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Verse Takeaways
1
Fruit Reveals the Root
Commentators agree that Jesus uses a simple agricultural truth to make a profound spiritual point: a person's actions and words (the 'fruit') inevitably reveal their true inner character (the 'tree'). The Pharisees couldn't logically praise the miracle of exorcism (good fruit) while condemning Jesus as demonic (a corrupt tree). This challenges us to allow our actions to be a consistent and true reflection of our inner faith.
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Book Overview
Matthew
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Commentaries
7
Albert Barnes
On Matthew 12:33
18th Century
Theologian
Either make, etc. The fact asserted in this verse is, that a tree is known not by its leaves, or bark, or form, but by its fruit. The appl…
Charles Spurgeon
On Matthew 12:33
19th Century
Preacher
Still he argues with the Pharisees, and essentially says, “Be consistent. Accept Me and My works, or reject Me and My works, for by My works only c…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Matthew 12:33
Jesus tells his hearers to make a tree good or bad, knowing that its fruit will be correspondingly good or bad, because a tree is recognized by its…
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John Calvin
On Matthew 12:33
16th Century
Theologian
Either make the tree good. It might seem absurd that people should be allowed a choice of being either good or bad; but if we con…
John Gill
On Matthew 12:33
17th Century
Pastor
Either make the tree good, and its fruit good: That is, either assert them both good, or
else make the…
Matthew Henry
On Matthew 12:33–37
17th Century
Minister
A person's language reveals what country they are from and, likewise, what manner of spirit they possess. The heart is the fountain; words are the …
Thomas Aquinas
On Matthew 12:22–37
13th Century
Philosopher
Above, the Lord refuted those who were slandering both His doctrine and His life; here, however, He refutes those who disparage His miracles. And f…