Matthew 7:20 (DRB)

Passage

Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.

Nearby Context

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.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wherefore", "fruits", and "shall". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wherefore" and "fruits", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "Every tree that bringeth not forth good..." into verse 21's "Not every one that saith to me...", so "wherefore" and "fruits" 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 "wherefore" and "fruits" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.