Matthew 7:21–29

Concerning Self-Deception

²¹“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.^{* 22}On 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?’^{* 23}Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you who behave lawlessly.’^*

Hearers and Doers

²⁴“Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.^{* 25}The 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!”

²⁸Now when Jesus had finished saying these words, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,^{* 29}for he taught them as one having authority and not as their scribes.