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.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

¹² Therefore, just as ^(A)sin came into the world through one man, and ^(B)death through sin, and ^(C)so death spread to all men^[a] because ^(D)all sinned— ¹³ for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but ^(E)sin is not counted where there is no law. ¹⁴ Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not ^(F)like the transgression of Adam, ^(G)who was a type of ^(H)the one who was to come.

¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for ^(I)many. ¹⁶ And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For ^(J)the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought ^(K)justification. ¹⁷ For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness ^(L)reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ Therefore, as one trespass^[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness^[c] leads to justification and life for ^(M)all men. ¹⁹ For as by the one man's ^(N)disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's ^(O)obedience the many will be made righteous. ²⁰ Now ^(P)the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, ^(Q)grace abounded all the more, ²¹ so that, ^(R)as sin reigned in death, ^(S)grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹¹ Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so ^(A)that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. ¹² For ^(B)the word of God is living and ^(C)active, ^(D)sharper than any ^(E)two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and ^(F)discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And ^(G)no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are ^(H)naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴ Since then we have ^(I)a great high priest ^(J)who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, ^(K)let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest ^(L)who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been ^(M)tempted as we are, ^(N)yet without sin. ^16 (O)Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.