Bible NIV, The Words of Jesus Christ

Matthew

Chapter 7

{1} "Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
{2} For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
{3} "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
{4} How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
{5} You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
{6} "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
{7} "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.



{8} For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
{9} "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
{10} Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
{11} If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
{12} So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
{13} "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.



{14} But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
{15} "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
{16} By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
{17} Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
{18} A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
{19} Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
{20} Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
{21} "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.



{22} Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
{23} Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
{24} "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
{25} The 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.
{26} But 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.
{27} The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."