Matthew 7:17 (WEB)

Passage

Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.

Nearby Context

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

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

Matthew 7:17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.

Matthew 7:18 A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.

Matthew 7:19 Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "even", "good", "tree", "produces", "fruit", and "corrupt". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "even" and "good", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "By their fruits you will know them..." into verse 18's "A good tree can t produce evil...", so "even" and "good" 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 "even" and "good" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.