Book of Common Prayer

5 So I am talking to the leaders among you. I am also a leader. I saw the sufferings of Christ. And I will have some part of his greatness when he comes again.

² Take good care of God's people. They have been given to you to care for. Do this, not because you must do it, but because you want to please God. Do it not for the money that you get for doing it, but because you are glad to do it.

³ Do not be like a boss over the people you care for, telling them how to live. But show them how to live by the way you live.

⁴ Christ the big Shepherd who takes care of all people is coming. When he comes, he will give you a crown to show that you are great. You will have it for ever.

⁵ Also, you who are younger men, obey your leaders. I say to all of you, do not be proud. Do not think you are better than the others. The holy writings say, `God fights against proud people, but he helps those who are not proud.'

⁶ You are under God's power. Do not be proud, so that at the right time he may put you into a higher place.

⁷ Turn all your troubles over to him, because he cares for you and is watching over you.

⁸ Keep awake! Watch! Your enemy the devil is walking around like a growling lion. He is looking for someone to catch.

⁹ Fight against the devil. Be strong because you believe. Remember that your brothers all over the world suffer the same kind of trouble as you.

¹⁰ God gives all blessings. He has called you through Christ to be great with him for ever. When you have suffered for a short time, he will make you all right. He will make you strong and steady.

¹¹ He has power for ever. Yes, he has!

¹⁵ `Take care. There are prophets who are not true. They come to you dressed like sheep, but inside they are like wolves, bad animals that kill sheep.

¹⁶ You will know them by the things they do. People do not pick fruit like grapes from thistles. They do not pick fruit like figs from thorn trees.

¹⁷ In the same way, every good tree has good fruit. But a bad tree has bad fruit.

¹⁸ A good tree cannot have bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot have good fruit.

¹⁹ Every tree that does not have good fruit is cut down and thrown into a fire.

²⁰ So you will know them by the things they do, good or bad fruit.'

²¹ `Some people say to me, "Lord, Lord". But not all who say that will go into the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do what my Father in heaven wants, will go in.

²² Many people will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not speak in your name? Did we not drive bad spirits out of people in your name? Did we not do big works in your name?"

²³ Then I will say to them, "I never knew you. Go away from me! What you do is very wrong!" '

²⁴ `Everyone who hears what I say and obeys me will be like a man who has good sense. He built his house on a rock.

²⁵ It rained hard. The water in the rivers came up high. The winds were strong and beat on the house. But it did not fall down. It was built on a rock.

²⁶ But everyone who hears what I say and does not obey me, will be like a man who has no sense. He built his house on the sand.

²⁷ It rained hard. The water in the rivers came up high. The winds were strong and beat on the house. It fell down with a loud noise!'

²⁸ Jesus finished saying all these things. The people were surprised at his teaching.

²⁹ He taught them as if he had the right to teach them. He did not teach like their scribes.