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15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.(A)

16 You will [a]fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

17 Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [[b]worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit.

18 A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear [c]excellent fruit [worthy of admiration].

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

20 Therefore, you will [d]fully know them by their fruits.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 7:16 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  2. Matthew 7:17 Hermann Cremer, Biblico-Theological Lexicon.
  3. Matthew 7:18 Hermann Cremer, Biblico-Theological Lexicon.
  4. Matthew 7:20 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.

True and False Prophets

15 “Watch out for false prophets.(A) They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.(B) 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.(C) Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?(D) 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.(E) 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.(F) 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

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