Matthew 7:11-29

Modern English Version

¹¹ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! ¹² Therefore, everything you would like men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

The Narrow Gate^(A)

¹³ “Enter at the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who are going through it, ¹⁴ because small is the gate and narrow is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit^(B)

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruit. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit. But a corrupt tree bears evil fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a corrupt tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore, by their fruit you will know them.

I Never Knew You^(C)

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonderful works in Your name?’ ²³ But then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice evil.’^[a]

The Two Housebuilders^(D)

²⁴ “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock. ²⁵ And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And it did not fall, for it was founded a rock. ²⁶ And every one who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them will be likened to a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And it fell. And its fall was great.”

²⁸ When Jesus finished these sayings, the people were astonished at His teaching, ²⁹ for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.