Matthew 7:20 · Bible study
Matthew 7:20 Commentary: Know Them by Their Fruits
Greek · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Scholarly study on Jesus' call to discern false prophets by their fruits. Greek word study on epiginōskō, context, and application.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus concludes his warning about false teachers: their true nature can be known by observable evidence, their teaching and their conduct.
- Key words: 'fruits' (καρπῶν, karpos, results, outcomes), 'will know' (ἐπιγνώσεσθε, epignōsesthe, future indicative, to know thoroughly).
- Main debate: Whether 'fruit' refers primarily to doctrine or moral behavior; most commentators see both as inseparable.
- Theological theme: Discernment, the necessity of testing spiritual teachers by the outcome of their ministry and lives.
- Best use: Teaching on how to evaluate Christian leaders and teachers without falling into cynicism or gullibility.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
KJV King James Version 1769
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
therefore from their fruits ye shall know them.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
By their fruits then surely ye shall know them.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Así que, por sus frutos los conoceréis.
Portanto vós os conhecereis pelos seus frutos.
C’ est donc à leurs fruits que vous les reconnaîtrez.
Darum an ihren Früchten sollt ihr sie erkennen.
Zo zult gij dan dezelve aan hun vruchten kennen.
Voi li riconoscerete dunque dai loro frutti.
A tak z owoców ich poznacie je.
Итак по плодам их узнаете их.
所以，憑著 他們的 果子 就可以認出 他們來。」
So by their fruits you will get knowledge of them.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 7:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse concludes Jesus' warning about false prophets, pressing the point that deceptive teachers can be detected. Gill notes that Christ is speaking of those who 'put on sheep's clothing' and pretend holiness but deliver corrupt doctrine; the fruit in view includes their teaching as much as their behavior. Matthew Henry reads the verse as a repeated caution to 'take heed of counterfeits' who poison souls. The future indicative epignōsesthe ('you will know') carries the force of a promise: with careful, patient observation, the true nature of a teacher becomes clear. The addition of ara ge ('therefore surely') adds emphasis, making the conclusion inescapable. While scholars differ on whether 'fruit' refers primarily to doctrine or to moral conduct, the consensus holds that Jesus intends both, the outward manifestations of a person's heart, visible in what they teach and how they live. The repeated phrase (verses 16 and 20) reinforces that discernment is both possible and necessary for those who would follow him.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Primarily doctrinal fruit: Gill argues the context concerns false prophets who pretend holiness but deliver corrupt teachings; their fruit is their doctrine.
- Primarily moral fruit: The transition to vv.21–23, where Jesus rejects those who practice lawlessness, suggests that ethical behavior is the decisive fruit.
- Comprehensive fruit: Matthew Henry and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown include both teaching and life as fruit; the passage moves from false teachers to false disciples, so both are in view.
What is clear: The verse affirms that false prophets can be recognized — their true nature eventually becomes evident through observable fruit, whether in their teaching, their conduct, or both.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'fruits' | All traditions agree that 'fruits' refers to observable evidence of a person's true character, whether in teaching or conduct. | Some emphasize doctrinal content (Gill, who stresses the false prophet's corrupt teaching), while others emphasize moral behavior (pointing to the 'workers of iniquity' in v.23). Most hold both. |
| Identity of 'false prophets' | They are deceptive teachers who appear righteous ('sheep's clothing') but are inwardly destructive. | Some see them as primarily heretical teachers who deny core doctrine; others as hypocritical believers who look spiritual but live in sin. |
| Application to church discipline | The verse calls for discernment among those who teach and lead. | Traditions differ on how formal the process should be, from informal personal testing to institutional examination of doctrine and life. |
| Relationship to Matthew 7:1, 5 | This discernment is not the same as the hypocritical judgment Jesus condemns in v.1, 5. | Some see a tension: how does one 'judge' fruit without violating the command 'judge not'? Others argue the two commands apply to different objects (self vs. teachers). |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 7) presents Jesus as the authoritative interpreter of God's law, contrasting the righteousness of the kingdom with that of the Pharisees and scribes. In chapter 7, Jesus shifts from teaching to warning. False prophets were a known threat in Israel's history; the Old Testament frequently denounces prophets who spoke peace when there was no peace (Jeremiah 6:14; 23:16, 17). These men often appeared pious, 'come in sheep's clothing', but their aim was to lead God's people astray.
