Two Kinds of Fruit

⁴³ “A good tree does not produce bad fruit. Also, a bad tree does not produce good fruit. ⁴⁴ Each tree is known by its fruit. People don’t gather figs from thornbushes. And they don’t get grapes from bushes. ⁴⁵ A good person has good things saved up in his heart. And so he brings good things out of his heart. But an evil person has evil things saved up in his heart. So he brings out bad things. A person speaks the things that are in his heart.

The Way to Heaven Is Hard

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. The road that leads to hell is a very easy road. And the gate to hell is very wide. Many people enter through that gate. ¹⁴ But the gate that opens the way to true life is very small. And the road to true life is very hard. Only a few people find that road.

People Know You by Your Actions

¹⁵ “Be careful of false prophets. They come to you and look gentle like sheep. But they are really dangerous like wolves. ¹⁶ You will know these people because of the things they do. Good things don’t come from bad people, just as grapes don’t come from thornbushes. And figs don’t come from thorny weeds. ¹⁷ In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit. And bad trees produce bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot produce bad fruit. And a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ You will know these false prophets by what they produce.

²¹ “Not everyone who says ‘You are my Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do the things that my Father in heaven wants. ²² On the last day many people will say to me, ‘You are our Lord! We spoke for you. And through you we forced out demons and did many miracles.’ ²³ Then I will tell them clearly, ‘Get away from me, you who do evil. I never knew you.’

Two Kinds of People

²⁴ “Everyone who hears these things I say and obeys them is like a wise man. The wise man built his house on rock. ²⁵ It rained hard and the water rose. The winds blew and hit that house. But the house did not fall, because the house was built on rock. ²⁶ But the person who hears the things I teach and does not obey them is like a foolish man. The foolish man built his house on sand. ²⁷ It rained hard, the water rose, and the winds blew and hit that house. And the house fell with a big crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus finished saying these things, the people were amazed at his teaching. ²⁹ Jesus did not teach like their teachers of the law. He taught like a person who had authority.

¹¹ Do all you can to live a peaceful life. Take care of your own business. Do your own work. We have already told you to do these things. ¹² If you do, then people who are not believers will respect you. And you will not have to depend on others for what you need.