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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:13-27

(4) Epilogue (cf. Matthew 5:3 , note). Dare to take up this position, which has been laid down in Mt 5:21-7:12, involving though it must separation from the majority of men ( Matthew 7:13 , Matthew 7:14 ); and this notwithstanding the claim of others to reveal the Lord's mind, whose true nature, however, you shall perceive from their actions ( Matthew 7:15-20 ); they that work iniquity have neither present nor future union with me ( Matthew 7:21-23 ). Finally a solemn warning ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:15-20

The tree and its fruit. It is not enough for Christ to spread his own wholesome teaching; he must warn against the dangerous influence of bad teachers. Later in his ministry he had occasion to speak of the pretended shepherds, who were really thieves, or at best hirelings ( John 10:10 , John 10:12 ). Here his reference to the tree and its fruit is meant to be applied to the teacher and his work. It shows that he expects people to be watchful over those who assume to be their instructors.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:15-20

The branded false prophets. This passage brings us to the last but one of the great typical admonitions of this primaeval discourse in Christian ethics. Typical they must surely be regarded. Nor, as we scan them with ever so jealous eye, do we find it at all easy to make comparisons as to any imagined relative temporariness of application belonging to them, or the reverse. But if, on the contrary, we suffered ourselves for a moment to be the victims of mere plausible impression, and to court... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:15-23

Matthew only in this form, though most of the separate verses have much matter common to other passages; viz.: verses 16, 18, parallel with Luke 6:43 , Luke 6:44 , cf. also infra , Matthew 12:33 ; Matthew 12:19 , cf. Matthew 3:10 ; verse 21, cf. Luke 6:46 ; Luke 6:22 , cf. Luke 13:26 ; Luke 13:23 , parallel with Luke 13:27 . (For the connexion of these verses, cf. Luke 13:13 , note.) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:15-29

Sermon on the mount: 8. Wise and foolish builders. The righteousness required in God ' s kingdom is the subject of our Lord's teaching in this sermon. After contrasting this with various spurious forms of righteousness, he shows the ruin that results from false pretensions. This he does by means of three figures: 1 . The mere pretender is like a wolf in sheep's clothing; you cannot turn a wolf into a sheep by merely putting on it from the outside a fleece. 2 . Or he is like a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:18

Parallel passage: Luke 6:43 (cf. also infra , Matthew 12:33 ). A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. This correspondence of external product to internal character is necessary. It cannot (emphatic) be otherwise. It' the heart is good, good results follow; therefore, he implies, if good results are not seen in these "false prophets," it is because of their real character. A bad life cannot but spring from a worthless heart. Of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:19

Matthew only (cf. Matthew 3:10 , vide infra ) . Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire . A parenthesis expressing the terrible fate of those the general product (verse 16, note) of whose life is not good. Christ will warn his followers plainly against listening to them. Observe that the form of the sentence ( πᾶν δένδρον μὴ ποιοῦν καρπόν , κ .τ.λ. ) implies that all trees will be cut down unless there is a reason for the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 7:17-20

Matthew 7:17-20. Even so As grapes are not reaped from thorns, or figs from thistles, but the fruit will always be agreeable in its nature and kind to the tree that produces it; so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit Scriptural doctrine, declared by holy men called of God to the work of the ministry, will certainly be more or less instrumental in turning men from the evil of their ways; and every minister of Christ, or even private Christian, who is renewed in the spirit of his... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:13-29

45. The two ways (Matthew 7:13-29; Luke 6:43-49)There are two ways of life. One is the easy way of pleasing self, which most choose and which leads to destruction. The other is the narrow way of denying self for Jesus’ sake, which leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).One reason why many do not follow the narrow way is that they are deceived by those who teach their own views on how people can find meaning in life. Their teaching at first sounds reasonable, but in the end it proves to be destructive.... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 7:16-20

Matthew 7:16-20. Ye shall know them by their fruits— That is, by the evil tendency of their doctrines, as well as by the immorality of their lives. Compare 1 John 4:1. 1 Corinthians 13:3. What follows seems to be a kind of proverb, and there occur in heathen authors many similar sayings. Several commentators are of opinion, that the fruits here referred to are rather the nature and tendency of the doctrine, than the actions of the false teacher's lives; but I rather think that our Lord here... read more

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