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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/7.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/7.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/7.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/7.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/7.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br /><i>A</i> good tree is not able to bear bad fruits, nor a bad tree to bear good fruits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/7.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither <i>can</i> a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/7.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor <i>can</i> a bad tree bear good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/7.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A good tree can&#8217t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/7.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/7.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/7.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/7.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a poor tree cannot bear good fruit. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/7.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/7.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a poisonous tree good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/7.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />A good tree is not able to yield evil fruits, nor a bad tree to yield good fruits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br /><i>A</i> good tree is not able to bear bad fruits, nor a bad tree to bear good fruits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> A good tree is not able to yield evil fruits, nor a bad tree to yield good fruits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />A good tree cannot make evil fruits, nor a rotten tree make good fruits.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, and an evil tree is not able to produce good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/7.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruits, neither can a bad tree bear good fruits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/7.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />A good tree is not able to produce bad fruit, neither a bad tree to produce good fruit.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/7.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />A good tree can not produce diseased fruit; nor can an unsound tree produce goodly fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/7.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>A good tree is not able to produce evil fruits, neither is a corrupt tree able to produce beautiful fruits.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/7.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />A good tree cannot produce bad fruits, neither can a tree bad in kind produce good fruits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/7.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />a good tree cannot produce bad fruit: neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a poisonous tree good fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/7.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>A good tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a worthless tree bear good fruit.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/7.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>a good tree cannot produce evil fruit, nor can a corrupt tree bear good fruit:<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/7-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=1661" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/7.htm">A Tree and its Fruit</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">17</span>Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/18.htm" title="18: agathon (Adj-NNS) -- A primary word; good.">A good</a> <a href="/greek/1186.htm" title="1186: dendron (N-NNS) -- A tree. Probably from drus; a tree.">tree</a> <a href="/greek/1410.htm" title="1410: dynatai (V-PIM/P-3S) -- (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.">cannot</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ou (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: poiein (V-PNA) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.">bear</a> <a href="/greek/4190.htm" title="4190: ponērous (Adj-AMP) -- Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful. ">bad</a> <a href="/greek/2590.htm" title="2590: karpous (N-AMP) -- Probably from the base of harpazo; fruit, literally or figuratively.">fruit,</a> <a href="/greek/4550.htm" title="4550: sapron (Adj-NNS) -- Rotten, useless, corrupt, depraved. From sepo; rotten, i.e. Worthless.">and a bad</a> <a href="/greek/1186.htm" title="1186: dendron (N-NNS) -- A tree. Probably from drus; a tree.">tree</a> <a href="/greek/3761.htm" title="3761: oude (Conj) -- Neither, nor, not even, and not. From ou and de; not however, i.e. Neither, nor, not even.">cannot</a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: poiein (V-PNA) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.">bear</a> <a href="/greek/2570.htm" title="2570: kalous (Adj-AMP) -- Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.">good</a> <a href="/greek/2590.htm" title="2590: karpous (N-AMP) -- Probably from the base of harpazo; fruit, literally or figuratively.">fruit.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">19</span>Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-43.htm">Luke 6:43-44</a></span><br />No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. / For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/3-12.htm">James 3:12</a></span><br />My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/12-33.htm">Matthew 12:33</a></span><br />Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-4.htm">John 15:4-5</a></span><br />Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. / I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-22.htm">Galatians 5:22-23</a></span><br />But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, / gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/7-4.htm">Romans 7:4-5</a></span><br />Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. / For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/6-7.htm">Hebrews 6:7-8</a></span><br />For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. / But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-1.htm">John 15:1-2</a></span><br />“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/13-6.htm">Luke 13:6-9</a></span><br />Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. / So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ / ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-1.htm">Isaiah 5:1-7</a></span><br />I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! / “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/17-10.htm">Jeremiah 17:10</a></span><br />I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/15-1.htm">Ezekiel 15:1-8</a></span><br />Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest? / Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/1-3.htm">Psalm 1:3</a></span><br />He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/11-30.htm">Proverbs 11:30</a></span><br />The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/9-10.htm">Hosea 9:10</a></span><br />I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.