEB
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

God so loved the world

Part of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus at night. God gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life; verse 17 continues that God sent his…

LoveSalvation

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John 8:12WEB
Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

I am the light of the world

Spoken in the temple, probably during the Festival of Tabernacles, when lamps were lit. Whoever follows Jesus will not walk in darkness.

FaithSalvation

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John 8:31–32WEB
31Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

The truth will make you free

Jesus speaks to people who had believed him: if they continue in his word, they will know the truth, and the truth will set them free from slavery to sin…

Salvation

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John 10:10WEB
The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

Life to the full

Jesus, the good shepherd, contrasts himself with the thief who comes to steal and destroy: he came so his sheep may have life in abundance.

SalvationHope

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John 11:25–26WEB
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

I am the resurrection and the life

Jesus speaks to Martha after her brother Lazarus has died, before raising him from the tomb.

ResurrectionHope

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John 13:34–35WEB
34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love one another as I have loved you

After washing his disciples' feet, Jesus gives them a new commandment: love one another as he has loved them, and all will know they are his disciples.

Love

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John 14:1–3WEB
1“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. 3If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.

Let not your hearts be troubled

At the Last Supper Jesus comforts his disciples before his death: there are many rooms in his Father's house, and he will come again to take them to himself.

HopePeace

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John 14:6WEB
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

The way, the truth and the life

Thomas asks how they can know the way; Jesus answers that he is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him.

SalvationFaith

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John 14:26–27WEB
26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. 27Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

The Helper, and my peace I give you

Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, who will teach and remind the disciples, and gives them his peace, not as the world gives.

The Holy SpiritPeace

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John 16:33WEB
I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

I have overcome the world

Jesus' last words to the disciples before his prayer in John 17: in the world they will have trouble, but they can take heart, because he has overcome the world.

PeaceCourageSuffering

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Acts 1:8WEB
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

You will receive power

The risen Jesus' last words before the ascension: the disciples will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes and be his witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.…

The Holy Spirit

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