Matthew 7:13–29

The Narrow Gate

7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 7:14 But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

7:15 “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves.20 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered21 from thorns or figs from thistles, are they?22 7:17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad23 tree bears bad fruit. 7:18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 7:20 So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.

Judgment of Pretenders

7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’24 will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 7:22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do25 many powerful deeds?’ 7:23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’26

Hearing and Doing

7:24 “Everyone27 who hears these words of mine and does them is like28 a wise man29 who built his house on rock. 7:25 The rain fell, the flood30 came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock. 7:26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 7:27 The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed; it was utterly destroyed!”31

7:28 When32 Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching, 7:29 because he taught them like one who had authority,33 not like their experts in the law.34

20	sn Sheep’s clothing … voracious wolves. Jesus uses a metaphor here to point out that these false prophets appear to be one thing, but in reality they are something quite different and dangerous.
21	tn Grk “They do not gather.” This has been simplified to the passive voice in the translation since the subject “they” is not specified further in the context.
22	sn The statement illustrates the principle: That which cannot produce fruit does not produce fruit.
23	tn Grk “rotten.” The word σαπρός, modifying “tree” in both v. 17 and 18, can also mean “diseased” (L&N 65.28).
24	sn The double use of the vocative is normally used in situations of high emotion or emphasis. Even an emphatic confession without action means little.
25	tn Grk “and in your name do.” This phrase was not repeated here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
26	tn Grk “workers of lawlessness.”
27	tn Grk “Therefore everyone.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated.
28	tn Grk “will be like.” The same phrase occurs in v. 26.
29	tn Here and in v. 26 the Greek text reads ἀνήρ (anēr), while the parallel account in Luke 6:47–49 uses ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) in vv. 48 and 49.
30	tn Grk “the rivers.”
31	tn Grk “and great was its fall.”
32	tn Grk “And it happened when.” The introductory phrase καὶ ἐγένετο (kai egeneto, “it happened that”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
33	sn Jesus’ teaching impressed the hearers with the directness of its claim; he taught with authority. A study of Jewish rabbinic interpretation shows that it was typical to cite a list of authorities to make one’s point. Apparently Jesus addressed the issues in terms of his own understanding.
34	tn Or “their scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.