The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 (A)Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

15 “Beware of the (B)false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are (C)ravenous wolves. 16 You will [a](D)know them by their fruits. [b]Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So (E)every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 (F)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will [c]know them (G)by their fruits.

21 (H)Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 (I)Many will say to Me on (J)that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [d]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; (K)leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

The Two Foundations

24 “Therefore, (L)everyone who hears these words of Mine, and [e]acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell and the [f]floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not [g]act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell and the [h]floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 7:16 Or recognize
  2. Matthew 7:16 Lit They do not gather
  3. Matthew 7:20 Or recognize
  4. Matthew 7:22 Or works of power
  5. Matthew 7:24 Lit does them
  6. Matthew 7:25 Lit rivers
  7. Matthew 7:26 Lit do them
  8. Matthew 7:27 Lit rivers

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