Matthew 7:13-27

13‘Go in through the narrow gate to get true life with God. There is a wide gate that is easy to go through. The wide path is easy to travel on. Many people find that wide gate, but it is the way to hell.

14It is difficult to go through the small gate. And it is difficult to walk on the narrow road. But when you do go that way, you will get true life. Not many people find that narrow gate.’

15‘Some people say that they are prophets from God. But their words are false. They seem to be like sheep that are not dangerous. But they are really like hungry wild dogs. What they teach will hurt you.

16You will know these people by the way that they live. The things that they do are like their fruit. Grapes do not grow on thorn bushes. Figs do not grow on weeds.

17Good fruit grows on a tree that is good. Bad fruit grows on a tree that is not good.

18A good tree cannot make bad fruit. A bad tree cannot make good fruit.

19A farmer will cut down any tree that does not make good fruit. He will burn it on a fire.

20In the same way, look at the way people live. Then you will know what they are really like.

21Some people say to me, “Master, Master!” But not all of them will come into the kingdom of heaven. Only the people who obey God, my Father in heaven, will come in. They do what he wants them to do.

22On the day when God judges people, many of them will say, “Master, Master! We used your authority and we spoke a message from you. We used your authority and we sent bad spirits out of people. We used your authority to do many powerful things.”

23But I will say to these people, “I never knew you. You do not obey God. You are bad. So go away from me.” ’

24Jesus then said, ‘Some people listen to my message and they obey it. Those people are like a wise man who built his house on rock.

25Then a storm came with a lot of rain and wind. The rivers rose up high. Strong winds blew hard against that house. But the house did not fall down because the man had built it on rock.

26Other people listen to my message but they do not obey it. Those people are like a fool who built his house on sand.

27Then a storm came with a lot of rain and wind. The rivers rose up high. Strong winds blew hard against the house. That house fell down. The storm destroyed it completely.’