In first-century Judaism, teachers were tested by their fidelity to Torah and by the character of their lives. Jesus uses the agricultural image of fruit-bearing trees, a common metaphor in Jewish wisdom literature (Psalm 1:3; Isaiah 5:1, 7). The conclusion 'therefore by their fruits you will know them' provides a practical rule of discernment for the hearers. It also prepares for the shocking verses that follow (vv.21, 23), where people who prophesy, cast out demons, and do mighty works in Jesus' name are rejected because they practice lawlessness. This indicates that 'fruit' includes not only correct doctrine but a life of obedience to the Father's will. The warning is urgent: false prophets may even perform miracles, but the ultimate test is whether their lives produce the fruit of righteousness.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Matthew 7:20. The Greek text is stable across manuscripts, with no substantive differences in the reading of the verse.
Reception History
Throughout church history, Matthew 7:20 has been a key text for discernment. In the early church, it was used to identify false teachers who denied the incarnation or abandoned moral standards. During the Reformation, both Protestant and Catholic writers appealed to this verse to argue that the fruits of ministry, whether faithful preaching and godly living or the fruits of faith, reveal the true church. In modern times, it has been applied to the evaluation of televangelists, church leaders, and prophetic movements. The verse is also widely used in personal discipleship to encourage self-examination: a life of good fruit is the evidence of a good tree.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Certainty of Discernment. Jesus repeats the statement (v.16, v.20) to impress upon his followers that false teachers can be recognized. The Greek verb epiginōskō implies thorough, clear recognition, not hasty judgment but patient watching.
- The Scope of Fruit. Fruit includes both doctrine and conduct. False prophets may preach truth but live lies, or teach error while appearing moral. Genuine fruit is consistent with the tree.
- The Urgency for the Church. This verse directly leads into the warning that even extraordinary spiritual works are not proof of authenticity. Only those who do the will of the Father (v.21) are truly known by Christ.
Five-point outline
- The command to 'know', not optional but essential for the community of faith.
- The method, observation over time (the future tense points to patient watching).
- The standard, consistency between profession and practice.
- The scope, encompasses message, character, and outcomes.
- The consequence, the verse serves as a safeguard against being deceived by religiosity.
Illustration hooks
- A fruit tree identification guide: you don't judge an apple tree by its blossoms but by the fruit it produces.
- A counterfeit money expert: they study the genuine bill so thoroughly that the fake is obvious. Christians must know Christ's true teaching.
- A GPS that leads you astray: you might follow a turn that looks right because the map is wrong.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know if a teacher or prophet is false, especially if they seem sincere?
- What if I'm a new Christian and I don't know the Bible well enough to judge?
- Does this mean I should judge other Christians' lives, or is that being critical?
Leading a Discussion
Jesus gives his followers a practical tool for discernment: look at the fruit. But what counts as fruit? In the surrounding context, fruit includes both the content of teaching and the character of a person's life. This short verse invites us to take a careful, patient look at those who claim to speak for God.
Discussion questions
- Read Matthew 7:15, 20. What do you think Jesus means by 'fruit' in this passage?
- Why does Jesus repeat the statement in verse 20? What does that repetition tell us about the importance of discernment?
- How is 'fruit' different from outward appearance or giftedness? (Consider vv.21, 23)
- In your own life, what kinds of fruit would you expect to see if you are walking with Christ?
- How can we apply this teaching without becoming judgmental or critical of others?
- What role does community accountability play in discerning true from false teachers?
- How does this verse encourage you to trust that God will help you recognize truth?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 7:16 | By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? |
| Acts 5:38 | Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke insists that spiritual fruitlessness is never innocent. A heart that produces no good fruit is as condemned as one that produces bad fruit, and both face the same judgment. He says this warning is repeated because our eternal fate depends on it.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Therefore by their fruites ye shall knowe them.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that Jesus is not warning about immoral teachers, who are easily spotted, but about false teachers who wear sheep's clothing by appearing holy and strict. The fruits that reveal them are their corrupt doctrines, not their conduct. Discerning believers must test teachings by Scripture.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB draws a distinction Jesus makes: the point is not so much the final judgment false teachers will face, but the practical means of detecting them now. That means is their fruits. This warning against hypocrisy in teachers extends to a solemn warning against religious hypocrisy in general.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that the three verbs ask, seek, and knock form a deliberate climax of prayer: asking acknowledges need, seeking implies something lost, and knocking suggests something closed. Prayer is both the work of the Christian life and the evidence that life is real.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry broadens the warning beyond false doctrine to include false credentials. A teacher may speak truth yet still be a false prophet if he pretends to direct revelation from God without proper warrant. The danger lies in accepting such counterfeit commissions.