¹¹ And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, ^(A)shake off the dust that is on your feet ^(B)as a testimony against them.”

⁹ Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, ^(A)does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching ^(B)has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, ^(C)do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, ¹¹ for whoever greets him ^(D)takes part in his wicked works.

The Temple of the Living God

^14 (A)Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For ^(B)what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or ^(C)what fellowship has light with darkness? ^15 (D)What accord has Christ with Belial?^[a] Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ^(E)we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

Final Instructions and Greetings

¹⁷ I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles ^(A)contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; ^(B)avoid them. ¹⁸ For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but ^(C)their own appetites,^[a] and ^(D)by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

⁹ He must ^(A)hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in ^(B)sound^[a] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

¹⁰ As for a person who stirs up division, ^(A)after warning him once and then twice, ^(B)have nothing more to do with him, ¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

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.

I Never Knew You

^21 (G)“Not everyone who ^(H)says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will ^(I)enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who ^(J)does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ^22 (K)On that day ^(L)many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not ^(M)prophesy in your name, and cast out demons ^(N)in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ^23 (O)And then will I declare to them, ‘I ^(P)never knew you; ^(Q)depart from me, ^(R)you workers of lawlessness.’

¹⁴ “Therefore ^(A)do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, ^(B)for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble. ^15 (C)What right has my beloved in my house, ^(D)when she has done many vile deeds? Can even sacrificial flesh avert your doom? ^(E)Can you then exult?

³² Though they know ^(A)God's righteous decree that those who practice such things ^(B)deserve to die, they not only do them but ^(C)give approval to those who practice them.