A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

Matthew 12

33 n "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, o for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 p You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, q when you are evil? r For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 r The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, s on the day of judgment t people will give account for u every careless word they speak, 37 for v by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 7:16 - 20
    You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
  2. Cross References
    Luke 6:43 - 44
    For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit.
  3. Cross References
    Matthew 3:7
    But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
    Matthew 23:33
    You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 7:11
    If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 15:18 - 19
    But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
    Luke 6:45
    The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
    Matthew 13:52
    And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.
    Ephesians 4:29
    Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
  6. Cross References
    Matthew 12:34
    You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
  7. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:4
    Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
    Ephesians 5:11
    Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
    2 Peter 1:8
    For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  8. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 12:14
    For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
    Romans 14:12
    So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
    1 Peter 4:5
    But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
  9. Cross References
    Acts 17:31
    Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
  10. Cross References
    Matthew 5:22
    But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.
    James 3:2 - 12
    For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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