Shining a light on the weekly Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly®
Matter
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Good fruit is a common biblical symbol for the outcomes of righteous living. Here, near the close of his Sermon on the Mount, Christ Jesus uses the tree-and-fruit metaphor to charge his listeners to judge prophets by their works (see vv. 15, 16). His vivid portrayal of the effect of thought on behavior also appears in 12:33, and John the Baptist employs the image in his pointed words to the Pharisees and Sadducees (see 3:7–10).
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Resources cited in this issue
Cit. 6: Soards, Marion L. New International Biblical Commentary—I Corinthians. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1999; NLT Study Bible. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2017.
Cit. 13: Gasque, W. Ward, et al., eds. The New International Biblical Commentary: New Testament Series. Vol. 6, Romans. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1992.
Cit. 16: Michaels, J. Ramsey. New International Biblical Commentary—John. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1984.
Copyright
Scriptural quotations marked Contemporary English Version are taken from the Contemporary English Version, copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scriptural quotations marked Common English Bible are taken from the Common English Bible, copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible.
Scriptural quotations marked International Children’s Bible® are taken from the International Children’s Bible®. Copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptural quotations marked J.B. Phillips New Testament are from The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J.B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by permission.
Scriptural quotations marked Amplified® Bible (AMP) are taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org
Scriptural quotations marked Amplified® Bible (AMPC) are taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMPC), Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org
Scriptural quotations marked New International Reader’s Version™ are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version™, NIrV™. Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scriptural quotations marked Good News Translation are taken from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second Edition, copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission
© 2025 The Christian Science Publishing Society. The design of the Cross and Crown is a trademark owned by the Christian Science Board of Directors and is used by permission. Bible Lens and Christian Science Quarterly are trademarks owned by The Christian Science Publishing Society. Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptural quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
