Matthew 7:18 (WEB)
A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.
Fathers and councils · 32
Tertullian
“Surely a good tree does not produce evil fruit, since there is no God who is not good; nor does an evil tree yield good fruit, since there is not Matter except what is very evil.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 18.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIII.4Conference XXIII
“…cannot bring forth evil fruit;” and: “a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things;” and: “Well done, good and faithful servant;” and certainly there can be no doubt that none of these are good in themselves, yet if we take into consideration the goodness of God, none of them will be…” — editor's note: S. Matt. vii. 18; xii. 35; xxv. 21.
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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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John Chrysostom
“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 16–18.
Read the whole comment“Yea, and what He had said before,this He establishes now also; that a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, nor again can the converse be.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 16–18.
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Hilary of Poitiers
“Now in all other passages where God’s Word teaches some lesson from the fruits of trees, it mentions them as making fruit rather than as yielding fruit, as when it says: A good tree cannot make evil fruits, and when in Isaiah the complaint about the vine is: I looked that it should make grapes, and it made thorns.” — editor's note: Ib. vii. 18.
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Gregory of Nyssa
- Gregory of Nyssa, On Virginity On Virginity.8On Virginity
“In declaring marriage abominable he brands himself with such reproaches; for “if the tree is corrupt” (as the Gospel says), “the fruit also of the tree will be like it”; if a man is the shoot and fruitage of the tree of marriage, reproaches cast on that turn upon him who casts them.” — editor's note: Cf. S. Matt. vii. 18; from which it will be seen that Gregory confirms the Vulgate “malum” for σαπρόν, since he quotes it as κακὸν here.
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Augustine of Hippo
“That “evil fruit” could be brought forth only by “a corrupt tree.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 18.
Read the whole comment“But when we say that evil springs out of good, let it not be thought that this contradicts our Lord’s saying: “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 18
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Clement of Alexandria
“For the saying, “It is not a good tree which produces corrupt fruit, nor a corrupt tree which produces good fruit,” is to be applied in this case.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 18; Luke vi. 43.
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Hippolytus of Rome
“For it is requisite that the things made should be similar to the maker; wherefore also they thus employ the evangelical parables, saying, “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,” and the rest of the passage.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 18.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord had before commanded His Apostles, that they should not do their alms, prayers, and fastings before men, as the hypocrites; and that they might know that all these things may be done in hypocrisy, He speaks…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
When the Lord had said that there were few that find the strait gate and narrow way, that heretics, who often commend themselves because of the smallness of their numbers, might not here intrude themselves, He…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Having taught that the gate is strait, because there are many that pervert the way that leads to it, He proceeds, “Take heed of false prophets.” In the which that they might be the more careful, He reminds them of…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
What is written below that “the Law and the Prophets were until John,” [Matt 11:13] is said, because there should be no prophecy concerning Christ after He was come. Prophets indeed there have been and are, but not…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Yet He may seem here to have aimed under the title of “false prophets,” not so much at the heretic, as at those who, while their life is corrupt, yet wear an outward face of virtuousness; whence it is said, “By their…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Wherefore it is justly asked, what fruits then He would have us look to? For many esteem among fruits some things which pertain to the sheep’s clothing, and in this manner are deceived concerning wolves. For they…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The fruits of a man are the confession of his faith and the works of his life; for he who utter according to God the words of humility and a true confession, is the sheep; but he who against the truth howls forth…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
What is here spoken of false prophets we may apply to all whose dress and speech promise one thing, and their actions exhibit another. But it is specially to be understood of heretics, who by observing temperance,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
But from their actions we may conjecture whether this their outward appearance is put on for display. For when by any temptations those things are withdrawn or denied them which they had either attained or sought to…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
Also the hypocrite is restrained by peaceful times of Holy Church, and therefore appears clothed with godliness; but let any trial of faith ensue, straight the wolf ravenous at heart strips himself of his sheep’s…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And the hypocrite is easily discerned; for the way they are commanded to walk is a hard way, and the hypocrite is loth to toil. And that you may not say that you are unable to find out them that are such, He again…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The grape had in it a mystery of Christ. As the bunch sustains many grapes held together by the woody stem, so likewise Christ holds many believers joined to Him by the wood of the Cross. The fig again is the Church…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
In this place we must guard against the error of such [margin note: Manichees] as imagine that the two trees refer to two different natures; the one of God, the other not. But we affirm that they derive no…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
These men of whom we have spoken are offended with these two natures, not considering them according to their true usefulness; whereas it is not by our advantage or disadvantage, but in itself considered, that nature…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But that none should say, An evil tree brings forth indeed evil fruit, but it brings forth also good, and so it becomes hard to discern, as it has a two-fold produce; on this account He adds, “A good tree cannot…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
From this speech the Manichees suppose that neither can a soul that is evil be possibly changed for better, nor one that is good into worse. As though it had been, A good tree cannot become bad, nor a bad tree become…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
And man is denominated a good tree, or a bad, after his will, as it is good or bad. His fruit is his works, which can neither be good when the will is evil, nor evil when it is good.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
But as it is manifest that all evil works proceed from an evil will, as its fruits from an evil tree; so of this evil will itself whence will you say that it has sprung, except that the evil will of an angel sprung…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
We would ask those heretics who affirm that there are two natures directly opposed to each other, if they admit that a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, how it was possible for Moses, a good tree, to sin as he…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He had not enjoined them to punish the false prophets, and therefore shews them the terrors of that punishment that is of God, saying, “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
From the foregoing similitude He draws the conclusion to what He had said before, as being now manifest, saying, “Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
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Cross-references · 19
Cited together in The Enchiridion Chapter 15.
Cited together in The Instructor II.5.
Cited together in On Virginity On Virginity.8.
Cited together in On Virginity On Virginity.8.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIII.4.
Cited together in On Virginity On Virginity.8.
Cited together in On Virginity On Virginity.8.
Cited together in The City of God XIV.13.
Cited together in On Virginity On Virginity.8.
Cited together in The City of God XIV.13.
Cited together in The City of God XIV.13.
Cited together in The City of God XIV.13.
Cited together in The City of God XIV.13.
Cited together in The Instructor II.5.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIII.4.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIII.4.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIII.4.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIII.4.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIII.4.