Luke 6:44-45

6:44 for each tree is known ¹  by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered ²  from thorns, nor are grapes picked ³  from brambles. ⁴  6:45 The good person out of the good treasury of his ⁵  heart ⁶  produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury ⁷  produces evil, for his mouth speaks ⁸  from what fills ⁹  his heart.

[6:44]  ¹ sn The principle of the passage is that one produces what one is.

[6:44]  ² 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]  ³ tn This is a different verb (τρυγῶσιν, trugwsin) for gathering from the previous one (συλλέγουσιν, sullegousin).

[6:44]  ⁴ tn This is a different term (βάτος, batos) for a thorn or bramble bush than the previous one (ἄκανθα, akanqa).

[6:45]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn The word “treasury” is not repeated in the Greek text at this point, but is implied.

[6:45]  ⁸ 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]  ⁹ tn Grk “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”