Chapter 11
The Golden Rule
Verse 1: “As with everything; do unto others as you would have them do to you, for this is my commandment to you. | Matthew 7:12
2 ”
The Narrow Gate
3 “Enter in through the small and narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. | Matthew 7:13
4 For narrow is the gate and hard is the road that leads to eternal life, and there are very few who find it. | Matthew 7:14
5 The way is difficult. But if you find the way, you will find the rest.”
A Tree and Its Fruit
6 “Beware of false prophets, who dress in sheep’s clothing to get close to you but within are voracious wolves. | Matthew 7:15
7 By their fruits you will know them. Are grapes harvested from thorns or figs from thistles? | Matthew 7:16
8 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the bad tree produces bad fruit. | Matthew 7:17
9 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. | Matthew 7:18
10 Every tree that fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire. | Matthew 7:19
11 The good person from the light of their heart produces good works, and the evil person from the darkness of their heart produces evil works, for it is out of the treasure of the heart that the mouth speaks. | Luke 6:45
12 So then, by their fruit you will know them.” | Matthew 7:20
Concerning Self-Deception
13 “Not everyone who declares to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one that does the will of my Father in heaven. | Matthew 7:21
14 On their last day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesy, cast out demons, and believe all in your name?’ | Matthew 7:22
15 Then I will state clearly to them, ‘I never knew you; get away from me, you who live in sin.’” | Matthew 7:23
Hearers and Doers
16 “Therefore, everyone, who listens to these words of mine and does them is like a prudent man who built his house on rock. | Matthew 7:24
17 The rain fell, then the flood came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not fall for it's foundation is on rock. | Matthew 7:25
18 But whoever listens to these words of mine and does not do them is like a reckless man who built his house on sand. | Matthew 7:26
19 The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the stormy winds blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed; how great was its downfall! | Matthew 7:27
20 Therefore I say to you, be likewise to a city built on a high mountain and fortified so that it cannot fall.” | Gospel of Thomas 32
21 When Jesus finished speaking these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, | Matthew 7:28
22 because he taught them as though he had more authority and not as their scribes taught. | Matthew 7:29
A Sinful Woman Forgiven
23 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, and so he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. | Luke 7:36
24 Then when a woman of that city, who was an outcast because she was a notorious sinner, when she learned that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. | Luke 7:37
25 and placed herself behind Jesus at his feet, weeping. She begin to bathe his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair, repeatedly kissing his feet and anointed them with the perfumed oil. | Luke 7:38
26 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw it, he said to himself, “Were this man truly a prophet, he would have perceived the woman touching him for what she is: a sinner and an outcast.” | Luke 7:39
27 Salome, the wife of Simon the Pharisee, had been watching from the doorway. She came forward and said, “Who are you, man, that claims to be from the one, yet has come to sit upon my couch and eat from my table, yet allow yourself to be defiled by such a one?” | Gospel of Thomas 61
28 Jesus turned to face her. His eyes held neither rebuke nor defense, only a depth she had not seen before. He said, “I am he who exists from the undivided. I was given some of the things of my Father.” | Gospel of Thomas 61
29 Salome hesitated, then challenged him: “The Law teaches us to separate the clean from the unclean, the holy from the profane. How can others claim you to be from God and yet sit unmoved by her touch?”
30 Jesus answered her, “To carry a cup of water, one must walk carefully and fear the spill. Your husband carries a heavy cup. But I am the spring itself. The spring does not fear the earth that touches it; the spring changes the earth into life.”
31 Salome stood in silence, her eyes fixed upon him. The authority in his words and the peace in his presence moved something deep within her. She knelt before him and said, “Then I am your disciple, Lord.” | Gospel of Thomas 61
32 Feeling Simon's spirit stir, Jesus spoke up and said, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” Simon answered, “Say it me, Teacher.” | Luke 7:40
33 “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. | Luke 7:41
34 When they were unable to pay, he forgave the debts for both of them. Therefore which of them will love him more?” | Luke 7:42
35 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “According to your law, you would have judged rightly. But both would have been equally released from their burden and in turn passed it on” | Luke 7:43
36 Then looking directly at the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you really see this woman? When I came into your home; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them away with her hair. | Luke 7:44
37 You did not greet me with a kiss, but from the moment I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. | Luke 7:45
38 You provided no oil for my head, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. | Luke 7:46
39 Therefore, I tell you, her sins which were many are forgiven; because she has shown great love and humility. But the one to whom does not forgive does not love and does not do the work of my Father.” | Luke 7:47
40 And then he said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” | Luke 7:48
41 But the other guests at the table began to discuss between themselves, “Who is this that forgives sins?” | Luke 7:49
42 Still looking at the woman, he said, “Your faith has saved you; now go in peace.” | Luke 7:50