The Narrow and Wide Gates

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate.^(A) For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets.^(B) They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.^{(C) 16} By their fruit you will recognize them.^(D) Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?^{(E) 17} Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.^{(F) 19} Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^{(G) 20} Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’^(H) will enter the kingdom of heaven,^(I) but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.^{(J) 22} Many will say to me on that day,^(K) ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’^{(L) 23} Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’^(M)

¹⁷ From Miletus,^(A) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders^(B) of the church. ¹⁸ When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,^(C) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.^{(D) 19} I served the Lord with great humility and with tears^(E) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.^{(F) 20} You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything^(G) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I have declared to both Jews^(H) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance^(I) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.^(J)

²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,^(K) not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me^(L) that prison and hardships are facing me.^{(M) 24} However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;^(N) my only aim is to finish the race^(O) and complete the task^(P) the Lord Jesus has given me^(Q)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.^(R)

²⁵ “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom^(S) will ever see me again.^{(T) 26} Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.^{(U) 27} For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.^{(V) 28} Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(W) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(X) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a](Y) which he bought^(Z) with his own blood.^{[b](AA) 29} I know that after I leave, savage wolves^(AB) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.^{(AC) 30} Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples^(AD) after them. ³¹ So be on your guard! Remember that for three years^(AE) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.^(AF)