Matthew 7:16-18

7:16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered ¹  from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? ²  7:17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad ³  tree bears bad fruit. 7:18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit.

Matthew 12:33-34

Trees and Their Fruit

12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad ⁴  and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit. 12:34 Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart.

Matthew 15:19

15:19 For out of the heart come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

¹ tn Grk “They do not gather.” This has been simplified to the passive voice in the translation since the subject “they” is not specified further in the context.

² sn The statement illustrates the principle: That which cannot produce fruit does not produce fruit.

³ tn Grk “rotten.” The word σαπρός, modifying “tree” in both v. 17 and 18, can also mean “diseased” (L&N 65.28).

⁴ tn Grk “rotten.” The word σαπρός, modifying both “tree” and “fruit,” can also mean “diseased” (L&N 65.28).