Luke 6:44 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

NIV: Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.

NASB: For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.

CSB: For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren't gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush.

NLT: A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.

KJV: For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

NKJV: For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

Jesus continues with His metaphor of good and bad fruit and how they are produced. "Fruit" is the result of something. In the context of the Sermon on the Plain, the type of person symbolized by a good tree will follow Jesus and, when persecuted, love and forgive their oppressors. The person characterized by the bad tree will oppress those who follow Jesus and be quick to judge and condemn others. We need to judge our own fruit and make sure it is consistent with Christ before we can lead others (Luke 6:40–42).

The implication of "gathered" figs and "picked" grapes is that the "fruit" is already harvested. We are looking down at it, determining where it was found. Jesus is saying that if we produce good fruit, like love, kindness, and self-control (Galatians 5:19–23), our hearts are probably good (Luke 6:45). If we produce bad fruit, like sexual immorality, anger, and division, we know we need to examine our hearts.

The mention of grapes evokes a point Jesus will not make until the Last Supper. He will tell the Twelve, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). We can only produce good fruit if we are connected to and nourished by Jesus through the Holy Spirit (Luke 6:40).

Matthew 7:15–20 uses the same analogy to warn against false prophets. In Matthew 12:33, Jesus uses the comparison as a condemnation of the Pharisees and scribes who claim His power comes from Satan (Matthew 12:22–37).

Luke 6:43–45 further explains Jesus' call to self-examination (Luke 6:39–42). A teacher cannot effectively lead another if he is blind to truth. He must overcome his own faulty teaching and disobedience first. If he doesn't, he proves he is evil and his words will be, too. If he examines himself and chooses to follow Jesus, his life will be fruitful and his teaching truthful. Next, Jesus reveals how people can fulfill His hard teachings: base their lives on Him (Luke 6:46–49). Matthew 7:15–20 applies the tree and fruit to false prophets. In Matthew 12:33–34, Jesus applies the metaphor directly to Pharisees.

Luke 6 contains two main sections of teaching and calls to discipleship. Luke 6:1–16 continues the pattern of Luke 5. The two ways in which Jesus sets aside tradition—this time by taking authority over the Sabbath—are paired with His call for the Twelve disciples. Luke 6:17–49 records Jesus' teaching on the ''level place,'' or His ''Sermon on the Plain,'' and a call to a crowd for general discipleship. Much of this material has parallels in Matthew 5 through 7, but it's not clear if the two accounts are of the same event. As a travelling teacher, Christ likely gave the same general message multiple times.

Luke 6 completes Jesus' call for disciples and followers that started in Luke 5. Luke 5:1—6:16 consists of three calls for disciples, each paired with two revolutionary teachings about Jesus' authority that increasingly infuriate the religious leaders. Luke 6:17–49 continues the theme with a general call for followers and a description of their responsibilities. In Luke 7:1—8:3, Jesus interacts with the other: Gentiles, women, and even the dead. This is followed by another general call (Luke 8:4–21), a series of miracles (Luke 8:22—9:17), and a final call for the Twelve to follow Him even more deeply (Luke 9:18–50).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.