Matthew 7:16 Meaning and Explanation
“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus gives a test for discerning false teachers: their character and conduct, like fruit, reveal what they truly are.
What Does Matthew 7:16 Mean?
Jesus now supplies the means of testing the false prophets He has just named. Drawing on the vineyards and fields of his land, He observes that a plant is known by what it produces; thorns yield no grapes, and thistles bear no figs.
So it is with people. Words can be disguised, but the fruit of a life, its character, conduct, and lasting effect, reveals the root beneath. Jesus calls us to patient, honest discernment rather than to be swayed by appearances. What a person consistently bears over time tells the truth about the heart within.
Matthew 7:16 in the Original Language
karpos (καρπός), 'fruit' -- the visible yield of a life, here its conduct and character.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 7:16
What does Matthew 7:16 mean?
Jesus gives a test for discerning false teachers: their character and conduct, like fruit, reveal what they truly are.