Judge a Tree by the Fruit it Bears
This is an example of a short-form post that I send only to those who have subscribed to The Bible Matrix emails. They are thought experiments, ideas or musings that I have had over the week. This one is from “Weekly Bread 5.” Subscribe for more.
“Judge a tree by the fruit it bears” Matthew 7:16 (summarised).
What does this mean to you?
According to Google's AI overview:
"The phrase 'judge a tree by the fruit it bears' means that a person's true character and intentions are revealed by their actions and the results of their behaviour, much like a tree is known by the fruit it produces."
I do not take this verse of Matthew 7:16 to mean that at all. I have always framed it in relation to an ideology, an experiment or a product… If a certain ideology is bearing negative results, then surely that ideology must be investigated - much like a dish that causes food poisoning should prompt an examination of the kitchen's hygiene practices.
After all, many individuals who have committed great evil—figures like Hitler, or those who have enriched themselves at their audience's expense—have still enjoyed the good opinion of even those they exploited.
To truly judge a tree by its fruit, we must examine the measurable outcomes: Does the fruit nourish or poison? Does it sustain life or cause harm? These are questions answered not by opinion polls or popular approval, but by empirical evidence—observable, measurable results that speak for themselves.
The true test of any system lies in its demonstrable effects on reality, not in the testimonials of its advocates.
Key
The "tree" = ideology/system/approach
The "fruit" = empirical outcomes/measurable results
The "judging" = objective evaluation based on evidence
What do you think? How do you understand that scripture?