Matthew 7:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Though the Redeemer repeats the same message, there exists a distinction. To prevent anyone from claiming that a corrupt tree, while producing bad fruit, can also yield good fruit, and that differentiating between the two may be challenging, the Redeemer asserts that it is impossible for a flawed tree to bear anything but rotten fruit; the same holds true in reverse. So, can a righteous individual become flawed, and similarly, can a flawed individual become righteous? Life is replete with such examples. However, Christ does not assert that a flawed individual cannot transform or that a righteous person cannot fall; rather, He emphasizes that a person cannot produce good fruit as long as they remain flawed.

While it remains corrupt, it cannot yield good fruit; however, if it undergoes transformation, it can. It is important to recognize that the Lord did not proclaim it would be eternally incapable, but rather that it will not produce righteous outcomes while it remains in its fallen state.

Let us inquire of those heretics who claim that there exist two opposing natures: if they believe that a good tree cannot bear the fruit of a bad tree, how do they reconcile this with Moses—the good tree—who sinned at the waters of contradiction, or with David, who after orchestrating Uriah's death, fell into adultery with Bathsheba? Furthermore, Peter, during the suffering of the Lord, denied Him, stating, "I know no man." How can they explain Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses—considered an evil tree—who clearly did not believe in the God of Israel, yet offered Moses wise counsel? Achior also spoke true and useful words to Holofernes, and as Comic noted, his statements were affirmed by the Apostle Paul when he remarked that righteous morals have been corrupted by ungodly conversations.

To prevent anyone from thinking that a righteous tree can yield corrupt fruit and an unrighteous tree can produce good fruit, such a notion is clearly untenable. Nonetheless, an inquiry arises: why did David, who was a righteous tree, commit sins such as adultery and murder, while Paul, seen as an unrighteous tree, bore good fruit by becoming a chosen instrument of Christ? The answer lies in their transformation—David shifted from righteousness to wrongdoing, while Paul transitioned from wrongdoing to righteousness. As long as David stayed in righteousness and Paul remained in wrongdoing, they could not produce such contrasting fruits. Thus, it is asserted that this contradiction is impossible concerning that which is immutable.

The saying, "The tree of evil cannot bear good fruit," does not undermine the power of repentance but rather mocks the refusal to abandon wrongdoing. That which remains evil cannot produce good fruit; however, if transformed into righteousness, it will indeed yield such fruit. If the Saviour referred to trees, let your words carry weight. Yet, if He was speaking of humanity, with trees serving as a metaphor (what holds true for trees applies to us as well), allow your assumptions to be challenged. Consider the example of the Apostle Peter: what kind of tree is he? Is he a good tree? Yet, how did he deny himself? Does that make him evil? Yet the entire earth and sea celebrate his deeds and victories. As for Judas, what type of tree is he? Is he evil? Yet he is recognized as an apostle.

We should not identify true teachers of the faith by the sharpness of their intellect, the fluency of their speech, or their outward semblance of humility, but by the righteousness of their conduct and the alignment of their actions with the teachings of the Gospel. Just as the value of a tree is not determined by its leaves or bark, but by its fruit, so it is with those who teach. The nature of a tree reflects in its yield; no grapes are harvested from thorns, nor figs from thistles. A genuine preacher must be a person of godliness and integrity, for a virtuous individual draws from the good treasure in their heart to produce righteousness in both actions and words, akin to a fruitful tree.

A healthy tree cannot produce flawed fruit until it is tainted, just as a flawed tree cannot generate good fruit unless it is transformed by being grafted onto a healthy tree. We should not anticipate genuine, holy, truly Christian, humble virtues from false teachers. As St. Chrysostom points out, Christ does not claim that a wicked person cannot change or that a righteous person cannot fall; rather, He asserts that a person cannot yield good fruit as long as they are living in a corrupt manner. So, how did David, being both righteous and sinful, produce flawed fruit? He accomplished this not while in a state of virtue but only after having undergone a transformation; if he had remained virtuous, he would not have engaged in the actions that he took.

In summary, the Lord instructed that in every circumstance, we should continually seek God through prayer. Our approach towards our neighbors should adhere to the principle that our affection for them must be as strong as our love for ourselves. We must constantly encourage ourselves to walk the narrow path, exercise caution against false prophets, and live out the teachings we have embraced. By establishing these guidelines for His followers, the Lord clarified the essential differences between their righteousness and that of the Pharisees, laying a solid foundation for the spiritual formation of His chosen community.

The journey to the kingdom of God faces additional obstacles due to the emergence of false prophets, who may masquerade as genuine believers. Thus, Christ cautions His followers about these deceptive figures, highlighting the unmistakable indicator for identifying true servants of God versus those misleading others: by their fruits ye shall know them. This means observing how they live, act in accordance with their teachings, and the direction they lead their followers.

False teachers can be identified by their actions and way of life. In support of this, St. Luke remarks that a good person, drawing from the abundance of goodness within, produces righteous outcomes, while a wicked individual, motivated by evil within, yields harmful results (Lk. 6:44). This explains why the actions of false teachers reveal their true nature: those who harbor truth in their hearts are led to make wise choices and perform virtuous acts, whereas those who are deceitful within may create enticing rhetoric and engage in wrongful conduct. The speech of an individual reflects the overflow of what resides in their heart.

The path to salvation, while fraught with challenges that necessitate careful navigation, also poses the threat of temptation and avoidance. In light of this, the Lord cautioned His disciples about deceitful leaders, illustrating the indicators of their presence: Beware of false prophets, who approach you in sheep's clothing, yet inwardly they are ravenous wolves. The sheep's clothing symbolizes a façade of innocence and gentleness wielded by those who are disingenuous, aiming to mislead and harm the unsuspecting.