Matthew 7:16

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14 Because narrow is the gate and² difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

15 ^a“Beware of false prophets, ^bwho come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

16 ^aYou will know them by their fruits. ^bDo men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

17 Even so, ^aevery good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

19 ^aEvery tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ^a‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who ^bdoes the will of My Father in heaven.

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we ^anot prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Matthew 7:16

Ye shall know them by their fruits - Fruits, in the Scripture and Jewish phraseology, are taken for works of any kind. "A man' s works," says one, "are the tongue of his heart, and tell honestly whether he is inwardly corrupt or pure." By these works you may distinguish ( ) these ravenous wolves from true pastors. The judgment formed of a man by his general conduct is a safe one: if the judgment be not favorable to the person, that is his fault, as you have your opinion of him from his works, i.e. the confession of his own heart.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing Matthew 7:16:**

Job 4:8

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Matthew 7:17 >>

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