Section 12:33–37
Your words show whether you are good or bad
In this section, Jesus continued to respond to the Pharisees’ accusation that he cast out evil spirits by the power of Satan. First, he said that the Pharisees needed to be consistent in their beliefs about him. Then he warned them that God would judge them for the words that they said.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
A tree is known by its fruit
-or-
A tree and its fruit
-or-
People know you by your words (New Century Version)
Paragraph 12:33–37
This paragraph begins a new section. In this paragraph Jesus continued speaking. In some languages, it may be natural to make it explicit that Jesus continued speaking. For example:
⌊Jesus continued and said,⌋
12:33a–b
Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad: This is a metaphor. There are many ways to interpret this metaphor. Here are some of the main interpretations:
(1) Jesus compared himself to a tree. According to this interpretation, the verb make has the sense of a mental process of thinking, considering, judging, or believing. Also, the verb make is the implied verb in the phrase “⌊make⌋ its fruit good.”
Jesus told the Pharisees that they needed to be consistent in their beliefs about him (the tree) and his healings (fruit). They needed to consider both him and his works to be either good or bad. They could not say that his healings were good, then turn around and say that he himself was bad.
Here are some ways to translate this verse according to this interpretation:
Make the tree and its fruit good, or make the tree and its fruit bad.
-or-
Either call the tree good and its fruit good, or call the tree bad and its fruit bad. (The Simplified English Bible)
(2) Jesus compared the Pharisees to a tree. According to this interpretation, the verb make has the sense of change/repent. Also, the full form of the second clause would be “and ⌊then⌋ its fruit ⌊will be⌋ good.”
Jesus told the Pharisees that they needed to repent. They needed to change themselves. That would be like making a tree good. Then their works (fruit) would also be good.
Here are some ways to translate this verse according to this interpretation:
Make a tree good, and then its fruit will be good (God’s Word)
-or-
Make ⌊yourselves,⌋ the tree, good, then ⌊your deeds,⌋ the fruit will also be good
(3) Jesus compared people to two types of trees: a good tree and a bad tree. According to this interpretation, Jesus used this metaphor in the same way as he used similar metaphors in other places where he talked about a tree and its fruit. He was saying that both he and his deeds are good, and the Pharisees are bad.
Here are some ways to translate this verse according to this interpretation:
If you make a tree good, its fruit will also be good.
-or-
If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. (New Living Translation (2004))
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Among the main interpretations, this one fits best with the grammar and context of Matthew. Most English versions translate this verse quite literally. Even though they may appear to follow interpretation (1), it is not certain. If possible, you should translate this verse in a general way so that any of the above interpretations are possible.
Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:
• Keep the metaphor. For example:
make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Make the tree and its fruit good, or make the tree and its fruit bad.
• Translate the meaning of the verb make. For example:
Either call the tree good and its fruit good, or call the tree rotten and its fruit rotten. (The Simple English Bible)
-or-
Either consider the tree good and its fruit good, or consider the tree rotten and its fruit rotten. (Common English Bible)
-or-
⌊You must make your opinion of a tree and of its fruit the same.⌋ If you regard a tree as good, then you must also regard its fruit as good. If you regard a tree as bad, then you must also regard its fruit as bad.
• Make the topic of the metaphor explicit. For example:
You must decide whether ⌊I,⌋ the tree, and ⌊my deeds,⌋ the fruit, are good, or ⌊whether I and my deeds are⌋ bad.
• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
⌊You must have the same opinion of both me and my deeds.⌋ Decide whether I and my deeds are good, or whether they are bad.
12:33b
make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bad is literally “rotten, unusable, unwholesome.” If possible, you should use an adjective that can be used to refer to both a bad tree and bad fruit. For example:
rotten
-or-
not good
In some languages, it may be necessary to use a different adjective to describe a tree and its fruit. For example:
bad tree and fruit that is not good/sweet
12:33c
for: Verse 12:33c is the basis for the command in 12:33a–b. The Greek introduces this basis with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for.
Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, a conjunction will not be necessary here either.
In some languages, it may be more natural to put the basis before the command. For example:
cA tree is known by its fruit, a⌊so⌋ make a tree and its fruit good, bor make a tree and its fruit bad.
a tree is known by its fruit: The verb is known refers to looking at the fruit and easily knowing the kind of tree it is.
Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
is recognized (New International Version)
-or-
is shown
-or-
is distinguished
This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
a tree is recognized by its fruit (New International Version)
-or-
a tree is known because of its fruit
• Use an active verb. For example:
⌊people⌋ know/recognize a tree by its fruit
-or-
The fruit of a tree shows what kind of tree it is.
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