ACC ~ Matthew 7 v18

IDENTIFYING FRAUD BY ITS RESULTS

CHRYSOSTOM: Jesus also said these things to shut the mouths of those who say nothing but slander and to reign in the lips of those who speak maliciously. For many are suspicious of good people because so many others are evil, but Jesus by this saying has deprived them of all excuse. For on this premise one would not even be able to say, “I am deceived and was misled.” For he has provided you a rule by which accurately to identify the frauds by their deeds. He has also commanded you to proceed on the basis of practices and not to mix up all cases at random. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 23.7. [1]

[1] PG 57:316-17; NPNF 1 10:164. Christ does not say that for the wicked there is no way to change or that the good cannot fall away but that so long as one is living in wickedness, one will not be able to bear good fruit.