The forgotten teachings of Christ

[WheresEnoch]

I was going to spend more time on this post, but I can't open your eyes for you so study for yourself.
When did we forget the teachings of Christ? When did we become so blind that we can read again and again that which He plainly says yet not comprehend it in the least? When did salvation become a free gift with nothing required of us? Have we lost our minds? Does God not hate sin as much now as He did in the past? For anyone who thinks you can be born again and still sin, I am begging you to repent! Has all our eyes gone dark? Have we lost all our saltiness?! Curse the watered down garbage "Gospel" which has confused us for so long! Everybody needs to seriously re-examine everything they believe about Christ and the Christian life cause most of you are so far off it's not even funny. Re-read the teachings of Christ carefully, understand exactly what He is saying. Read about the cost of discipleship, read about remaining in the vine or being torn off and burnt, read about being persecuted for righteousness sake, read the words of John the Baptist... Forget the teachings of Paul completely until you fully understand Christ!! Only then will you lost souls be able to correctly understand what Paul is saying. Stop your sinning or perish! That is the message, not optional what so ever. Those who continue in sin are of the devil. The Holy Spirit is only given to those who obey Christ! John 14 and Acts 5:32. Jesus is not your homeboy, you do not receive His perfect righteousness if you continue in sin, Saints are not the same as sinners. Practicing sinners are not allowed in the church. A sinners prayer does not save you. Try to understand the people Jesus is talking to, they are not gentiles fully engulfed in sin, they are Jews who already live a very devout life to God, they already understood the importance of not sinning! They had the death penalty for blaspheming and sin!! You know who Jesus talked to that most resembled the modern church? Pharisees and Saducees! "Oh, but we have Jesus for our saviour" Do you not realize that the Father could raise up from stones, people who have Christ as their saviour!

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell,[h] to the unquenchable fire.45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown intohell,48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’49 For everyone will be salted with fire.[j]50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

John the Baptist
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”


10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.


“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[c] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[d] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[e] of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.[f]
Lust

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.


“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[h] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[i] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

[psychomom]

repent and believe the Gospel.

 

[WheresEnoch]

Luke 13
Repent or Perish
13 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”




And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’

The Cost of Discipleship
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

 

[WheresEnoch]

Temptations to Sin
17 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin[a] are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

 

[p_rehbein]

uh..............awww, nevermind........at this point all that can be said, has been said........again and again.......

No, wait..............gonna anyway, 'cuz folks JUST do not understand Salvation, Sanctification.............

Ephesians 2:1 .) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 .) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 .) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 .) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 .) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
6 .) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 .) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 .) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 .) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 .) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

[psychomom]

uh..............awww, nevermind........at this point all that can be said, has been said........again and again.......

No, wait..............gonna anyway, 'cuz folks JUST do not understand Salvation, Sanctification.............

Ephesians 2:1 .) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 .) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 .) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 .) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 .) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
6 .) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 .) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 .) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 .) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 .) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

now that's the Gospel.

 

[WheresEnoch]

Love what is good, hate what is evil. Be conformed to Christ. Practice righteousness. All of us are to be Priests unto a Holy God even at this very moment. Take your thoughts captive into obedience to Christ. Do not be a hypocrite.


"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," (John 3:3)

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

John 14
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.


“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.



Hebrews 10
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.


But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.



1 John 3
Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

 

[WheresEnoch]

uh..............awww, nevermind........at this point all that can be said, has been said........again and again.......

No, wait..............gonna anyway, 'cuz folks JUST do not understand Salvation, Sanctification.............

Ephesians 2:1 .) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 .) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 .) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 .) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 .) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
6 .) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 .) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 .) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 .) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 .) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

It is not a work of man, but of God who transforms. But without true repentance and obedience, it will not happen. Your will is still required. Those who do not grow in Christ are dead. So many have become deceived into being content with death. Having a form of godliness yet denying its true power. If you want to relax the commandments of God and teach others to do the same, it is on your head.

