“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do me gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20).
A false teacher may disguise himself. He may look harmless (cf. Matthew 23:25-28; 2 Corinthians 11:14). He may, to the undiscerning, look like and sound like one who is a sheep (a follower of the Shepherd).
How can one identify a false teacher? Jesus says that one may know “by their fruits.” As one can know whether a plant is a grapevine or thornbush by what is produced; and as one can know whether a plant is a fig tree or thistle by what is produced; even so, one can know the kind of teacher one is by observing the fruits produced. (Note, in the text “good” and “bad” does not mean varying qualities of the same type of fruit. This is speaking of different types of fruit, for example – grapes and thornbushes, figs and thistles.)
What does Jesus mean “by their fruits”? The following options have been suggested. (1) Some believe that this refers to the personal conduct of their lives. Fruit may refer to conduct (e.g. Matthew 3:8). (2) Some believe that this refers to their teaching. Fruit may refer to words (e.g. Matthew 12:33-37). (3) Some have suggested that this refers to the effect of their teaching (e.g. Matthew 23:15). (4) Some have suggested that the meaning is found in a combination of these options.
While there may be some value in observing all of these, it seems to me that option two best fits the context. Consider this comment by Thomas B. Warren, “In the view of this author, in the light of the fact that Jesus had just warned against false prophets (7:15), Jesus meant that false teachers can be identified by the doctrines which they teach. Many false teachers live good moral lives. They seem to be pious, to love God, to love their families, to love their neighbors, etc. Yet they teach false doctrine. It is because some false teachers have so many attributes which might well be praised that they can so easily deceive so many people” (Thomas Warren, Matthew 7, The Spiritual Sword Lectureship: The Book of Matthew, p. 269, editors Garland Elkins and Thomas B. Warren). If this is the meaning, then this would be a reminder of what had been taught in the Law and the Prophets (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 18:20-22; Isaiah 8:20). Notice the test: (1) Does he teach another god? (2) Does he teach something which contradicts God’s word? (Note, it does not matter if he has provided some kind of sign or not. If it contradicts God’s word, then it is to be rejected). (3) Does he give prophecy which does not come to pass? (Note, even one false prophecy discredits the person as a prophet of God). These were ways that God told Israel that they could test a prophet.
We are to be discerning (1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). We are to inspect the fruit.
Bryan Hodge 
A Fig Tree Bearing Olives
“With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh” (James 3:9-12).
“It” refers to the tongue. The use of the tongue is under consideration. It is important that we bridle (control) our tongues. One’s religion is useless if he does not do this (James 1:26).
It is not uncommon for man to use his tongue in two ways which are inconsistent. (1) A man may use his tongue to “bless” (Greek eulogoumen meaning to speak well of) God. He may do this in worship. One writer has written, “A devout Jew would repeat the Shemoneh Esreh (or Shemoneh Esrei B.H.) which consisted of eighteen prayers called Eulogies, three times a day. Each prayer begins with, ‘Blessed be Thou, O God.'” (J.J. Turner, The Book of James, p. 105). It is good to praise God. “Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). (2) The same man may have a pattern of using his tongue to “curse” (Greek Katarometha meaning to curse down) men. One writer has suggested, “He considers himself able to look up to God, and bless him; and down to men and curse them” (Guy N. Wood, A Commentary on the Epistle of James, p. 173).
Why Not
James tells us that “these things ought not to be so” (James 3:10). Why not? (1) Man has been made (perfect tense expressing abiding results – B.H.) in the similitude of God (James 3:9). He should be treated with dignity and respect. He should not be treated as something sub-human, inferior, or beneath oneself. God created this one in his image. (2) It is not useful (James 3:10). The word “ought” (Greek Chre) is related to the original word “to use” (chraomai). The idea seems to be that this is not the proper use of the tongue. We are taught: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). (3) It is inconsistent (James 3:11-12).
Illustration
(1) It is as inconsistent as a spring sending forth both fresh (sweet) water and salt (bitter) water from the same opening (James 3:11-12). (a) If this happened at the same time, the water of the spring would be corrupted. The salt would taint the water and make it unpleasant or unwholesome to drink. One cannot worship God acceptably and hate his brother (cf. 1 John 4:20-21; Matthew 5:23-24). Moreover, many will not listen to our message, even if true, when they are exposed to such inconsistency (cf. Romans 2:21-24). Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited with saying, “Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying.” (b) If this happened at different random times, who could depend on this water hole? One would not know whether fresh water or salt water would come forth. We should seek to be consistent. “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life” (Proverbs 10:11). (c) However, the real point is that a spring does not do this. It is consistent. A Christian should also seek to be consistent. If we truly love God then we also should care about man.
(2) It is as inconsistent as a fig tree bearing olives or a grapevine bearing figs (James 3:12). (a) The point is that this does not happen. Plants produce according to their kind (Genesis 1:11-13). They are known by their fruit (Matthew 12:33-37; Matthew 7:15-20; Luke 6:43-45). (b) However, imagine the confusion which would be caused if a fig tree produced olives or a grapevine produced figs. Imagine the confusion which would exist if one never knew what type of fruit to expect on any kind of tree. What kind of fruit do you think Jesus sought from a fig tree? (Matthew 21:18-19; cf. Luke 13:6-9). God’s people should be known for producing a certain kind of fruit (cf. James 3:13-18; Galatians 5:19-23).
{Note: It is possible for a single citrus tree to produce different types of citrus fruit (e.g. lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit), and for different types of apples (red, green, yellow) to grow on one apple tree. These trees are called fruit salad trees. This is accomplished by humans engineering this, by grafting of variety of fruit branches of the same family on to one tree. Those on a citrus are still citrus. These on an apple tree are still apples. There are limits. One cannot successfully graft fruit from different families on to one tree (e.g. apples and oranges). [See: Better Homes and Gardens, Yes Fruit Salad Trees Exist and Here’s How to Grow Them by Derek Carwood, January 10, 2023, bhg.com; Also, Can Citrus Bear Different Fruits? Google A.I,; And, Fruit Salad Tree, Google A.I.]}
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