Matthew 7:16-29 ▼

16 You will know them by their fruit. Grapes aren't gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles, are they?

17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit.

18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit.

19 Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire.

20 So by their fruit you will know them.|

21 |Not everyone who keeps saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the kingdom from heaven, but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven.

22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didn't we?'

23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who practice evil!'|

24 |Therefore, everyone who listens to these messages of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock.

25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation was on the rock.

26 |Everyone who keeps on hearing these messages of mine and never puts them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

27 The rain fell, the floods came, the winds blew and battered that house, and it collapsed—and its collapse was total.|

28 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, the crowds were utterly amazed at his teaching,

29 because he was teaching them like a person who had authority, and not like their scribes.