¹⁴ And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

^10 (A)that you may walk worthy of the Lord, ^(B)fully pleasing Him, ^(C)being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the ^(D)knowledge of God;

^8 (A)This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness ^(A)which are by Jesus Christ, ^(B)to the glory and praise of God.

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

⁶ He also spoke this parable: ^(A)“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. ⁷ Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it ^[a]use up the ground?’ ⁸ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ^9 [b]And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can ^(B)cut it down.’ ”

⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither ^[a]barren ^(A)nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek ^(A)the fruit that abounds to your account.

²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather ^(A)let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something ^(B)to give him who has need.

^16 (A)You did not choose Me, but I chose you and ^(B)appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father ^(C)in My name He may give you.

^8 (A)By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; ^(B)so you will be My disciples.