Matthew 7:20

So, to find out if a person is good or bad, look at what they do. A good person does good things. And a bad person does bad things.”

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

In Context

19If a farmer has a tree that only makes rubbish fruit, he will cut down that tree and burn it in a fire.

21And Jesus said, “Lots of people call me, ‘My leader and my boss,’ but some of them will never be in God’s family. God will only have people that do what he wants them to do. God will have those people in his family, but not the other people. God is my father in heaven.

Read all of Matthew 7

Cross References

Acts 5:38So I’m telling you now, don’t kill these followers of Jesus. Let them go. You see, if it was men that told them to do these things, and to tell people about Jesus, nothing will happen.

Matthew Henry on Matthew 7:16-21

The Sermon on the Mount. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Matthew 7:20