Luke 6:44Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He supports His message with an illustration. He explains that just as a healthy tree does not produce bad fruit, and a corrupt tree does not yield good fruit, a person who aims to enlighten others or guide them towards improvement must not possess wickedness within themselves; if they are evil, they cannot uplift those around them. Therefore, He asks, how can you Pharisees, as corrupt trees, possibly produce good fruit?

‘For by the fruit, saith he, the tree is known;’ and just as it is naive and unwise to expect to find the finest fruits like grapes or figs growing on thorns, it follows that it is equally absurd to think that we can discover admirable qualities, specifically virtue, within hypocritical and unholy individuals. Would you like to grasp this truth once more? Would you discern the identity of those wolves disguised in sheep's clothing? Examine the teachings of the holy apostles and heed their descriptions of certain individuals: ‘For such are false apostles: deceitful workers, transforming themselves into angels of light; and no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

The path of virtue is challenging; thus, do not expect fruit from that which bears none, nor anticipate a bountiful harvest from an untilled field. While the effort of cultivation yields fruit for all, the thorns of this world cannot produce the fruit of the fig tree, which symbolizes the resurrection, either due to its abundance or, as noted, the fig tree producing its fruit before it is ripe (Song 2:13). This mirrors how fruit in the synagogue appeared premature, unfruitful, and fragile, possibly because our earthly existence is still in its formative stage; yet that which has reached maturity resides in resurrection. We must distance ourselves from the worldly distractions that erode the spirit and cloud the mind, enabling us to reap ripe fruit after diligent cultivation.

A sound tree does not produce bad fruit, nor does a corrupted tree yield good fruit; the identification of a tree is evident through its fruit. Similarly, it is applicable to those who mislead others. This passage refers to individuals who are purified and assist in the cleansing of others, as well as those who are defiled yet attempt to help others attain purity. He metaphorically refers to them as trees, with their deeds representing their fruit, urging us to focus on their actions, the true fruit, rather than their words, which serve as mere foliage. Just as one does not gather figs from thorns or harvest grapes from brambles, so too is it not feasible to collect good results from such individuals. Through this analogy, He reinforces His message, showing that just as it is unnatural and impossible to gather good from the bad, the same principle applies here.

A fruitless tree will be cut down and cast into the flames (Matt. 3:10). In this context, human beings are likened to trees, while their deeds represent fruit. Would you like to discern what constitutes a bad tree and its undesirable fruits? The apostle provides us with this understanding. He states that the works of the flesh are evident; they include adultery, fornication, impurity, moral debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, animosity, disputes, jealousy, rage, divisions, temptations, heresies, hatred, homicides, drunkenness, chaos, and similar actions (Gal. 5:19-21). Are you curious whether trees that produce such fruits belong to the glorious temple of the everlasting King?

“Every tree is known by its fruit” (Luke 6:44), proclaims the Great Helper. Regardless of how diligently you may enhance your faith or how wonderfully you may express it in your confessions, your unrighteous actions and impure way of living expose your true nature. You are not part of the good trees in Christ’s orchard but belong to the garden that ‘the heavenly Father will not plant,’ which will be ‘uprooted’ (Matthew 15:13) unless it is nurtured by new spiritual endeavors, through acts of righteousness and holiness. Do you aspire to be a flourishing tree in Christ’s garden that will not be cast out? Produce good fruit! Do you long to be a genuine structure of God, a living temple of the Holy Spirit? Then do more than simply ‘call upon the name of the Lord’ with your faith; also ‘depart from unrighteousness’ in your daily life.

In summary, the Lord instructed us to consistently turn to God in prayer during times of need, to uphold the principle that our love for our neighbors should match the love we hold for ourselves, to diligently learn to walk the narrow path, to be cautious of false prophets, and to put into practice the teachings we have received. By establishing these principles for His disciples, the Lord outlined the key differences between the righteousness of His followers and that of the Pharisees, thus laying a robust foundation for the spiritual growth of His chosen community.

The passage emphasizes the importance of not just hearing Christ's words but also acting upon them. Simply identifying oneself as a Christian is insufficient for attaining salvation. Many who claim to serve in Christ's name and perform miraculous acts, such as prophecies and exorcisms, will, at the Last Judgment, hear the Lord declare, “I have never known you,” indicating that they do not belong to Him.

The path to salvation, while narrow and demanding careful navigation, also poses risks of temptation and avoidance. Consequently, the Lord cautioned His disciples about deceptive teachers, illustrating the indicators for their identification: Beware of false prophets, who approach you appearing innocent, yet are inwardly fierce wolves. The façade of innocence and humility is a tactic employed by hypocrites to mislead and harm the unsuspecting. Their authenticity is discerned through their fruits, which may be understood as the expressions of their lives. As it is written, “From their fruits you shall know them; do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a corrupt tree bears evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit...”