Matthew 7:16-20 You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?… Not by our acquired knowledge, or fancied experience, or creed; but by fruits. I. THE PRIMARY AND IMMEDIATE DESIGN OF OUR LORD IN THE DECLARATION BEFORE US. This text connected with the preceding (vers. 15-20) — "Wherefore." The greater part of the Sermon on the Mount was designed to rectify the errors of the Pharisees. 1. The false prophets whom our Lord condemns were guilty of lowering the standard of moral duty by explaining away the spirituality and extent of the law, and reducing the whole of human obedience to a few unimportant ceremonies. 2. They frustrate the free grace of the gospel by insisting on the meritoriousness of human obedience. Thus did the Judaising teachers in Corinth, Galatia, and Ephesus. II. THE PRACTICAL NATURE OF CHRISTIANITY AS A DECISIVE PROOF OF ITS DIVINITY. 1. The influence of genuine Christianity is always practically holy. 2. Let the actual results of the influence of Christianity upon the world be examined, and it will be found that they are uniformly of a holy and felicitating character. (J. Savill.) Parallel Verses KJV: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?WEB: By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? |
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