Matthew 7:13-23

New American Standard Bible

The Narrow and Wide Gates

¹³“^(A)Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. ¹⁴For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵“Beware of the ^(B)false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ^(C)ravenous wolves. ¹⁶You will ^[a]^(D)know them by their fruits. ^[b]Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? ¹⁷So ^(E)every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹^(F)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰So then, you will ^[c]know them ^(G)by their fruits.

²¹“^(H)Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. ²²^(I)Many will say to Me on ^(J)that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many ^[d]miracles?’ ²³And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; ^(K)leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’