# Matthew 7.15-20

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-06-01 | updated: 2026-06-01 -->

**Book:** [Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 13. <span class="rl-speech">Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby.</span> 14. <span class="rl-speech">For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.</span>
>
> **15. <span class="rl-speech">Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?</span> 17. <span class="rl-speech">Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.</span>**
>
> 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? (Matthew 7:13-22, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 13. <span class="rl-speech">“Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.</span> 14. <span class="rl-speech">How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.</span>
>
> **15. <span class="rl-speech">“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?</span> 17. <span class="rl-speech">Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">Therefore by their fruits you will know them.</span>**
>
> 21. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ (Matthew 7:13-22, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 13. <span class="rl-speech">Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: <sup>strait: or, narrow</sup></span> 14. <span class="rl-speech">Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. <sup>Because: or, How</sup></span>
>
> **15. <span class="rl-speech">Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?</span> 17. <span class="rl-speech">Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.</span>**
>
> 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:13-22, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 13. <span class="rl-speech">'Go ye in through the strait gate, because wide [is] the gate, and broad the way that is leading to the destruction, and many are those going in through it;</span> 14. <span class="rl-speech">how strait [is] the gate, and compressed the way that is leading to the life, and few are those finding it!</span>
>
> **15. <span class="rl-speech">'But, take heed of the false prophets, who come unto you in sheep'</span>s clothing, and inwardly are ravening wolves. 16. From their fruits ye shall know them; do [men] gather from thorns grapes? or from thistles figs? 17. so every good tree doth yield good fruits, but the bad tree doth yield evil fruits. 18. A good tree is not able to yield evil fruits, nor a bad tree to yield good fruits. 19. Every tree not yielding good fruit is cut down and is cast to fire: 20. therefore from their fruits ye shall know them.**
>
> 21. 'Not every one who is saying to me Lord, lord, shall come into the reign of the heavens; but he who is doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, lord, have we not in thy name prophesied? and in thy name cast out demons? and in thy name done many mighty things? (Matthew 7:13-22, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap._

- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Argument from Transformed Lives](/codex/argument-from-transformed-lives/), via [Matthew 7.16](/codex/matthew-7-16/)
- [Atheism Promotes Hatred Lies and Self-Idolatry](/codex/atheism-promotes-hatred-lies-and-self-idolatry/), via [Matthew 7.16](/codex/matthew-7-16/), [Matthew 7.20](/codex/matthew-7-20/)
- [Christians Cannot Judge Objection Defeater](/codex/christians-cannot-judge-objection-defeater/)
- [Did Jesus Send Muhammad Dilemma Argument](/codex/did-jesus-send-muhammad-dilemma-argument/), via [Matthew 7.15](/codex/matthew-7-15/)
- [Inherited Guilt and Visiting Iniquity Objection Defeater](/codex/inherited-guilt-and-visiting-iniquity-objection-defeater/), via [Matthew 7.16](/codex/matthew-7-16/)
- [No True Scotsman Charge Defeater](/codex/no-true-scotsman-charge-defeater/), via [Matthew 7.15-23](/codex/matthew-7-15-23/), [Matthew 7.16](/codex/matthew-7-16/)
- [Paul Invented Christianity Objection Defeater](/codex/paul-invented-christianity-objection-defeater/), via [Matthew 7.15](/codex/matthew-7-15/)
- [Satanic Fabrication Objection Defeater](/codex/satanic-fabrication-objection-defeater/), via [Matthew 7.16](/codex/matthew-7-16/)

**Concepts:**

- [Apostle](/codex/apostle/), via [Matthew 7.16](/codex/matthew-7-16/)
- [Atheism](/codex/atheism/), via [Matthew 7.16](/codex/matthew-7-16/)
- [Christian Discernment](/codex/christian-discernment/)
- [Confirmation Bias](/codex/confirmation-bias/), via [Matthew 7.16](/codex/matthew-7-16/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 7](/codex/matthew-7/)
- [Sermon on the Mount](/codex/sermon-on-the-mount/), via [Matthew 7](/codex/matthew-7/), [Matthew 7.15-23](/codex/matthew-7-15-23/)
- [Spirit of Deception](/codex/spirit-of-deception/), via [Matthew 7.15](/codex/matthew-7-15/)
- [Survivorship Bias](/codex/survivorship-bias/), via [Matthew 7.16](/codex/matthew-7-16/)

**Passages:**

- [Matthew 7.1](/codex/matthew-7-1/)

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_Scripture quotations taken from the **New American Standard Bible®** (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by **The Lockman Foundation**. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [www.lockman.org](https://www.lockman.org)_

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.