Matthew 7:18 (DRB)

Passage

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit.

Nearby Context

Matthew 7:16 By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Matthew 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit.

Matthew 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire.

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "good", "tree", "bring", "forth", "evil", "fruit", and "neither". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "good" and "tree", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Even so every good tree bringeth forth..." into verse 19's "Every tree that bringeth not forth good...", so "good" and "tree" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "good" and "tree" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.