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Matthew 7:16 KJV
Matthew · chapter 7 · verse 16
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?Matthew 7:16 · King James Version
What Matthew 7:16 means
The test is output rather than claim, and the question that follows makes it obvious. Jesus is talking about false prophets here, not about judging people in general. Fruit takes time to appear, which is the patience built into the test.
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Matthew 7:16 in context
14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Commentary
Cross references
Key words (Strong's)
- fruitskarposfruit, the fruit of the trees, vines, of the fields, the fruit of one's loinsG2590 →
- fruitsmētiwhether, at all, perchanceG3385 →
- gathersyllegōto gather up, to collect in order to carry offG4816 →
- grapesstaphylēgrapes, bunch of grapesG4718 →
- thornsakanthathorn, bramble, bush, brier, a thorny plantG173 →
- knowepiginōskōto become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly, to know accurately, know well…G1921 →
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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;
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on verses 15-20