But here is what happens when people listen to my words and do not obey them. They are like a man who builds a house on soft ground instead of solid rock. The moment the river rushes against that house, it falls down. It is completely destroyed.”

惟有听见不去行的，就像一个人在土地上盖房子，没有根基；水一冲，随即倒塌了，并且那房子坏的很大。”

但听了不去做的，就像一个人在土地上盖房子，没有根基，水一冲，立刻倒塌了，并且那房子损坏得很厉害。”

但听了不去做的，就像一个人在土地上盖房子，没有根基，水一冲，立刻倒塌了，并且那房子损坏得很厉害。”

但听了我的话却不遵行的人，好比一个人没有打根基，便将房子盖在地面上，洪水一冲，房子立刻倒塌，完全毁坏了。”

但那听见而不遵行的，就像人在地上建屋，没有根基，急流一冲，就立刻倒塌，毁坏得很厉害。”

然而，那听见而不实行的人，就好比一个人把房子建在地面上，没有根基。急流一冲，立刻倒塌了，并且那房子毁坏得非常厉害。”

惟有聽見不去行的，就像一個人在土地上蓋房子，沒有根基；水一沖，隨即倒塌了，並且那房子壞的很大。」

但聽了不去做的，就像一個人在土地上蓋房子，沒有根基，水一沖，立刻倒塌了，並且那房子損壞得很厲害。」

但聽了不去做的，就像一個人在土地上蓋房子，沒有根基，水一沖，立刻倒塌了，並且那房子損壞得很厲害。」

但聽了我的話卻不遵行的人，好比一個人沒有打根基，便將房子蓋在地面上，洪水一沖，房子立刻倒塌，完全毀壞了。」

但那聽見而不遵行的，就像人在地上建屋，沒有根基，急流一沖，就立刻倒塌，毀壞得很厲害。”

但那聽而不實行的、就像一個人建造房子在平常地上，沒有根基；河流一衝着它，它立刻倒塌；那房子的崩壞就大了。』

然而，那聽見而不實行的人，就好比一個人把房子建在地面上，沒有根基。急流一沖，立刻倒塌了，並且那房子毀壞得非常厲害。」

惟聞而不行者、似人建屋土上、而無基、河流衝之則傾、其屋之頹壞大矣、

惟聞而不行者、譬諸無基、而建屋土上、橫流衝之、遂以傾圮、而屋之頹壞者大也、

惟聞而不行者、譬人未置基而建屋於土上、橫流衝之即傾頹、而屋之頹壞者大矣、

聞而不行、則猶建屋於沙礫之上、全無根基、一經橫流冲擊、即頹然傾圮、而不堪收拾矣。』

But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

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 the ruin of that house was great.”

But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great.”

But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; and the river burst against it and it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that built a house upon the earth without a foundation; against which the stream brake, and straightway it fell in; and the ruin of that house was great.

But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!”

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

But the person who hears and does not put my words into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against that house, it collapsed immediately, and was utterly destroyed!”

But he who hears, and doesn’t do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Anyone who lives without blame is kept safe. But anyone whose path is crooked will fall into the pit.

“ A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. People walked on it, and the birds ate it up.Some seed fell on rocky ground. When it grew, the plants dried up because they had no water.Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up with it and crowded out the plants.

That’s the reason I sent someone to find out about your faith. I couldn’t wait any longer. I was afraid that Satan had tempted you in some way. Then our work among you would have been useless.

These enemies left our community of believers. They didn’t really belong to us. If they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But by leaving they showed that none of them belonged to us.

But they have no roots. So they last only a short time. They quickly fall away from the faith when trouble or suffering comes because of the message.

So you should try very hard to add goodness to your faith. To goodness, add knowledge.To knowledge, add the ability to control yourselves. To the ability to control yourselves, add the strength to keep going. To the strength to keep going, add godliness.To godliness, add kindness for one another. And to kindness for one another, add love.All these things should describe you more and more. They will make you useful and fruitful as you know our Lord Jesus Christ better.But what if these things don’t describe someone at all? Then that person can’t see very well. In fact, they are blind. They have forgotten that their past sins have been washed away.

“ What happens when an evil spirit comes out of a person? It goes through dry areas looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find it.Then it says,‘ I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives there, it finds the house empty. The house has been swept clean and put in order.Then the evil spirit goes and takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and live there. That person is worse off than before. That is how it will be with the evil people of today.”

“‘ I will not,’ the son answered. But later he changed his mind and went.“ Then the father went to the other son. He said the same thing. The son answered,‘ I will, sir.’ But he did not go.

