A Tree and Its Fruit

^15 (A)“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ^(B)ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them ^(C)by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, ^(D)every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ^19 (E)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them ^(F)by their fruits.

² But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, ^(A)there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

⁴ And Jesus answered them, ^(A)“See that no one leads you astray. ⁵ For ^(B)many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am ^(C)the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

¹¹ And many ^(A)false prophets will arise ^(B)and lead many astray.

Jesus and the Woman of Samaria

4 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and ^(A)baptizing more disciples than John ² (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), ³ he left Judea and departed ^(B)again for Galilee. ^4 (C)And he had to pass through Samaria. ⁵ So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field ^(D)that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. ⁶ Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, ^(E)wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.^[a]

²⁹ I ^(A)know that after my departure ^(B)fierce wolves will come in among you, ^(C)not sparing the flock;

¹¹ Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, ^(A)examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

¹³ For such men are ^(A)false apostles, ^(B)deceitful workmen, ^(C)disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as ^(D)an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as ^(E)servants of righteousness. ^(F)Their end will correspond to their deeds.

⁵ having the appearance of godliness, but ^(A)denying its power. ^(B)Avoid such people. ⁶ For among them are ^(C)those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, ⁷ always learning and never able to ^(D)arrive at a knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as ^(E)Jannes and Jambres ^(F)opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, ^(G)men corrupted in mind and ^(H)disqualified regarding the faith. ⁹ But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, ^(I)as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

^10 (J)You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, ¹¹ my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me ^(K)at Antioch, ^(L)at Iconium, and ^(M)at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet ^(N)from them all ^(O)the Lord rescued me. ¹² Indeed, all who desire to ^(P)live a godly life in Christ Jesus ^(Q)will be persecuted, ¹³ while ^(R)evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and ^(S)being deceived.