The world is full of shams. Counterfeit coins circulate; paste jewels are worn. Let us take heed against a counterfeit religion. It betrays itself thus:
(1) It does not involve the denial of self. Our Lord compares this to entrance by a strait gate and walking on a narrow path. It is the way of the Cross. We must say "No" to the "I" life which is seated in our soul and which must be ruthlessly denied. We must say of it as Peter did of Jesus, "I do not know the man." The way of self-indulgence begins on a primrose path and ends in a wilderness. The path of self-denial is steep and difficult at the start, but leads to a paradise of joy.
(2) It does not produce good fruit. The worth of the gospel has been attested all down the ages by the characters which it has produced and which have been the world's salt and light. No other teaching has produced such results. Here is the supreme test. There are many new systems of theology, many nostrums are being loudly advertised, but the one test of them all is in the fruit they bear. [source]
Chapter Summary: Matthew 7
1Do Not Judge 7Ask, Seek, Knock 13Enter through the Narrow Gate 15A Tree and Its Fruit 24The Wise and the Foolish Builders 28Jesus ends his sermon, and the people are astonished
Luke 6:44Is known [γινωσκεται] The fruit of each tree reveals its actual character. It is the final test. This sentence is not in Matthew 7:17-20, but the same idea is in the repeated saying (Matthew 7:16,Matthew 7:20): “By their fruits ye shall know them,” where the verb συλλεγουσιν epigno4sesthe means full knowledge. The question in Matthew 7:16 is put here in positive declarative form. The verb is in the plural for “men” or “people,” sullegousin See note on Matthew 7:16. [source]
Revelation 20:12Books were opened [βιβλια ηνοιχτησαν] First aorist passive of ανοιγω anoigō Like Daniel 7:10. The record of each human being has been kept in God‘s books.Were judged (εκριτησαν ekrithēsan). First aorist passive indicative of κρινω krinō The sentence upon each rests upon written evidence.Another book which is the book of life This book has already been mentioned (Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8). “It is the roll of living citizens of Jerusalem” (Swete), “the church of the first born enrolled in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23). The books are “the vouchers for the book of life” (Alford). We are saved by grace, but character at last (according to their works) is the test as the fruit of the tree (Matthew 7:16,Matthew 7:20; Matthew 10:32.; 25:31-46; John 15:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:10; Revelation 2:23; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 22:12). [source]
Greek Commentary for Matthew 7:20
See note on Matthew 7:16 . [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 7:20
The fruit of each tree reveals its actual character. It is the final test. This sentence is not in Matthew 7:17-20, but the same idea is in the repeated saying (Matthew 7:16, Matthew 7:20): “By their fruits ye shall know them,” where the verb συλλεγουσιν epigno4sesthe means full knowledge. The question in Matthew 7:16 is put here in positive declarative form. The verb is in the plural for “men” or “people,” sullegousin See note on Matthew 7:16. [source]
First aorist passive of ανοιγω anoigō Like Daniel 7:10. The record of each human being has been kept in God‘s books.Were judged (εκριτησαν ekrithēsan). First aorist passive indicative of κρινω krinō The sentence upon each rests upon written evidence.Another book which is the book of life This book has already been mentioned (Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8). “It is the roll of living citizens of Jerusalem” (Swete), “the church of the first born enrolled in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23). The books are “the vouchers for the book of life” (Alford). We are saved by grace, but character at last (according to their works) is the test as the fruit of the tree (Matthew 7:16, Matthew 7:20; Matthew 10:32.; 25:31-46; John 15:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:10; Revelation 2:23; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 22:12). [source]
This book has already been mentioned (Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8). “It is the roll of living citizens of Jerusalem” (Swete), “the church of the first born enrolled in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23). The books are “the vouchers for the book of life” (Alford). We are saved by grace, but character at last (according to their works) is the test as the fruit of the tree (Matthew 7:16, Matthew 7:20; Matthew 10:32.; 25:31-46; John 15:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:10; Revelation 2:23; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 22:12). [source]