←
Explanation for:
Matthew
12
:
33
Either make the tree good and its fruit good: or make the tree evil, and its fruit evil. For by the fruit the tree is known.
11
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He addresses them with a reasoning that the Greeks refer to as άφυκτον, which we might term unavoidable. It appears he confines the questioners from both perspectives, challenging them with this and that viewpoint. If the adversary is an evil entity, he should be incapable of performing righteous deeds. However, if the actions you observe are virtuous, it logically follows that it is not the adversary who carries them out. Indeed, it cannot be that good arises from evil, nor can evil emerge from good."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The message of the Lord finds its fulfillment in the present while revealing its truth in the future. In the present day, He unveils the hearts of the Jews, who, upon recognizing that the deeds of Christ surpass human capability, remain unwilling to accept that these works originate from God. Regarding the future, He has made evident all the distortions of faith—specifically, those who, by stripping the Lord of His honor and His shared essence with the Father, have fallen into numerous heresies, achieving nothing among the Gentiles, who live in ignorance, or those who possess knowledge of the truth. By referring to the tree, He signifies Himself adorned in a human form, as His divine power brings forth all that is fruitful. Thus, a tree bearing good fruit must be deemed as good, whereas one bearing bad fruit is considered bad; a tree reveals its nature through its fruit, and it cannot be deemed good merely due to its outer appearance if its fruit is poor. This vivid illustration conveys that Christ must be viewed as either worthless or precious based on the presence of good fruits that signify His purpose."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In a further effort, the Lord admonishes the Pharisees, not satisfied with His prior rebukes. His aim is not to remove Himself from blame—since the earlier evidence was ample for that—but rather to correct His adversaries. His message conveys this: none of you accused those who were healed of not having received healing, nor did He label it wrong to liberate them from demonic influence. Though they displayed immense audacity, they could not make that claim. Consequently, while they could not deny the miracles, they instead spread falsehoods about the one who performed them. Christ demonstrates that such accusations are not only baseless but also lack any rational foundation. This marks a profound lack of integrity—not only to engage in malice but to construct an argument that defies common sense. Observe how the Savior counters all objections with His words. He did not say, You must agree that a tree is good because it produces good fruit; rather, to silence them more effectively and to highlight their lack of shame, He stated, If you wish to criticize my works, go ahead; just ensure that your accusations are coherent and consistent. In this manner, their shameful behavior is more clearly exposed in what is blatantly evident, as He speaks to them, ‘Your deception is futile when your statements contradict each other. It is true that the tree is recognized by its fruit, not the other way around, yet you have it reversed. While it is certain that fruit comes from the tree, one must identify the tree through its fruit. Therefore, when you seek to accuse me, either provide evidence that my works are evil, or if you commend them, you must refrain from accusing me, their doer. Yet you do the opposite. Finding nothing wrong in the fruit of my labor, you condemn the tree—calling Me insane. This represents utter folly. A healthy tree cannot yield bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit, as the Savior previously stated and reinforces now. Thus, the accusations from the Pharisees were contradictory and completely misaligned with the truth."},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"When He declares, \\"Recognize the tree as good and its fruit as good,\\" it serves not merely as a suggestion but rather as a life-giving command meant to be obeyed. Likewise, when He states, \\"Recognize the tree as bad and its fruit as bad,\\" it is not merely an edict to follow; instead, it acts as a caution to remain vigilant. This statement was directed towards those who, despite their superficial demeanor, mistakenly believed themselves capable of virtuous speech or righteous deeds. The Lord Jesus asserts that such a belief is unfounded. Transformation is necessary within a person before their actions can align with goodness. If one persists in evil, he cannot produce good; conversely, if one remains in goodness, he cannot commit wrongdoing."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"As the Jewish leaders were unable to denounce the miraculous acts as evil, they resorted to disparaging Christ, the one who performed these wonders, equating Him with demonic forces. The Lord states, “Either you acknowledge Me as a good tree, in which case the miracles I perform—these fruits—will also be commendable, or if you see Me as a bad tree, then those miracles, or fruits, will clearly be flawed. Yet, you categorize the miracles—the fruits—as good; thus, I too must be considered a good tree. Just as a tree is identified by its fruits, so too am I identified by My miracles.”"},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Instead of condemning, they question Him. He chastises them again for their inconsistent and unnatural accusations. They did not denounce the expulsion of demons, despite their blatant hypocrisy, yet they criticized the very one who performed the exorcism. This reveals their inconsistency and lack of integrity. He refers to Himself as the tree, indicating that His actions are the fruit. Essentially, He presents a choice: either recognize the worker as good and his work as good, or deem the worker as evil along with his deeds. A person's actions reveal their true nature: the good person produces good, while the evil person produces evil. In chapter 7, He emphasizes that a good tree cannot yield bad fruit; similarly, a bad tree cannot produce good fruit."