road or gate to life or death (see ch. xv. 14, 13) ; whence it arises that doing and saying are closely connected in ch. v. 10. The fruits indeed are the tokens (Gnorismata) or evidence of the truth or falsehood of the prophet, and therefore also of the doctrine set forth by the prophet. The doctrine, therefore, is not the fruit by which the prophet is known ; but it is the form of the true or false prophet which constitutes him the one or the other, and is itself known from its fruit. The goodness of the tree itself is truth and inward light, etc ; the goodness of the fruit is holiness of life. If the fruit consisted in doctrine, no orthodox teacher could be damned or be the cause of another's destruction. — See Schomer,1 Theol. Moral, p. 252. — a-ffb axavduv, of thorns) although their berries resemble grapes, as the heads of thistles do figs. In Luke vi. 44 the same com parison is differently turned, for axavda, the thorn, and fid™?, the bramble, are very closely allied. The grape therefore (tfrapuA^) is denied to each of them. Certain thorns (ay.ce.v6a/) also have large shoots : 2 figs therefore can be denied to them as well as to thistles.
19. Atvfyov, a tree) The allegory is continued.
21. Ou -rag, X..T.X., not every one, etc.) for all in some manner say, and shall say so ; see ver. 22, and cf. Luke ix. 57, 59, 61. — 6 XE/WI/, that saith) Put in opposition to 6 <roiuv, that doeth : cf. 1 Cor. ix. 27, xiii. 1, 2. — Mo/, unto Me) The meaning is, " unto Me and My Father;" and again, "My Father's Will and Mine." — Kvpiz, Lord) Jesus acknowledged that this Divine appellation was due to Him. Many, even men of high rank, called Him LORD : He called no one so, not even Pilate. — o KCIUV, x.r.X., he that doeth, etc.) There is an antithesis between this and 01 epya^t- ftsvoi (that work), in ver. 23. — ro SeXj^a, x.r.X., the will, etc.) sc. that which I preach, the righteous will, which is declared in the Law : cf. v. 19. — roiJ ev ofy>ai/o/j,3 which is in heaven3) No one, therefore, who is contrary to God will enter heaven. — dXX' 6
1 JUSTUS CHRISTOPHER SCHOMER, a celebrated Lutheran divine, was born at Lubeck in 1648, and died in 1693, professor of Theology at Rostock. In 1690 he published his celebrated work, Theologia Moralis sibi constans, quoted in the text. — (I. B.)
2 i.e. — resembling figs in some measure. — (I. B.)
3 The word is in the plural number. — (I. B.)