Matthew 7:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus restates His central test: people, and especially false prophets, are truly known by the fruit of their lives.
What Does Matthew 7:20 Mean?
With 'wherefore,' Jesus gathers up the whole illustration of the trees and returns to where He began in verse 16. The repetition frames the teaching and presses its single, memorable point.
Fruit, not appearance, is the measure. Over the course of a life, what a person produces in character and deed reveals who they really are. Jesus calls His disciples to a discernment that is patient and fair, neither gullible nor harsh, watching for the fruit of the Spirit and learning to tell the true from the false by what their lives bring forth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 7:20
What does Matthew 7:20 mean?
Jesus restates His central test: people, and especially false prophets, are truly known by the fruit of their lives.