Matthew 7:21–29

True and False Disciples

²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’^c will enter the kingdom of heaven,^d but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.^{e 22}Many will say to me on that day,^f ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’^{g 23}Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’^h

The Wise and Foolish Builders

7:24–27pp—Lk 6:47–49

²⁴“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practiceⁱ is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

²⁸When Jesus had finished saying these things,^j the crowds were amazed at his teaching,^{k 29}because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.