Matthew 7:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

These expressions convey that the individuals referred to lack gentleness and tenderness; their outward appearance alone may suggest they are like sheep, making them easily identifiable. To eliminate any doubt, Christ draws a parallel between the inevitable and the natural order. Similarly, Paul states, 'The carnal mind is death; for the law of God is not subject to it, but it can be' (Rom. 8:6).

This concept can also be related to individuals who present a facade of virtue through their words and actions while showing a contrasting reality in their conduct. It is particularly relevant regarding heretics who, by practicing self-restraint, purity, and fasting, seem to don a cloak of holiness but inwardly possess a soul tainted by malice, leading astray the unsuspecting faithful. Thus, through the damaging outcomes of their influence on the innocent, they are akin to voracious wolves.

Inquiring about an action that contradicts the natural order and is thus unfeasible, he remarks that just as it is unachievable—since thorns and thistles are corrupt plants, unworthy of yielding nourishing fruit while grapes and figs truly provide sustenance—so too does every virtuous tree bear commendable fruit. Corruption signifies not only decay but also a lack of value. The term "evil trees" refers specifically to the hypocrites mentioned earlier, whose actions are deserving of their decay and ineffectiveness.

We should not identify the authentic teachers of the faith based on their intellectual acuity, their oratory skills, or their outward expressions of humility. Instead, we should discern them through the holiness of their conduct and the alignment of their actions with the tenets of the Gospel. Just as the quality of a tree is revealed by its fruit rather than its leaves or bark, so too does the nature of a person manifest in their actions. Grapes are not harvested from thorns, nor figs from thistles. A genuine preacher must embody piety and moral integrity. A righteous person draws from the good treasure of their heart, producing goodness in both actions and speech, akin to a healthy tree yielding good fruit.

Every righteous tree produces good fruit, whereas a corrupt tree yields bad fruit. Blessed Theophylact notes that God likens humanity to a tree, indicating that a person can choose to be transformed from a barren life of sin to one of virtue, similar to how a fruitless tree can be grafted to bear fruit.

In summary, the Lord instructed that we should consistently approach God in prayer during our times of need, and our love for others should match the love we have for ourselves. We are called to walk along the narrow path, remain vigilant against false prophets, and live according to the teachings we have received. By establishing these life principles, the Lord delineated the characteristics that differentiate the righteousness of His followers from that of the Pharisees, thus laying a robust foundation for the spiritual education of His chosen people. These teachings are not just for the individuals of that time, but serve as a guiding law for all His disciples, grounded in the eternal principles of Divine holiness and the inherent moral truths instilled by the Creator in humanity.

The path to God’s kingdom will be obstructed further by the emergence of false prophets, deceptive figures disguised as true believers (cf. v. 21). In response, Christ cautions the faithful to be vigilant against these imposters, highlighting the definitive criterion for identifying genuine messengers from God as compared to the misleading ones: “by their fruits ye shall know them.” This means that individuals can be recognized by how they live and act in accordance with their teachings, as well as how they guide those who follow them.

False teachers can be identified by their actions and way of life. In relation to these statements, St. Luke noted that a good individual produces good outcomes from the good stored in their heart, while an evil person draws upon the evil that lies within. Thus, the actions of false teachers reveal their true nature: a person who harbors the truth within is equipped to make righteous choices and engage in virtuous acts, while one who holds falsehoods will manifest deceitful words and harmful behaviors. The words spoken reflect the abundance of what fills the heart.

The path to salvation, while requiring careful navigation due to its narrowness, also carries the risk of temptation and avoidance. Consequently, the Lord cautioned His disciples about deceptive teachers, providing them with discernible signs for identification: Beware of false prophets, who approach you in the attire of sheep, but inwardly are ferocious wolves. The sheep's clothing symbolizes an appearance of innocence and humility that these deceivers employ to mislead and harm the unsuspecting. They can be discerned by their fruits, or the outcomes of their lives. You will recognize them by their fruits; do you gather grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Just as a good tree produces good fruit, a corrupt tree yields bad fruit; a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.