For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt
fruit
The particle, "for" is left out in the Syriac, Arabic, Persic,
and Ethiopic versions; and so it is in Beza's ancient copy: nor
do these words stand in close connection with the preceding in
Matthew's Gospel, though they may be very well considered as an
illustration of them; for as that cannot be called a good tree,
which brings forth bad fruit; so such men cannot be accounted
good men, let them make ever so large pretensions to such a
character, who are very busy in espying, discovering, and
censuring the faults of their brethren; when they take no notice
of, nor refrain from, nor relinquish their own. These words, with
what follow in this, and the next verse, and the similes in them,
are used by our Lord in Matthew, on account of false prophets or
teachers; where he suggests, that as good and faithful ministers
of the Gospel cannot, and do, not bring forth, and publish
corrupt notions, and false doctrines, usually and knowingly; even
usual, nor can it be, that a good tree should bring forth corrupt
fruit; so,
neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good
fruit;
or men of corrupt minds deliver good and sound doctrine, or the
wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ: but here they seem to
be applicable to other persons, even true believers and
hypocrites: the former are comparable to good trees, and are
called trees of righteousness, which being planted by the river
of the love of God, and rooted in Christ, and filled with the
fruits of righteousness by him, do not bring forth the evil fruit
of sin, as the common and constant course of their lives and
conversations; for that they never commit sin, or are entirely
without it, cannot be said; but sin is not their usual and common
practice, or they do not live in sin: and the latter, hypocrites,
who pretend to a great deal of religion, and have none that is
true and real, these are comparable to corrupt trees; which,
though they may make a fair show, yet do not bring forth good
fruit, or perform works of righteousness which are truly such;
what they do have only the appearance of good works, and are not
properly so;
(See Gill on Matthew 7:16). (See Gill on Matthew 7:17). (See Gill on Matthew 7:18).