By Their Fruit

“Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes? Are figs gathered from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruit, you will recognize them.

“A good person brings good things out of the good treasure of their heart, and an evil person brings evil things out of the evil treasure of their heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

“Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’”

(See Matthew 7:15-23; Luke 6:43-45)

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