Matthew 7:15-23 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:19

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit ,.... Every preacher and teacher that does not bring the Gospel of Christ with him, and plainly and faithfully preach it to the people, sooner or later, is hewn down : however he may have appeared as a tall lofty cedar, and have carried it with a high hand against Christ and his Gospel, spoke "great swelling words of vanity", and behaved with much "loftiness" and "haughtiness"; yet the time comes on, when all this is bowed and made low, "and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:20

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. This is the conclusion of the whole, and a repetition of what is before said, the more to fix the rule of judgment upon their minds, and engage them to try men by their doctrines, and their doctrines by the standard of the Scriptures, and not believe every spirit; for with some care and diligence such persons may be detected, and the malignant influence of their ministry be prevented. The sum of the whole is, that ordinarily, and generally... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:21

Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord ,.... Not every one that calls Christ his Lord and Master, professes subjection to him, or that calls upon his name, or is called by his name; or makes use of it in his public ministrations. There are many who desire to be called, and accounted Christians, and who make mention of the name of Christ in their sermons, only to take away their reproach, to cover themselves, and gain credit with, and get into the affections and goodwill of the people;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:22

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord ,.... That is, in the last day, the day of judgment, the great and famous day, fixed by God, unknown to angels and men, which will be terrible to some, and joyful to others; the day in which the faithful ministers of the Gospel shall be owned by Christ, and received into the kingdom of heaven: "many", not of the common people only, but of the preachers of the word, who have filled up the highest station in the church below; not one, or two, or a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:23

Then will I profess unto them ,.... Publicly before men and angels, at the day of judgment, I never knew you ; which must be understood consistent with the omniscience of Christ; for as the omniscient God he knew their persons and their works, and that they were workers of iniquity; he knew what they had been doing all their days under the guise of religion; he knew the principles of all their actions, and the views they had in all they did; nothing is hid from him. But, as words of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets - By false prophets we are to understand teachers of erroneous doctrines, who come professing a commission from God, but whose aim is not to bring the heavenly treasure to the people, but rather to rob them of their earthly good. Teachers who preach for hire, having no motive to enter into the ministry but to get a living, as it is ominously called by some, however they may bear the garb and appearance of the innocent useful sheep, the true pastors commissioned by... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:16

Ye shall know them by their fruits - Fruits, in the Scripture and Jewish phraseology, are taken for works of any kind. "A man's works," says one, "are the tongue of his heart, and tell honestly whether he is inwardly corrupt or pure." By these works you may distinguish ( επιγνωσεσθε ) these ravenous wolves from true pastors. The judgment formed of a man by his general conduct is a safe one: if the judgment be not favorable to the person, that is his fault, as you have your opinion of him... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:17

So every good tree - As the thorn can only produce thorns, not grapes; and the thistle, not figs, but prickles; so an unregenerate heart will produce fruits of degeneracy. As we perfectly know that a good tree will not produce bad fruit, and the bad tree will not, cannot produce good fruit, so we know that the profession of godliness, while the life is ungodly, is imposture, hypocrisy, and deceit. A man cannot be a saint and a sinner at the same time. Let us remember, that as the good tree... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:18

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit - Love to God and man is the root of the good tree; and from this principle all its fruit is found. To teach, as some have done, that a state of salvation may be consistent with the greatest crimes, (such as murder and adultery in David), or that the righteous necessarily sin in all their best works, is really to make the good tree bring forth bad fruit, and to give the lie to the Author of eternal truth. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:19

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit - What a terrible sentence is this against Christless pastors, and Christless hearers! Every tree that produceth not good fruit, εκκοπτεται , is to be now cut down; the act of excision is now taking place: the curse of the Lord is even now on the head and the heart of every false teacher, and impenitent hearer. read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:19

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