Matthew 7:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 7:15-20

We have here a caution against false prophets, to take heed that we be not deceived and imposed upon by them. Prophets are properly such as foretel things to come; there are some mentioned in the Old Testament, who pretended to that without warrant, and the event disproved their pretensions, as Zedekiah, 1 Kgs. 22:11; and another Zedekiah, Jer. 29:21. But prophets did also teach the people their duty, so that false prophets here are false teachers. Christ being a Prophet and a Teacher come... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 7:15-20

7:15-20 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but who within are rapacious wolves. You will recognize them from their fruits. Surely men do not gather grapes from thorns, and figs from thistles? So every good tree produces fine fruit; but every rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. Every tree which does not produce fine fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then you will recognize... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 7:15-20

The Jews, the Greeks and the Romans all used the idea that a tree is to be judged by its fruits. "Like root, like fruit," ran the proverb. Epictetus was later to say, "How can a vine grow not like a vine but like an olive, or, how can an olive grow not like an olive but like a vine" (Epictetus, Discourses 2: 20). Seneca declared that good cannot grow from evil any more than a fig tree can from an olive. But there is more in this than meets the eye. "Are grapes gathered from thorns?" asked... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 7:15-20

This passage has much to say about the evil fruits of the false prophets. What are the false effects, the evil fruits, which a false prophet may produce? (i) Teaching is false if it produces a religion which consists solely or mainly in the observance of externals. That is what was wrong with the Scribes and Pharisees. To them religion consisted in the observance of the ceremonial law. If a man went through the correct procedure of handwashing, if on the Sabbath he never carried anything... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:17

As is the tree, so is its fruit; if the tree is good, it will bring forth good fruit. The tree that brings forth good fruit, is good antecedent to the fruit it produces; it is first good, and then puts forth good fruit: it is not the fruit that makes the tree good, but makes it appear to be so; but it is the goodness of the tree that makes the fruit good. As a good man does, and will do good works, but his works do not make him a good man; he is so before he performs good works, or he would... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:1-20

Various practical rules issuing out of the central duty of self-consecration. I. CONDUCT TOWARDS OTHERS . 1 . Gentleness in our estimate of the lives of others. The hypocrites trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others; they made an ostentatious display of their own supposed good deeds, and passed stern judgments on their neighbours. The righteousness of Christ's disciples must exceed that of the Pharisees in both respects. Indeed, Christ's words must not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:13-20

Two ways. The course of human action is in Scripture called a way. Of these there are two—the right and wrong, the good and the evil. There is no intermediate way. Here we have— I. THE WAY OF DEATH . 1 . It is broad. 2 . Its gate is wide. 3 . Its company is large. 4 . Its end is destruction. II. THE WAY OF LIFE . 1 . It is strait. 2 . Its gate is narrow. 3 . The company is select. 4 . Its end is life. III. WHICH... read more

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

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