Matthew 12:33 (WEB)
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.
Fathers and councils · 21
Eusebius of Caesarea
“For the fruits of the prophet must be tried; ‘for the tree is known by its fruit.’” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 33.
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Origen
- Origen, De Principiis II.5Book II
“They again recall us, however, to the words of Scripture, by bringing forward that celebrated question of theirs, affirming that it is written, “A bad tree cannot produce good fruits; for a tree is known by its fruit.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 18, cf. xii. 33.
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Augustine of Hippo
“Hear out of the Gospel His own voice, the very same as is in this Psalm: “Hypocrites,” saith the Lord to the Pharisees, “how are ye able good things to speak, when ye are evil men?.…Either make the tree good, and the fruit thereof good: or make the tree evil, and the fruit thereof evil.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 33, 34.
Read the whole comment“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation;” and so on, down to the words, “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 23–37.
Read the whole comment“For the Lord in saying to the Pharisees, “Whosoever shall speak an evil word against the Son of Man,” &c., may have meant to warn them to come to the grace of God, and having received it, not to sin as they have now sinned.” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 24–33.
Read the whole comment“For if He reckoned them so condemned, that there was no hope left for them, He would not judge that they ought still to be admonished, as He did by adding the statement, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 24–33.
Read the whole comment“Then also in that passage, when He had made mention of these two trees, He added, “Ye hypocrites, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 33, 34.
Read the whole comment“On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 33, “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good,” etc.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“What then is, “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” and, “Every tree is known by his fruit”?” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 16, xii. 33.
Read the whole comment“For He says: “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt,”—clearly enough warning us that evil fruits do not grow on a good tree, nor good fruits on an evil tree; but that nevertheless the ground itself, by which He…” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 33
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John Chrysostom
“Matt. XII. 33.” — the author cites it
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Hilary of Poitiers
“…in Beelzebub: Either make the tree good, said He, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit; because although to cast out devils is an excellent fruit, they said He was Beelzebab, whose fruits are abominable.” — editor's note: St. Matt. xii. 33.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
After his former answers He here again refutes them in another manner. This He does not in order to do away their charges against Himself, but desiring to amend them, saying, “Either make the tree good and his fruit…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Thus He holds them in a syllogism which the Greeks call ‘Aphycton,’ the unavoidable; which shuts in the person questioned on both sides, and presses him with either horn. If, He saith, the Devil be evil, he cannot do…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
For the discerning of a tree is done by its fruits, not the fruits by the tree. “A tree is known by its fruits.” For though the tree is the cause of the fruit, yet the fruit is the evidence of the tree. But ye do the…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Thus did He at that present refute the Jews, who seeing Christ’s works to be of power more than human, would notwithstanding not allow the hand of God. And at the same time He convicts all future errors of the faith,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or this is an admonition to ourselves that we should be good trees that we may be able to bring forth good fruit; “Make the tree good, and its fruit good,” is a precept of health to which obedience is necessary. But…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But as speaking not for Himself but for the Holy Spirit, He accordingly rebukes them, saying, “Generation of vipers, how can ye being evil, speak good things?” This is both a rebuke of them, and a proof in their own…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or the words, “Generation of vipers,” may be taken as signifying children, or imitators of the Devil, because they had wilfully spoken against good works, which is of the Devil, and thence follows, “Out of the…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Herein also He shews His Godhead as knowing the hidden things of the heart; for not for words only, yea but for evil thoughts also they shall receive punishment. For it is the order of nature that the store of the…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
What He says, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart, &c.” is either pointed against the Jews, that seeing they blasphemed God, what treasure in their heart must that be out of which such blasphemy…
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Cross-references · 15
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.24.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.24.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 22.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.24.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.24.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.24.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.24.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.24.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 22.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 22.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.24.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.24.
Cited together in The Enchiridion Chapter 15.
Cited together in The Enchiridion Chapter 15.
Cited together in Church History V.18.