Contradictions and Paradoxes in Matthew 7:16

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Matthew 7:16 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Matthew 7:16. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to Matthew, you can tell what kind of person someone is by the things they do, just like you can tell what kind of plant it is by the fruit it grows. You wouldn't expect to pick yummy grapes from a bush with sharp, thorny spikes, would you?

Matthew 7:16: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Contradiction with James 4:11-12

While Matthew 7:16 suggests discernment through actions, James emphasizes that judgment is reserved for God alone, suggesting a contradiction in human judgment.

James 4:11-12: Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

Contradiction with 1 Samuel 16:7

Matthew 7:16 advises judging by fruits (actions), yet this verse highlights that while humans see external actions, God evaluates the heart, cautioning against reliance solely on visible outcomes.

1 Samuel 16:7: But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. [outward...: Heb. eyes]

Contradiction with Romans 14:13

This verse advises against judging one another, contrasting with the idea in Matthew 7:16 of identifying people by their fruits, as it emphasizes the avoidance of judgment among believers.

Romans 14:13: Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.

Paradox #1

One potential contradiction with the verse could be the idea that judging others based on their actions or "fruits" seems to conflict with other teachings in the Bible that emphasize not judging others or looking at the heart rather than outward actions. This could create tension between evaluating someone based on what they do versus accepting them without judgment.

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