⁸ Bear fruits ^(A)in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ^(B)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from ^(C)these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

⁹ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. ^(A)Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

A Tree and Its Fruit

⁴³ “For ^(A)no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, ⁴⁴ for ^(B)each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. ^45 (C)The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces ^(D)evil, ^(E)for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Build Your House on the Rock

^46 (F)“Why ^(G)do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? ^47 (H)Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: ⁴⁸ he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.^{[a] 49 (I)}But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and ^(J)the ruin of that house was great.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

⁶ And he told this parable: “A man had ^(A)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. ^(B)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.’”

A Woman with a Disabling Spirit

¹⁰ Now ^(C)he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.