A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

^33 (A)“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, ^(B)for the tree is known by its fruit.

A Tree and Its Fruit

⁴³ “For ^(A)no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, ⁴⁴ for ^(B)each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

¹⁶ You will recognize them ^(A)by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, ^(B)every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ^19 (C)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them ^(D)by their fruits.

^8 (A)Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. ^(B)Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and ^(C)purify your hearts, ^(D)you double-minded.

³⁹ And the Lord said to him, ^(A)“Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of ^(B)greed and wickedness. ^40 (C)You fools! ^(D)Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?

⁸ Bear fruit ^(A)in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not presume to say to yourselves, ^(B)‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from ^(C)these stones to raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. ^(D)Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

^4 (A)Abide ^(B)in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; ^(C)you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that ^(D)bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me ^(E)he is thrown away like a branch and withers; ^(F)and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If ^(G)you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ^(H)ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

¹² Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.