¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.^(A)

¹⁶ You’ll recognize them by their fruit.^(A) Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?^{(B) 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.^{(C) 20} So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.^(D)

⁸ My Father is glorified^(A) by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be^[a] my disciples.

²⁰ For no one will be justified^[a] in his sight by the works of the law,^(A) because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.^(B)

² If Abraham was justified^[a] by works,^(A) he has something to boast about—but not before God.

⁴ Now to the one who works,^(A) pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed.

David Celebrating the Same Truth

⁶ Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

¹⁶ and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law^(A) but by faith in Jesus Christ,^[a] even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ^[b] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will^[c] be justified.

⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith^(A) working through love.^(B)