Matthew 7:16 BSB — MannaFest

Matthew 7:16

By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

KJV

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

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Commentary

5 voices

Jerome

Catena Aurea by Aquinas (420)

What is here spoken of false prophets we may apply to all whose dress and speech promise one thing, and their actions exhibit another. But it is specially to be understood of heretics, who by observing temperance, chastity, and fasting, surround themselves as it were with a garment of sanctity, but inasmuch as their hearts within them are poisoned, they deceive the souls of the more simple brethren.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

Tertullian

The Prescription Against Heretics (220)

Persons are still living who remember them,-their own actual disciples and successors,-who cannot therefore deny the lateness of their date. But, in fact, by their own works they are convicted, even as the Lord said. For since Marcion separated the New Testament from the Old, he is (necessarily) subsequent to that which he separated, inasmuch as it was only in his power to separate what was (previously) united.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

Ye shall know them by their fruits,.... By "fruits" are meant, not so much their external works in life and conversation; for a false prophet may so behave, as not to be discovered thereby. So the Pharisees were outwardly righteous before men; and false teachers among Christians may have the form of godliness, and keep it up, though they are strangers to, and even deny the power of it: but their doctrines are here meant, and the effects of them.

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

For a bad man preaching the good doctrine here delivered, is sometimes an instrument of converting sinners to God. Yet I do not aver, that all are true prophets who speak the truth, and thereby convert sinners. I only affirm, that none are such who do not.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

J.C. Ryle

1816–1900

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew (1856)

In this part of the Sermon on the Mount our Lord begins to draw his discourse to a conclusion. The lessons he here forces on our notice are broad, general and full of the deepest wisdom. Let us mark them in succession. He lays down a general principle for our guidance in all doubtful questions between man and man. “We are to do to others as we would have others do to us.”We are not to deal with others as others deal with us: this is mere selfishness and heathenism.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Ye shall know them by their fruits--not their doctrines--as many of the elder interpreters and some later ones explain it--for that corresponds to the tree itself; but the practical effect of their teaching, which is the proper fruit of the tree.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

15 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ἀπὸ	apo	By	G575 →
τῶν	tōn	the	G3588 →
καρπῶν	karpōn	fruits	G2590 →
αὐτῶν	autōn	of them	G846 →
ἐπιγνώσεσθε	epignōsesthe	you will know	G1921 →
αὐτούς.	autous	them.	G846 →
μήτι	mēti	surely not ever	G3385 →
συλλέγουσιν	sullegousin	do they gather	G4816 →
ἀπὸ	apo	from	G575 →
ἀκανθῶν	akanthōn	thorns	G173 →
σταφυλάς,	staphulas	grapes,	G4718 →
ἢ	ē	or	G2228 →
ἀπὸ	apo	from	G575 →
τριβόλων	tribolōn	thistles	G5146 →
σῦκα;	suka	figs?	G4810 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Matthew 12:33
Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
leads to
- Luke 6:43–44
  No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Matthew 7:16–20
  By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- James 4:8
  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Matthew 3:8–10
  Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
- John 15:4–7
  Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
Through
James 3:12
My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
leads to
- Matthew 12:33
  Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
- Jeremiah 2:21
  I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?
- Romans 11:16–18
  If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

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About Matthew

John the Baptist Baptizes Jesus — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Matthew: the study guide →Read chapter 7 →The featured study →

Continue: Matthew 7 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Matthew

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Matthew