Known by Its Fruit

The Narrow Way and Firm Foundation · Matthew 7

Story guide: A woman harvesting figs from a fig tree, a separate grapevine, and fruitless thorns outside the garden. This shared image is not a scene-for-scene rendering of Matthew 7:15-23.

Open this scene in the reader →

15Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16You will recognize them by their fruits. Do people gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

17So, every good tree produces good fruit, but the bad tree produces bad fruit.

18A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce good fruit.

19Every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20So then, you will recognize them by their fruits.

21Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter.

22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’

Step through the story beside the Scripture itself. About the People’s Open Bible