^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. ^7:14But 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.²⁰^7:16You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered²¹ from thorns or figs from thistles, are they?²²^7:17In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad²³ tree bears bad fruit. ^7:18A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. ^7:19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ^7:20So 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. ^7:22On 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?’ ^7:23Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’²⁶

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Footnotes

20 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 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 The statement illustrates the principle: That which cannot produce fruit does not produce fruit.
23 Grk “rotten.” The word σαπρός, modifying “tree” in both v. 17 and 18, can also mean “diseased” (L&N 65.28).
24 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 Grk “and in your name do.” This phrase was not repeated here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
26 Grk “workers of lawlessness.”