Matthew 7:17

“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, etc.] As is the tree, so is its fruit; if the tree is good, it will bring forth good fruit. The tree that brings forth good fruit, is good antecedent to the fruit it produces; it is first good, and then puts forth good fruit: it is not the fruit that makes the tree good, but makes it appear to be so; but it is the goodness of the tree that makes the fruit good. As a good man does, and will do good works, but his works do not make him a good man; he is so before he performs good works, or he would never be able to do them; these make him appear to be a good man: so a good preacher, that has an experimental knowledge of the doctrines of the…”

“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit: but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.”

“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 produced nothing beneficial. return to 'Top of Page'”

“every: Psa 1:3, Psa 92:13, Psa 92:14; Isa 5:3-5, Isa 61:3; Jer 11:19, Jer 17:8; Luk 13:6-9; Gal 5:22-24; Eph 5:9; Phi 1:11; Col 1:10; Jam 3:17, Jam 3:18 but: Mat 12:33-35; Jde 1:12 Matthew 7:18”