Matthew 7:13-27
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
13 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.
14 But the gate is narrow (contracted [a]by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.(A)
15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.(B)
16 You will [b]fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [[c]worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit.
18 A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear [d]excellent fruit [worthy of admiration].
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
20 Therefore, you will [e]fully know them by their fruits.
21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?
23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].(C)
24 So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a [f]sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.
25 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand.
27 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great and complete was the fall of it.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 7:14 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon.
- Matthew 7:16 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- Matthew 7:17 Hermann Cremer, Biblico-Theological Lexicon.
- Matthew 7:18 Hermann Cremer, Biblico-Theological Lexicon.
- Matthew 7:20 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- Matthew 7:24 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon.
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