</p><p class="hdg">cannot.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/galatians/5-17.htm">Galatians 5:17</a></b></br> For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_john/3-9.htm">1 John 3:9,10</a></b></br> Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/7-11.htm">Able</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Bad</a> <a href="/matthew/4-6.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Corrupt</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Fruit</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Fruits</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Good</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Poisonous</a> <a href="/micah/6-11.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/matthew/3-10.htm">Produce</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Sound</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Tree</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Worthless</a> <a href="/matthew/7-17.htm">Yield</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/8-2.htm">Able</a> <a href="/matthew/12-33.htm">Bad</a> <a href="/matthew/7-19.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/matthew/12-33.htm">Corrupt</a> <a href="/matthew/7-22.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/matthew/7-19.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/matthew/7-19.htm">Fruit</a> <a href="/matthew/7-20.htm">Fruits</a> <a href="/matthew/7-19.htm">Good</a> <a href="/matthew/12-33.htm">Poisonous</a> <a href="/matthew/19-26.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/matthew/21-34.htm">Produce</a> <a href="/matthew/12-13.htm">Sound</a> <a href="/matthew/7-19.htm">Tree</a> <a href="/matthew/13-48.htm">Worthless</a> <a href="/matthew/7-19.htm">Yield</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 7</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/7-1.htm">Do Not Judge</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/7-7.htm">Ask, Seek, Knock</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/7-13.htm">Enter through the Narrow Gate</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/7-15.htm">A Tree and Its Fruit</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/7-24.htm">The Wise and the Foolish Builders</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/7-28.htm">Jesus ends his sermon, and the people are astonished.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/7.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/7.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>A good tree cannot bear bad fruit</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the inherent nature of a good tree, symbolizing a person or entity that is righteous or aligned with God's will. In biblical context, trees often represent people or nations (<a href="/psalms/1-3.htm">Psalm 1:3</a>, <a href="/jeremiah/17-8.htm">Jeremiah 17:8</a>). The imagery of a tree bearing fruit is used throughout Scripture to illustrate the outcomes of one's life and actions (<a href="/galatians/5-22.htm">Galatians 5:22-23</a>). The idea is that a person who is truly transformed by the Holy Spirit will naturally produce good works and virtues. This aligns with the teachings of Jesus on the importance of inner transformation rather than mere outward compliance (<a href="/matthew/23-25.htm">Matthew 23:25-28</a>).<p><b>and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit</b><br>This part of the verse highlights the impossibility of a corrupt or sinful nature producing genuine righteousness. In the cultural context of Jesus' time, fruit trees were a common agricultural element, and their health was crucial for sustenance. A bad tree, one that is diseased or unhealthy, cannot produce fruit that is beneficial or desirable. This serves as a metaphor for false prophets or hypocrites who may appear righteous but whose actions reveal their true nature (<a href="/matthew/7-15.htm">Matthew 7:15-16</a>). Theologically, this underscores the necessity of a heart change through repentance and faith in Christ, as only through Him can one produce true spiritual fruit (<a href="/john/15-4.htm">John 15:4-5</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The speaker of this verse, delivering the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching moment in His ministry.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/d/disciples_and_followers.htm">Disciples and Followers</a></b><br>The primary audience of the Sermon on the Mount, representing those who seek to live according to Jesus' teachings.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_of_beatitudes.htm">Mount of Beatitudes</a></b><br>The traditional location where the Sermon on the Mount was delivered, symbolizing a place of divine teaching and revelation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/n/nature_of_true_righteousness.htm">Nature of True Righteousness</a></b><br>True righteousness is evidenced by the fruit one bears. A life transformed by Christ will naturally produce good fruit.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/self-examination.htm">Self-Examination</a></b><br>Believers are encouraged to examine their lives to see what kind of fruit they are producing. This reflection helps in identifying areas that need spiritual growth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/dependence_on_christ.htm">Dependence on Christ</a></b><br>Just as a tree cannot change its nature, we cannot produce good fruit without abiding in Christ. Our relationship with Him is essential for spiritual fruitfulness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/discernment_in_leadership.htm">Discernment in Leadership</a></b><br>This teaching also serves as a guide for discerning true and false teachers. Leaders should be evaluated by the fruit of their lives and teachings.