Matthew 7:20 (WEB)

Passage

Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Nearby Context

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.

Matthew 7:20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 7:22 Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore" and "fruits". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" 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 doesn t grow good..." into verse 21's "Not everyone who says to me Lord...", so "therefore" 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 "therefore" and "fruits" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.