False Prophets and Their Fruits (Matthew 7:15–20; Luke 6:43–45)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 23 (on Matthew 7:15–20) Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110/npnf110.iii.XXIII.html

On what manner of men the "false prophets" are:

And by the figure of "false prophets," here, I think He shadows out not the heretics, but them that are of a corrupt life, yet wear a mask of virtue; whom the generality are wont to call by the name of impostors.

That the hypocrite is easily convicted, because he will not take pains:

for such is the nature of this way, in which I commanded men to walk, painful and irksome; but the hypocrite would not choose to take pains, but to make a show only; wherefore also he is easily convicted.

On the tree that cannot bear good fruit while it continues evil:

But Christ saith not this, that for the wicked there is no way to change, or that the good cannot fall away, but that so long as he is living in wickedness, he will not be able to bear good fruit. For he may indeed change to virtue, being evil; but while continuing in wickedness, he will not bear good fruit.

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St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermon 33 (on Luke 6:43–45) Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_03_sermons_26_38.htm

On the deeds of a man's life as the test of what he is:

Each man's actual life, therefore, is that which decides what are his morals: for it is not by mere outside adornments, and fictitious virtues that the beauty of the truly honourable life is delineated, but by the deeds a man does: for they are the fruits of a mind that for the love of piety chooses a blameless life.

On the good treasure of the heart, which the speech pours forth:

This is also made clear by another declaration of our Lord: "for the good man, He says, as out of a good treasure, poureth forth from the heart good things:" but he who is differently disposed, and whose mind is the prey of fraud and wickedness, necessarily brings forth what is concealed deep within. For the things that are in the mind and heart boil over, and are vomited forth by the outflowing stream of speech.

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Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 6. Public domain. Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Book II (on Matthew 7:15–20) Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf106/npnf106.v.iii.xxiv.html

On the good deeds that are the sheep's own clothing, which hypocrites counterfeit:

For many reckon among the fruits certain things which belong to the sheep's clothing, and in this way are deceived by wolves: as, for instance, either fastings, or prayers, or almsgivings ... These, therefore, are not the fruits by which He admonishes us that the tree is known. For such things, when they are done with a good intention in sincerity, are the appropriate clothing of sheep; but when they are done in wicked deception, they cover nothing else but wolves. But the sheep ought not on this account to hate their own clothing, because the wolves often conceal themselves therein.

On the tree as the soul itself and the fruit as its works:

For the tree is certainly the soul itself, i.e. the man himself, but the fruits are the works of the man; an evil man, therefore, cannot perform good works, nor a good man evil works. If an evil man, therefore, wishes to perform good works, let him first become good.

On the evil man who cannot do good while he remains evil, as snow cannot be warm:

So it may come about, that he who was evil is no longer evil; it cannot, however, happen that an evil man should do good.

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St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 7:15–20) Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.vii.html

On applying the false prophets to all whose speech and deeds disagree, and specially to heretics:

What is here spoken of false prophets we may apply to all whose dress and speech promise one thing, and their actions exhibit another. But it is specially to be understood of heretics, who by observing temperance, chastity, and fasting, surround themselves as it were with a garment of sanctity, but inasmuch as their hearts within them are poisoned, they deceive the souls of the more simple brethren.

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St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Moralia in Job, Book XXXI (on Matthew 7:15–20) Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.vii.html

On the hypocrite whom persecution unmasks:

Also the hypocrite is restrained by peaceful times of Holy Church, and therefore appears clothed with godliness; but let any trial of faith ensue, straight the wolf ravenous at heart strips himself of his sheep's skin, and shews by persecuting how great his rage against the good.