Matthew 7:15-29

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁵ “Be on your guard against false prophets^(A) who come to you in sheep’s^(B) clothing^(C) but inwardly are ravaging wolves.^{(D) 16} You’ll recognize them by their fruit.^(E) Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?^{(F) 17} In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^{(G) 20} So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.^(H)

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,^(I) but only the one who does the will^(J) of my Father in heaven.^{(K) 22} On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons^(L) in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’^{(M) 23} Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’^[a][b](N)

The Two Foundations

²⁴ “Therefore,^(O) everyone who hears these words^(P) of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things,^(Q) the crowds were astonished at his teaching,^{(R) 29} because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.