¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them.^(A) Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?^{(B) 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.^{(C) 19} Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^{(D) 20} Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Life by the Spirit

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.^(A) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a];^(B) rather, serve one another^(C) humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[b](D) 15} If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit,^(E) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.^{(F) 17} For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.^(G) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[c] you want.^{(H) 18} But if you are led by the Spirit,^(I) you are not under the law.^(J)

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,^(K) impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.^(L) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(M)

²² But the fruit^(N) of the Spirit is love,^(O) joy, peace,^(P) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.^(Q) Against such things there is no law.^{(R) 24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^(S) with its passions and desires.^{(T) 25} Since we live by the Spirit,^(U) let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited,^(V) provoking and envying each other.

¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma^(A) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.^(B)