As a preacher, Jesus was powerful. He had a way of speaking that captivated the curious, infuriated the righteous and ennobled the weak.

Today, Jesus’ simple sayings drill to the heart of what it means to be a Christian. Here are 8 famous sayings of Jesus. His words—both then and now—are as timeless as ever.

1. Do not let your left hand know what the right hand is doing
   Taken from Matthew 6:3, Jesus urges us to give to others without advertising our kindness.
2. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
   Appearing in the Gospels of Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31, Jesus invites you to treat others as you would like to be treated.
3. Turn the other cheek
   This instruction, appearing in Matthew 5:39 and Luke 6:29, discourages us from seeking revenge.
4. Judge not, lest you be judged
   In Matthew 7:1, Jesus urges us not to pass judgment on others.
5. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
   Jesus quotes the ancient standard of Jewish justice in his Sermon on the Mount appearing in Matthew 5:38-39. He enjoins all of us to forsake seeking revenge on those who have hurt you.
6. Love your neighbor as yourself
   Jesus urged his listeners to treat others with mercy, love and compassion—the standard for all interaction with others. This saying appears in Matthew 22:39 and Mark 12:31.
7. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
   This saying, appearing in Matthew 26:40-41 and Mark 14:37-38, describes the night before Jesus died. Although he encouraged his disciples to remain awake while he prayed, they couldn’t. Jesus encourages us to follow through on our promises to him, not just pay lip service to him.
8. O ye of little faith!
   As Jesus walked on water, he urged Peter to come to him. Peter got out of the boat and walked on water until he realized what was happening. He became afraid and began to sink. Jesus advises us to have faith in him—always—even in the middle of the storms of life.