the ax is already laid to the root of the trees: every tree then, which does not produce good fruit, shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Certainly a good tree does not produce bad fruit: nor does a bad tree produce good fruit.

Then by way of similitude, consider, said he, the fig-tree, and all the other trees;

for every tree is known by its fruit: it is not on thorns that men gather figs, nor do they gather grapes on a bramble bush.

He proposed likewise this parable: a certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came expecting it should have had fruit, but he found none.

then he said to the vine-dresser, you see, I have been looking these three years for fruit from this fig-tree, but find none: hew it down, why should it cumber my ground?