Matthew 7:16
You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus isn't just asking a rhetorical question about impossible harvests; he's telling us to use common sense in discerning truth. We should expect a teacher's overall conduct and life – their "fruit" – to naturally reflect the goodness they claim, just as we wouldn't expect grapes from a thornbush. True character is revealed by its consistent outcomes, not by outward appearances or eloquent words alone.
Jesus has just warned his followers about the deceptive nature of false prophets, urging them to be discerning. Now, he provides a practical way to identify these deceivers: by their actions and the lasting impact of their lives and teachings, not just their outward appearance or claims. Just as you can't harvest grapes from a thorny bush, you won't find genuine spiritual goodness produced by those who present themselves as righteous but whose lives are filled with harmful fruit.
How can we really know someone's true character? Jesus points to something more reliable than outward appearances.
Jesus uses the word for 'full knowledge' here. It's not just a casual glance, but a deep, comprehensive understanding. This full knowledge comes from observing a person's 'fruits.'
What are 'Fruits'?
Can a thorny bush ever produce sweet grapes? Jesus uses a vivid illustration to show us a fundamental truth about spiritual realities.
The rhetorical questions Jesus asks – 'Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?' – highlight the natural impossibility of the scenario. This illustrates a core principle:
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Nature Dictates Production
Understand the original words
epiginōskō · Greek Verb
To identify, distinguish, or perceive the nature of something or someone. In this context, it refers to the spiritual discernment required to identify true believers from false prophets.
karpos · Greek Noun
The external actions, character, or results produced by a person's life. In a theological sense, it refers to the evidence of the Holy Spirit's transforming work within a believer.
akantha · Greek Noun
A prickly or thorny plant; metaphorically used in Scripture to represent something worthless, unproductive, or indicative of the curse of the Fall.
tribolos · Greek Noun
A plant species noted for its prickly nature, often symbolic of unproductive labor or the consequences of living apart from God's blessing.
This passage directly echoes the same principle, stating 'Either declare the tree good and its fruit good, or declare it bad and its fruit bad.' It reinforces that a tree's nature is intrinsically linked to the kind of fruit it produces, just as a person's true character is revealed by their actions.
Luke 6:44This parallel account in Luke uses a similar analogy, pointing out that people don't gather figs from thistles. It emphasizes that the outward appearance can be deceptive, but the true nature will inevitably manifest through its 'fruit' or results.
Galatians 5:22-23These verses beautifully contrast the 'fruit of the Spirit' (love, joy, peace, etc.) with the 'works of the flesh' (sexual immorality, hatred, jealousy, etc.). This provides a positive picture of what 'good fruit' looks like in a believer's life.
James 3:12James uses a similar agricultural metaphor to show the inconsistency of something producing both fresh and salt water. This highlights that genuine faith, like good fruit, should be consistent and reflect the purity of its source.
vincentMatthew 7:16: "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"
Ye shall know (ἐπιγνώσεσθε)The compound verb indicates full knowledge. Character is satisfactorily tested by its fruits.
clarkeMatthew 7:16: "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"
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…
Jesus isn't just asking a rhetorical question about impossible harvests; he's telling us to use common sense in discerning truth. We should expect a teacher's overall conduct and life – their "fruit" – to naturally reflect the goodness they claim, just as we wouldn't expect grapes from a thornbush. True character is revealed by its consistent outcomes, not by outward appearances or eloquent words alone.
Jesus has just warned his followers about the deceptive nature of false prophets, urging them to be discerning. Now, he provides a practical way to identify these deceivers: by their actions and the lasting impact of their lives and teachings, not just their outward appearance or claims. Just as you can't harvest grapes from a thorny bush, you won't find genuine spiritual goodness produced by those who present themselves as righteous but whose lives are filled with harmful fruit.
Jesus has just warned his followers about the deceptive nature of false prophets, urging them to be discerning. Now, he provides a practical way to identify these deceivers: by their actions and the lasting impact of their lives and teachings, not just their outward appearance or claims. Just as you can't harvest grapes from a thorny bush, you won't find genuine spiritual goodness produced by those who present themselves as righteous but whose lives are filled with harmful fruit.
"You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" — Jesus isn't just asking a rhetorical question about impossible harvests; he's telling us to use common sense in discerning truth. We should expect a teacher's overall conduct and life – their "fruit"…
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