By
their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Matthew 7:16-20
Matthew 7 [13.] “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. How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.
Matthew 7 [15.] “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 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. 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?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’
Matthew 7 [24.] “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
Meaning:
Jesus has just warned, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). If false teachers look like sheep, how can they be recognized? Jesus answers with a simple picture from farming: a tree is known by its fruit. Words and appearances can deceive, but over time the fruit of a life reveals what is inside.
- “By their fruits you will know them”
This sentence opens and closes the passage, showing that it is the main point. In Scripture “fruit” refers to the outcome of a person’s life: character, conduct, and the effect of their teaching on others. God had long warned Israel about prophets who “speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh” (Jeremiah 23:16). The apostle John later wrote, “don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
- “Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?”
Grapes and figs were among the most important fruits of Israel. Some thorn bushes had small black berries that looked a little like grapes, and some thistle heads could resemble figs from a distance. But no one could harvest real fruit from them. In the same way, false teachers may look convincing at first, yet they cannot produce the genuine fruit of godliness.
- “A good tree can’t produce evil fruit”
Jesus teaches that conduct flows from what a person truly is. Luke records the same teaching: “For each tree is known by its own fruit” (Luke 6:44). In Matthew 12 Jesus applies it to speech: “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33). Real change must begin in the heart. Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit” (John 15:5).
- “Cut down, and thrown into the fire”
These words echo John the Baptist: “Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire” (Matthew 3:10). Fruitlessness is serious. The warning prepares for the next verses, where some who say “Lord, Lord” are turned away because they did not do the Father’s will (Matthew 7:21-23).
The Significance of Matthew 7:16-20
- Discernment, not suspicion
These verses call believers to evaluate teachers by their lives and the fruit of their teaching, not merely by eloquence, popularity or impressive works. Is there humility, love, truthfulness and faithfulness to God’s Word? Does the teaching lead people toward Christ and holiness?
- Examining our own fruit
The same test applies to us. Paul describes the fruit the Spirit produces: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Such fruit is not produced by effort alone but by remaining in Christ.
Cross-References:
Luke 6:44: "For each tree is known by its own fruit." Luke’s parallel.
1 John 4:1: "test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." Testing teachers.
Galatians 5:22: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness," Good fruit described.
Conclusion: In Matthew 7:16-20 Jesus teaches that false prophets, like trees, are known by their fruit. Thorns cannot yield grapes, and a corrupt tree cannot bear good fruit. Over time a person’s character and the effect of their teaching reveal what is inside. The passage calls us to discern wisely and to examine our own lives, bearing the fruit that comes from remaining in Christ.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible