Matthew 7 good news bible

Here is Matthew 7 in the Good News Bible (GNB):

Matthew 7

The Narrow Gate

1 Jesus finished giving these instructions to his twelve apostles. Then he went away from that place to teach and to preach in other towns.

2 Some time later, when Jesus was teaching the people and preaching the Good News, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law came to him. They asked him, "Why do your followers do what is wrong, and why do they eat without washing their hands?"

3 Jesus answered, "You Pharisees and teachers of the Law are so careful to follow the rules of your tradition, but you neglect the most important teachings of God's Law. You are like people who clean the outside of a cup, but inside it is still dirty.

4 You are like people who give a tenth of their income to God, but you are not fair in your business dealings. You are like people who are very careful to see that others do not take anything from you, but you are not careful to see that you do not take anything from others.

5 You are like people who build big houses, and you want everyone to see how big they are. You are like people who wear fancy clothes and like to be seen in public. You are like people who love to be praised by others.

6 But God says, 'Beware of people who want to make themselves important. They will be punished.'

7 "Beware of people who are like these Pharisees and teachers of the Law. They like to be in charge and to be important. They like to be praised by others.

8 You are to be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

The Golden Rule

9 "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or you will be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

10 Give, and you will receive. You will get back what you give—good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. They will pour it into your lap. For the measure you use for others is the measure that will be used for you."

The Narrow Gate

11 "Go in through the narrow gate. The gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who travel it. But the gate is narrow and the road is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

12 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you dressed like sheep, but inside they are hungry wolves. You can tell them by their fruit, that is, by the kind of lives they lead. Grapes grow on a grapevine, and figs grow on a fig tree. You can't pick grapes from a grapevine and expect them to be figs, or figs from a fig tree and expect them to be grapes.

13 "A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

14 "So then, people will know that you are my followers if you love each other."

The Two Builders

15 "When the storm comes, the strong wind blows, and the rains pour down, the river will burst its banks, and the house will collapse. But if you build your house on solid ground, it will stand firm against the storms and will not collapse.

Conclusion

16 "So then, listen to my words. I am not speaking to you as your enemies, but as your friends. I am warning you, because I love you. If you love me, you will obey what I command.

17 "Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, I will ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to help you."