The Fourth Parable of the Summer Trees

1 He showed me many trees again, some of them sprouting, and others withered, and he said to me, “Do you see these trees?” “I see them, Sir,” I said; “some of them sprouting, and others withered.” 2 “These trees,” he said, “that are sprouting are the righteous, who will live in the world to come; for the world to come is summer for the righteous, but winter for sinners. So when the mercy of the Lord appears, then those who serve God will be revealed, yes, and all people will be revealed.⁠a 3 For just as in summer the fruit of each tree is revealed and recognized for what kind it is, so also the fruit of the righteous will be revealed, and everyone, even the smallest, will be known to be flourishing in that world. 4 But the pagans and the sinners, just as you saw the trees that were withered, will likewise be found withered and fruitless in that world, and will be burned as firewood, and will be seen for what they are, because their conduct in their life was evil. For the sinners will be burned, because they sinned and did not repent; and the pagans will be burned, because they did not know the One who created them. 5 So bear fruit, so that in that summer your fruit may be recognized. But avoid too much business, and you will never fall into any sin. For those who busy themselves excessively also sin excessively, being distracted by their work, and not serving their own Lord at all. 6 Then how,” he said, “can such a person ask anything from the Lord and receive it, if they do not serve the Lord? For those who serve Him will receive their requests, but those who do not serve the Lord will receive nothing. 7 But if anyone is occupied with only one business, they can also serve the Lord; for their mind will not be corrupted and drawn away from the Lord, but they will serve Him, because they keep their mind pure. 8 So if you do these things, you will be able to bear fruit for the world to come; yes, and whoever does these things will bear fruit.”