15-16. Beware of false prophets, who come to
you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know
them by their fruits. The heretics are cunning and deceitful, which is why
He says, "Beware." They produce sweet words and feign a decent life,
but within lies the hook. "Sheep's clothing" is meekness, which some
pretend to employ, in order to flatter and to deceive. But they are recognized
by their "fruit," that is, by their deeds and by their life. For
though they can dissemble for a time, they are unmasked by those who are
heedful.
16-17. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or
figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. The hypocrites are called thorns
and thistles: they are like thorns in that they prick unexpectedly; they are
like thistles in their cunning and deviousness. The corrupt tree is anyone who
has been corrupted by a pleasure-loving and dissolute life.
18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. A corrupt tree cannot
bring forth good fruit as long as it is diseased. But if it has changed its
condition, it can bring forth good fruit. See that He did not say, "it
will not be able," but only that as long as it is corrupt it does not bear
good fruit.
19-20. Every tree that bringeth not forth good
fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall
know them. He addresses the Jews, speaking the same words as did John.
Jesus likens man to a tree. For by the introduction of a graft, a fruitless
tree can bear fruit; so, too, a sinful and fruitless man when engrafted with
Christ can bear fruits of virtue.
21. Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My
Father Who is in heaven. Here Jesus shows that He is Lord by saying,
"Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord." Jesus in fact is
saying that He is God. He teaches us that we derive no benefit from our faith
if it is without works. "He that doeth the will of My Father." He did
not mean, did the will of My Father on one occasion" but "that doeth
the will of My Father continually until his death." And He did not say,
"that doeth My will," lest He scandalize His listeners, but instead,
"that doeth the will of My Father." For the will of a father and his
son are one and the same, unless the son rebels.
22-23. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name cast out devils? And
in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I
never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. At the beginning of
the preaching many who were unworthy cast out demons that fled at the name of
Jesus. For the grace was at work even in the unworthy, just as we may be
sanctified by unworthy priests. Judas also worked signs, as did the sons of
Sceva. Jesus says, "I never knew you," meaning, "at that time
when you were working miracles I did not know you," that is, "I did
not love you." Here "know" means "love."
Return to the first page
