Luke 6:43-45

6:43 “For ¹  no good tree bears bad ²  fruit, nor again ³  does a bad tree bear good fruit, 6:44 for each tree is known ⁴  by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered ⁵  from thorns, nor are grapes picked ⁶  from brambles. ⁷  6:45 The good person out of the good treasury of his ⁸  heart ⁹  produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury ¹⁰  produces evil, for his mouth speaks ¹¹  from what fills ¹²  his heart.

[6:43]  ¹ tn The explanatory connective γάρ (gar) is often dropped from translations, but the point of the passage is that one should be self-corrective and be careful who one follows (vv. 41-42), because such choices also reflect what the nature of the tree is and its product.

[6:43]  ² tn Grk “rotten.” The word σαπρός, modifying both “fruit” and “tree,” can also mean “diseased” (L&N 65.28).

[6:43]  ³ tc Most mss, especially later ones (A C D Θ Ψ 33 Ï lat sy sa), lack the adverb πάλιν (palin, “again”) here. Its presence is attested, however, by several good witnesses (Ì⁷⁵ א B L W Ξ Ë^1,13 579 892 1241 2542).

[6:44]  ⁴ sn The principle of the passage is that one produces what one is.

[6:44]  ⁵ 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.

[6:44]  ⁶ tn This is a different verb (τρυγῶσιν, trugwsin) for gathering from the previous one (συλλέγουσιν, sullegousin).

[6:44]  ⁷ tn This is a different term (βάτος, batos) for a thorn or bramble bush than the previous one (ἄκανθα, akanqa).

[6:45]  ⁸ tn Grk “the”; the Greek article has been translated here and in the following clause (“out of the evil”) as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).

[6:45]  ⁹ sn Mention of the heart shows that Jesus is not interested in what is done, but why. Motives are more important than actions for him.

[6:45]  ¹⁰ tn The word “treasury” is not repeated in the Greek text at this point, but is implied.

[6:45]  ¹¹ sn What one utters from one’s mouth is especially singled out as the example of this principle. James seems to have known this teaching (Jas 1:26; 3:1-12).

[6:45]  ¹² tn Grk “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”