Holman Christian Standard Bible

Matthew 7:9-21 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

9. What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

10. Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

11. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

12. Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them — this is the Law and the Prophets.

13. “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.

14. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

15. “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.

16. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

17. In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.

18. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.

19. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.

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.