Matthew 7:7-23

English Standard Version

Ask, and It Will Be Given

⁷^(A)“Ask, ^(B)and it will be given to you; ^(C)seek, and you will find; ^(D)knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ⁹Or which one of you, if his son asks him for ^(E)bread, will give him ^(F)a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? ¹¹If you then, ^(G)who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will ^(H)your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

The Golden Rule

¹²“So ^(I)whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is ^(J)the Law and the Prophets.

¹³^(K)“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy^[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴For the gate is narrow and ^(L)the way is hard that leads to life, and ^(M)those who find it are few.

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵^(N)“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ^(O)ravenous wolves. ¹⁶You will recognize them ^(P)by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷So, ^(Q)every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹^(R)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus you will recognize them ^(S)by their fruits.

I Never Knew You

²¹^(T)“Not everyone who ^(U)says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will ^(V)enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who ^(W)does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²^(X)On that day ^(Y)many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not ^(Z)prophesy in your name, and cast out demons ^(AA)in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³^(AB)And then will I declare to them, ‘I ^(AC)never knew you; ^(AD)depart from me, ^(AE)you workers of lawlessness.’