Matthew 7:7-22

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking

⁷ “Keep asking,^[a](A) and it will be given to you.^(B) Keep searching,^[b] and you will find. Keep knocking,^[c] and the door^[d] will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds,^(C) and to the one who knocks, the door^[e] will be opened. ⁹ What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil,^(D) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! ¹² Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.^[f](E)

Entering the Kingdom

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate.^(F) For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction,^(G) and there are many who go through it. ¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets^(H) who come to you in sheep’s^(I) clothing^(J) but inwardly are ravaging wolves.^{(K) 16} You’ll recognize them by their fruit.^(L) Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?^{(M) 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.^{(N) 20} So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.^(O)

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,^(P) but only the one who does the will^(Q) of My Father in heaven.^{(R) 22} On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons^(S) in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’^(T)