Matthew 7 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021(NRSVUE)

Matthew 7Judging Others

1 that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.

14For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

15 Jer 23.16; Mt 24.11, 24; Mk 13.22; Acts 20.29; 2 Pet 2.1; 1 Jn 4.1; Rev 16.13; 19.20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16Mt 12.33; Mk 3.10; Jas 3.12You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles?

17In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

19Mt 3.10; Lk 3.9; Jn 15.2, 6Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

20Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Concerning Self-Deception

21 Hos 8.2; Mt 25.11, 12; Acts 19.13; Rom 2.13; Jas 1.22 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

22Mt 25.12; Lk 13.25–27On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

23Ps 6.8; Mt 25.12; Lk 13.25, 27Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you who behave lawlessly.’

Hearers and Doers

24 Lk 6.47–49; Jas 1.22–25 “Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock.

26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

27The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”

28 Mt 11.1; 13.53, 54; 19.1; 26.1; Mk 1.22; 6.2; Lk 4.32; Jn 7.46 Now when Jesus had finished saying these words, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,

29for he taught them as one having authority and not as their scribes.