Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 7:16

"By their fruits ye shall know them. Do [men] gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" — Matthew 7:16 (ASV)

Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Did you ever find a cluster of grapes growing upon a thornbush? Grapes and figs are pleasant fruit, and holy living, true devotion, communion with God – these are the things that are sweet to God and to good men. But they do not come from false doctrine.

They are not seen in false prophets. Such prophets despise such things as these. They are for worldly ways, and places of worldly gaiety they can frequent. Not so the servants of God.

You shall know them –

How? By their eloquence? No. Some of the worst of teachers have had great persuasiveness. You shall know them by their earnestness? No. Some have compassed sea and land to make proselytes to a lie. How, then, will you know them?

Their teaching, their living, and their effect on our minds will be a sure test for us. Every doctrine and doctrinaire may thus be tested. If we gather grapes from them, they are not thorns. If they produce nothing but thistle-down, they are not fig trees.

Some object to this practical test, but wise Christians will carry it with them as the ultimate touchstone. What is the effect of modern theology on the spirituality, the prayerfulness, and the holiness of the people? Does it have any good effect?

You shall know them by their fruits.

They are sure to come out in their actions. If you do not have the knowledge of theology, and the like, to be able to judge their teaching, yet the simplest persons can judge their actions. You shall know them by their fruits, which are sure to come out sooner or later.

By their fruits.

If their teaching makes you better, if it makes you love God, if it draws you to holiness, if it inspires you with noble and heroic sentiments, so that you imitate Christ, then listen to them.

You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Their teaching, their living, and their effect upon our minds will be a sure test to us. Every doctrine and doctrinaire may in this way be tried.

If we gather grapes from them, they are not thorns; if they produce nothing but thistle-down, they are not fig trees. Some object to this practical method of testing; but wise Christians will carry it with them as the ultimate touchstone. What is the effect of modern theology upon the spirituality, the prayerfulness, the holiness of the people?

Has it any good effect?