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Matthew 7:17
ESV So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
NIV Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
NASB So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
CSB In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.
NLT A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
KJV Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
NKJV Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

What does Matthew 7:17 mean?

Jesus is warning His listeners to beware of false prophets. They may look like sheep, but they're actually hungry wolves. The way to properly identify them is by their fruit: what grows from their lives and teaching. Grapes don't grow on thorn bushes, and figs don't spring from thistle plants (Matthew 7:15–16). In the same way, legitimate spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22–24) comes from a true believer.

Christ clarifies that point even further, here. Healthy trees bear good fruit, sick trees bear bad fruit. That law of nature is true of people, as well as trees. "Healthy" prophets and teachers demonstrate through their lives and character that they are authentic messengers of God (1 John 4:1).

Jesus' words here are close to what John the Baptist said to the Pharisees: "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:7–8). Jesus has also challenged the teaching and practice of the Pharisees throughout the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:20).
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