Jer 13:23, Mat 7:16-18 | Barnes

Jeremiah 13:23

Matthew 7:16-18

Verse 16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. He gives the proper test of their character. Men do not judge of a tree by its leaves, or bark, or flowers, but by the fruit which it bears. The flowers may be handsome and fragrant; the foliage thick and green; but these are merely ornamental. It is the fruit that is of chief service to man; and he forms his opinion of the nature and value of the tree by their fruit. So of pretensions to religion. The profession may be fair; but the conduct--the fruit in the eye of the world--is to determine the nature of the principles.

(e) "by their fruits" Mt 12:33 Verse 17. A corrupt tree. The word corrupt here does not signify, as our translation would seem to indicate, that the tree had been good, but had become vitiated; but that it was a tree of a useless character, of a nature that produces nothing beneficial.

(f) "good tree" Lk 6:43, 45