 

[tribesman]

uh..............awww, nevermind........at this point all that can be said, has been said........again and again.......

No, wait..............gonna anyway, 'cuz folks JUST do not understand Salvation, Sanctification.............

Ephesians 2:1 .) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 .) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 .) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 .) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 .) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
6 .) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 .) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 .) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 .) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 .) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Your presence and posts here at cc represents a well needed balance.

 

[WheresEnoch]

Your presence and posts here at cc represents a well needed balance.

Ya because we really need to balance out those extreme teachings of Christ

 

[tribesman]

Ya because we really need to balance out those extreme teachings of Christ

Not anything that is of Christ. Just those hotheads who makes trouble.

 

[WheresEnoch]

I am not trying to cause trouble, I am trying to wake people up from their slumber.
We have created and preached a false Jesus.
If you are practicing sin and your desires are to gratify the flesh, you are not a new creation.

 

[p_rehbein]

I am not trying to cause trouble, I am trying to wake people up from their slumber.
We have created and preached a false Jesus.
If you are practicing sin and your desires are to gratify the flesh, you are not a new creation.

So, if we CHERRY PICK the teachings of Christ to fit our ideology that's ok? Or do we adhere to the Gospel of Christ in it's entirety? Not for nothing, but I'm going to obey the entire Gospel of Christ, not just cherry picked portions that support mans ideologies...............thanks anyway.

 

[breno785au]

I am not trying to cause trouble, I am trying to wake people up from their slumber.
We have created and preached a false Jesus.
If you are practicing sin and your desires are to gratify the flesh, you are not a new creation.

Or they haven't renewed their minds in that area of their life yet? Perhaps if we spent more time walking by people through their issues, lifting them up instead of throwing scriptures at them and judging them then leaving them to rot, we would certain be in a better position.

 

[WheresEnoch]

So, if we CHERRY PICK the teachings of Christ to fit our ideology that's ok? Or do we adhere to the Gospel of Christ in it's entirety? Not for nothing, but I'm going to obey the entire Gospel of Christ, not just cherry picked portions that support mans ideologies...............thanks anyway.

Who is cherry picking lol. I am posting all of them.
Maybe we should just get the whole world to say a sinners prayer and send them on their jolly way

 

[p_rehbein]

didna post the ones I did............

just saying...........the ENTIRE Gospel of Christ is relevant............not just portions.......

Maybe it is your approach? Dunno............condemnation of believers usually doesn't work........Christian love and fellowship and proper instruction is a far better way to present the Gospel of Christ.

but.......now.........that may just be me.

 

[tribesman]

I am not trying to cause trouble, I am trying to wake people up from their slumber.
We have created and preached a false Jesus.
If you are practicing sin and your desires are to gratify the flesh, you are not a new creation.

What you are bringing up is not wrong per se, but the premise (it's all a matter of willpower) and the approach of your presentation of it doesn't get it right. Maybe with age you see it more clear.

 

[p_rehbein]

It is not a work of man, but of God who transforms. But without true repentance and obedience, it will not happen. Your will is still required. Those who do not grow in Christ are dead. So many have become deceived into being content with death. Having a form of godliness yet denying its true power. If you want to relax the commandments of God and teach others to do the same, it is on your head.


This comment clearly shows that you do not understand Salvation..............Sanctification...........just saying........

Making such statements as the last one.........simply reveals you ONLY accept YOUR interpretation of Scripture as Truth. You cause far more damage to your own credibility than anything else.

 

[michael56]

Forget the teachings of Paul completely until you fully understand Christ!! Only then will you lost souls be able to correctly understand what Paul is saying.

I thought Christ commissioned Paul to spread the message of the Gospel concerning him. How can we understand the true Gospel message without reading Paul's letters?

 

[WheresEnoch]

Giving to the Needy
6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The Lord's Prayer
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.[d]
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting
16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Do Not Be Anxious
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.


7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Ask, and It Will Be Given
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of 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 serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

The Golden Rule
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is 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 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Build Your House on the Rock
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”