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"If you feel compelled to criticize my creations, that is your choice; however, why do you permit contradictions and inconsistencies in your judgments? For a tree is known by its fruit, not the other way around. You must take one of two positions: either acknowledge the tree as good, affirm its fruit as good, and see me as a good tree with good works; or declare the tree to be bad, recognize its fruit as bad, and demonstrate that my works are indeed poor, then you may criticize me as you wish, for the tree is assessed by its fruit, and a tree is identified by what it produces. Yet, you do the opposite: finding nothing amiss in my works, which represent the fruit, you denounce and slander the tree, calling me insane. Is this not the epitome of folly?"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Acknowledge: to establish or create. The point being made is this: none of you have charged that those I healed were not truly healed; nor have any of you claimed that casting out a demon was an evil act. If you seek to criticize my actions, that is your prerogative; however, ensure that your accusations are free from inconsistencies and contradictions. For a tree is known by its fruit, not the other way around. Yet you do not follow this principle. You should either demonstrate that my works are wrongdoing when you wish to accuse me, or if you commend my deeds, you ought to absolve me, the one who performed them, from your reproaches. Instead, you behave otherwise: finding nothing amiss in my works, which are the fruit, you denounce the tree, labeling me as demonic."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Jesus elaborated on the point that the expulsion of demons could not be achieved through evil forces, providing evidence from the natural world: a tree is judged by the quality of its fruit; if the fruit is virtuous, the tree is deemed virtuous, while if the fruit is corrupt, the tree is seen as corrupt. How could the scribes and Pharisees, witnessing the righteous deeds of Jesus, commit blasphemy against Him, the very Creator of those deeds? For good arises from a benevolent Source, and evil arises from a malevolent Source. If Jesus performs only virtuous acts, can He truly be malevolent?"},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Not satisfied with merely condemning Him, Jesus Christ further illuminated the contradictions and inconsistencies in the Pharisees' accusations. He stated, “The tree is known by its fruit, not the fruit by the tree; yet you do not follow this principle. You should either prove that My deeds are wicked when you level accusations against Me, or, if you commend My works, then, together with Me—the one who performed them—remove your charges.” He urged them to either make the tree good, resulting in good fruit, or make the tree bad, resulting in bad fruit; for a tree is recognized by its fruit. This fundamental natural law was directed back at the accusers, to whom the Lord referred with a scathing title given by John the Baptist: “O brood of vipers, how can you utter good things when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart, the good person brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.”"},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Anyone who does not stand with Christ is in opposition to Him; whether their stance is temporary or prolonged, they will ultimately become His adversary, as indicated in Mark 9:39-40. Furthermore, the intentional and obstinate dismissal of the clear workings of the Holy Spirit through Him will not be absolved, either in this life or the next. The severity of Christ’s condemnation towards those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit might seem harsh at first glance. Yet, Christ provides insight into the gravity of the sin committed against the Holy Spirit and explains the rationale behind its unforgiveable nature. He begins with a fundamental truth: a good tree produces good fruit, while a bad tree yields bad fruit. This principle lays the groundwork for understanding the blasphemers of the Holy Spirit; in their hearts, they are akin to the offspring of a venomous creature, thus incapable of speaking righteousness. From the corrupt treasure of their hearts, they can only produce wickedness, similar to how a righteous person draws forth goodness from the treasure within him. \\n\\nMoreover, every careless word spoken by individuals will be accounted for on the day of final judgment, where some will be justified by their words while others face condemnation. This is because words serve as a reflection of the heart. Those who engage in blasphemy against the Holy Spirit face grave consequences. \\n\\nEvery transgression can be forgiven if the sinner repents sincerely, for God's mercy knows no bounds, and the merits of Christ the Redeemer are without limit. Specifically, the blasphemy against the Son of Man can also be forgiven under the condition of genuine repentance from the sinner. However, the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit indicates such a hardened state of the sinner’s heart that repentance is no longer attainable. When a person demonstrates disbelief in Christ and utters a blasphemous statement against Him, it may stem from misunderstanding, as Christ appeared in a way that did not align with the expectations of the promised Messiah in His time, creating numerous temptations and doubts. Yet, when an individual outright rejects the manifest work of God, the Holy Spirit, in Christ, and wrongly attributes it to Beelzebub, it reveals a state of hardened, unrepentant wickedness."}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
