Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 12:33

33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt, for the tree is known by his fruit.

We met with much the same, Ch. 7.16. As the Words here spoken, may be understood to have reference to the Devil, to the Scribes and Pharisees, or to Christ himself: You say, I do these things by the Devil, you cannot but say, the things I do are good, the Fruit followeth the Nature of the Tree: The Devil is Evil, a corrupt Tree, how can he produce good Fruit? Or thus, you shew your selves to be corrupt Trees, by the Fruit you bring forth; you indeed are not Leud and Profane, but put on a Mask and Vizard of Godliness, but your Fruit sheweth what you are. Or, 3. If the Fruit which I produce be good, why should not you judge me good? Speak things that are consistent, if the Fruit be good, the Tree must be good, convince me of any Evil things that I do, from whence you can rationally conclude, that I am a Corrupt Tree.

Marginal references: Luk. 6.[illegible: 2 letters] ▪ 44.