Matthew 7:16 - Exposition

Parallel passage: Luke 6:44 . (For the first clause, cf also Luke 6:20 and Matthew 12:33 .) Ye shall know them by their fruits . Their appearance and their claims are no proof of their true character. It may seem difficult to recognize this, yet there is a sure way of doing so, by their life. The emphasis of the sentence is on "by their fruits." Ye shall know. Y e shall come to know them to the full ( ἐπιγνώσεσθε ). (On the greater strength of the compound, vide Ellicott, 1 Corinthians 13:12 .) Fruits. All considered separately (cf. Luke 6:17 , Luke 6:18 , Luke 6:20 ), but in Luke 6:19 as one whole (cf. Matthew 3:8 , note). It is, however, just possible that here and in Luke 6:20 the plural points to fruit growing on different trees. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? The visible outgrowth reveals the nature of that which is within. Those who "profess to combine fellowship with God with the choice of darkness as their sphere of life "(Bishop Westcott, on the suggestive parallel 1 John 1:6 ) only show that within they are destitute of fellowship with God. Observe, Christ does not say, "Do thorns produce grapes," etc.? (cf. James 3:12 ), but "Do men gather?" i.e. he desires to bring out the way in which men ordinarily deal with productions external to themselves. You, my followers, ought to use that common sense in spiritual matters which men show in matters of everyday life. Thistles ; apparently Centaurea calcitrapa , the common thistle of Palestine; in the plains the only fuel.