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consistency_in_christian_living.htm">Consistency in Christian Living</a></b><br>The consistency of a tree's fruit serves as a metaphor for the consistency expected in a believer's life. Our actions should align with our professed faith.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_7.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 7</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_infidelity_breaking_marriage_vows.htm">What fruit does your life produce?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'bearing_fruit'_mean.htm">What does 'bearing fruit' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_should_christians_assess_teachings.htm">How should Christians evaluate their leaders' teachings?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_the_fruit_of_the_holy_spirit.htm">What are the Fruit of the Holy Spirit?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - Parallel passage: <a href="/luke/6-43.htm">Luke 6:43</a> (cf. also <span class="accented">infra</span>, <a href="/matthew/12-33.htm">Matthew 12:33</a>). <span class="cmt_word">A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.</span> This correspondence of external product to internal character is necessary. It cannot (emphatic) be otherwise. It' the heart is good, good results follow; therefore, he implies, if good results are not seen in these "false prophets," it is because of their real character. A bad life cannot but spring from a worthless heart. Of course, our Lord deals only with the general rule. There are apparent anomalies in the world of spirit as of nature. <span class="accented">Bring forth</span>... <span class="accented">bring forth</span>; <span class="greek">ἐνεγκεῖν</span> (Westcott and Herr)... <span class="greek">ποιεῖν</span>. A good tree cannot have bad fruit hanging on it; a rotten or worthless tree cannot, with all its efforts, produce good fruit. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/7-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">[A] good</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀγαθὸν</span> <span class="translit">(agathon)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_18.htm">Strong's 18: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary word; 'good'.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">tree</span><br /><span class="grk">δένδρον</span> <span class="translit">(dendron)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1186.htm">Strong's 1186: </a> </span><span class="str2">A tree. Probably from drus; a tree.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cannot</span><br /><span class="grk">δύναται</span> <span class="translit">(dynatai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1410.htm">Strong's 1410: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bear</span><br /><span class="grk">ποιεῖν</span> <span class="translit">(poiein)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Infinitive Active<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4160.htm">Strong's 4160: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bad</span><br /><span class="grk">πονηροὺς</span> <span class="translit">(ponērous)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4190.htm">Strong's 4190: </a> </span><span class="str2">Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">fruit,</span><br /><span class="grk">καρποὺς</span> <span class="translit">(karpous)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2590.htm">Strong's 2590: </a> </span><span class="str2">Probably from the base of harpazo; fruit, literally or figuratively.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[and a] bad</span><br /><span class="grk">σαπρὸν</span> <span class="translit">(sapron)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4550.htm">Strong's 4550: </a> </span><span class="str2">Rotten, useless, corrupt, depraved. From sepo; rotten, i.e. Worthless.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">tree</span><br /><span class="grk">δένδρον</span> <span class="translit">(dendron)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1186.htm">Strong's 1186: </a> </span><span class="str2">A tree. Probably from drus; a tree.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cannot</span><br /><span class="grk">οὐδὲ</span> <span class="translit">(oude)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3761.htm">Strong's 3761: </a> </span><span class="str2">Neither, nor, not even, and not. From ou and de; not however, i.e. Neither, nor, not even.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bear</span><br /><span class="grk">ποιεῖν</span> <span class="translit">(poiein)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Infinitive Active<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4160.htm">Strong's 4160: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">good</span><br /><span class="grk">καλοὺς</span> <span class="translit">(kalous)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2570.htm">Strong's 2570: </a> </span><span class="str2">Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fruit.</span><br /><span class="grk">καρποὺς</span> <span class="translit">(karpous)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2590.htm">Strong's 2590: </a> </span><span class="str2">Probably from the base of harpazo; fruit, literally or figuratively.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/7-18.htm">Matthew 7:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/7-18.htm">Matthew 7:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/7-18.htm">Matthew 7:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/7-18.htm">Matthew 7:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/7-18.htm">Matthew 7:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/7-18.htm">Matthew 7:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/7-18.htm">Matthew 7:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/7-18.htm">Matthew 7:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/7-18.htm">Matthew 7:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/7-18.htm">Matthew 7:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/7-18.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 7:18 A good tree can't produce evil fruit (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/7-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 7:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 7:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/7-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 7:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 7:19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>