And what about my enemies who did not want me to be king over them? Bring them here! Kill them in front of me!’ ”

What if we keep sinning on purpose? What if we do it even after we know the truth? Then there is no offering for our sins.All we can do is to wait in fear for God to judge. His blazing fire will burn up his enemies.Suppose someone did not obey the law of Moses. And suppose two or three witnesses made charges against them. That person would die without mercy.People who deserve even more punishment include those who have hated the Son of God. They include people who have said no to him. They include people who have treated as unholy the blood of the covenant that makes them holy. They also include people who have disrespected the Holy Spirit who brings God’s grace. Don’t you think people like this should be punished more than anyone else?

“ But those he ruled over hated him. They sent some messengers after him. They were sent to say,‘ We don’t want this man to be our king.’

The seed that fell on rocky places is like other people. They hear the message and at once receive it with joy.But they have no roots. So they last only a short time. They quickly fall away from the faith when trouble or suffering comes because of the message.The seed that fell among the thorns is like others who hear the message. But then the worries of this life and the false promises of wealth crowd it out. They keep the message from producing fruit.

“ What happens when an evil spirit comes out of a person? It goes through dry areas looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find it. Then it says,‘ I will return to the house I left.’When it arrives there, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.Then the evil spirit goes and takes seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and live there. That person is worse off than before.”

“ So you must be careful to do everything they say. But don’t do what they do. They don’t practice what they preach.

My people come to you, just as they usually do. They sit in front of you. They hear what you say. But they do not put it into practice. With their mouths they say they love me. But in their hearts they want what belongs to others. They try to get rich by cheating them.

It is the same with faith. If it doesn’t cause us to do something, it’s dead.But someone will say,“ You have faith. I do good deeds.” Show me your faith that doesn’t cause you to do good deeds. And I will show you my faith by the goods deeds I do.You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that. And they tremble!You foolish person! Do you want proof that faith without good deeds is useless?Our father Abraham offered his son Isaac on the altar. Wasn’t he considered to be right with God because of what he did?So you see that what he believed and what he did were working together. What he did made his faith complete.That is what Scripture means where it says,“ Abraham believed God. God accepted Abraham because he believed. So his faith made him right with God.”( Genesis 15:6) And that’s not all. God called Abraham his friend.So you see that a person is considered right with God by what they do. It doesn’t happen only because they believe.Didn’t God consider even Rahab the prostitute to be right with him? That’s because of what she did for the spies. She gave them a place to stay. Then she sent them off in a different direction.A person’s body without their spirit is dead. In the same way, faith without good deeds is dead.

They may have escaped the sin of the world. They may have come to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But what if they are once again caught up in sin? And what if it has become their master? Then they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town.“ How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. They would have sat down in ashes.On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you.And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted up to the heavens? No! You will go down to the place of the dead.“ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever does not accept you does not accept me. But whoever does not accept me does not accept the one who sent me.”

“ Suppose a servant knows the master’s wishes. But the servant doesn’t get ready and doesn’t do what the master wants. Then that servant will receive a heavy beating.

Don’t just listen to the word. You fool yourselves if you do that. You must do what it says.Suppose someone listens to the word but doesn’t do what it says. Then they are like a person who looks at their face in a mirror.After looking at themselves, they leave. And right away they forget what they look like.But suppose someone takes a good look at the perfect law that gives freedom. And they keep looking at it. Suppose they don’t forget what they’ve heard, but they do what the law says. Then this person will be blessed in what they do.Suppose people think their beliefs and how they live are both right. But they don’t control what they say. Then they are fooling themselves. Their beliefs and way of life are not worth anything at all.

I often went from one synagogue to another to have them punished. I tried to force them to speak evil things against Jesus. All I wanted to do was hurt them. I even went looking for them in the cities of other lands.

I know that after I leave, wild wolves will come in among you. They won’t spare any of the sheep.

“ We won’t listen to the message you have spoken to us in the Lord’ s name!We will certainly do everything we said we would. We’ll burn incense to the female god called the Queen of Heaven. We’ll pour out drink offerings to her. We’ll do just as we and our people of long ago have done. Our kings and our officials also did it. All of us did it in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food. We were well off. We didn’t suffer any harm.

He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit.

“ Why do you call me,‘ Lord, Lord,’ and still don’t do what I say?

At that time, many will turn away from their faith. They will hate each other. They will hand each other over to their enemies.

“ I will not punish your daughters when they become prostitutes. I will not judge your daughters- in- law when they commit adultery. After all, the men themselves have sex with sinful women. They offer sacrifices where temple prostitutes earn their living. People who can’t understand will be destroyed!