Matthew 7:13-27

13“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

14But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

15“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.

16You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

17A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.

18A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.

19So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.

20Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

21“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

22On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’

23But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

24“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

25Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.

26But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.

27When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”