Matthew 7:18

Matthew 7:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
• New International Version (NIV)A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

Context of Matthew 7:18

16By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Therefore, by their fruit you will recognize them [as false prophets].

Matthew 7:18 word by word

οὐ δύναται δένδρον ἀγαθὸν καρποὺς πονηροὺς ποιεῖν οὐδὲ δένδρον σαπρὸν καρποὺς καλοὺς ποιεῖν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• treeδένδρονdendron · treeG1186
• ·οὐou · noG3756
• cannotδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• bring forthποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
• fruitκαρπόςkarpos · fruitG2590
• neitherοὐδέoude · norG3761
• a corruptσαπρόςsapros · rottenG4550
• goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570

Cross-references for Matthew 7:18

• Galatians 5:17For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.
• 1 John 3:9No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him.

Commentaries on Matthew 7:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit - Love to God and man is the root of the good tree; and from this principle all its fruit is found. To teach, as some have done, that a state of salvation may be consistent with the greatest crimes, (such as murder and adultery in David), or that the righteous necessarily sin in all their best works, is really to make the good tree bring forth bad fruit, and to give the lie to the Author of eternal truth.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-20Verses 15-20 Nothing so much prevents men from entering the strait gate, and becoming true followers of Christ, as the carnal, soothing, flattering doctrines of those who oppose the truth. They may be known by the drift and effects of their doctrines. Some part of their temper and conduct is contrary to the mind of Christ. Those opinions come not from God that lead to sin.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Spiritual rebirth is essential to produce the good actions that Jesus demands. Good works come from faith, and they are inseparable (see James 2:14–26).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit--Obvious as is the truth here expressed in different forms--that the heart determines and is the only proper interpreter of the actions of our life--no one who knows how the Church of Rome makes a merit of actions, quite apart from the motives that prompt them, and how the same tendency manifests itself from time to time even among Protestant Christians, can…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 7:18

• Botany
• Commandments
• Religion
• Righteous
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Ask
• Descend
• Destruction
• Gather
• Judge
• Measure
• Mote
• None
• Profess
• Rock

Commentaries on Matthew 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings