Matthew 7:15-20 - The Sermon On The Mount: Recognizing False Prophets

¹⁵ "Look out for deceiving prophets, who approach you wearing sheep's clothing, but who are [actually] starving wolves in their hearts. ¹⁶ You can recognize them by their fruit [i.e., by what their lives produce]. Do people harvest grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistle weeds? ¹⁷ In a similar way, every healthy tree produces wholesome fruit; but a diseased tree produces [only] bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot produce bad fruit and neither can a diseased tree produce wholesome fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not produce wholesome fruit should be chopped down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore, you will recognize them [i.e., prophets] by their fruit [i.e., by what their lives produce].