934.“果子”表示人出于爱或仁所行的良善，这是众所周知的，无需通过圣言来证实；事实上，读者也不会将圣言中的“果子”理解成别的。“果子”之所以表示爱或仁的良善，是因为人好比一棵树，也被称作“树”（89，400节）。“果子”表示爱或仁的良善，也就是通常所说的“好行为”或“善行”，这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
现在斧子已经放在树根上；凡不结好果子的树就砍下来，丢在火里。（马太福音 3:10；7:16-20）
你们或以为树好，果子也好，树坏，果子也坏；因为从果子就可以知道树。（马太福音12:33；路加福音6:43-44）
凡不结果子的枝子，都要剪去，凡结果子的，修理干净，叫它结果子更多；常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子。（约翰福音15:2-8）
你们要结出与悔改相称的果子来。（马太福音3:8）
撒在好地上的，就是人听道明白了，结出果子来。（马太福音13:23）
耶稣对门徒说，是我拣选了你们，叫你们去结果子，你们的果子要常存。（约翰福音15:16）
一个人有一棵无花果树栽在葡萄园里。他来到树前找果子，却找不着。就对管园的说，把它砍了吧，何必白占地土呢！（路加福音13:6-9）
有一个做家主的人把他的葡萄园租给园户，来收它的果子；但他们却杀了所差给他们的仆人，最后杀了他的儿子；于是他将葡萄园另租给那按着时候交果子的其他人。神的国必从你们夺去，赐给那能结果子的民族。（马太福音21:33-35，38-39，41，43）
此外还有其它许多地方。
934. That fruits symbolize the good works that a person does out of love or charity is, indeed, something known without confirmation from the Word, for no one who reads the Word interprets fruits to mean anything else.
Fruits symbolize the goods of love or charity because a person is likened to a tree and is also called a tree (nos. 89, 400).
That fruits symbolize the goods of love or charity, which in common speech are called good works, may be seen from the following passages:
...the ax is laid to the root of the tree. Every tree... which does not bear good fruit shall be cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:10, cf. 7:16-20)
Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten; ...a tree is known by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33, cf. Luke 6:43-44)
Every branch... that does not bear fruit (shall be taken away); and every branch that bears fruit (shall be pruned), that it may bear more fruit... He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit... (John 15:2-8).
...bear fruits worthy of repentance... (Matthew 3:8)
He who received seed on the good ground is someone who hears the Word and heeds it (and) bears fruit... (Matthew 13:23)
(Jesus said to His disciples,) ."..I chose you... that you should... bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain... (John 15:16)
A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; he came seeking fruit on it and found none. He said to the keeper of his vineyard, ."..Cut it down; why should it render the ground fruitless?" (Luke 13:6-9)
...a certain householder... leased (his vineyard) to husbandmen..., that (he) might receive its fruit. But the husbandmen (killed) his servants (that he sent to them)..., and last of all... his son... (Therefore he) will lease his vineyard to (others) who will render to him the fruits in their seasons... Therefore... the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it. (Matthew 21:33-35, 37-39, 41, 43)
And so on in many other places.
934. That 'fruits' signify the goods that a man does out of love or charity is known indeed without confirmation out of the Word, for the reader understands nothing else by 'fruits' in the Word. The reason why by 'fruits' are understood the goods of love or charity is because a man is compared to a tree, and is also called 'a tree' (89, 400). That 'fruits' signify the goods of love or charity, which in common parlance are called good works, can be confirmed from these passages:
The axe is laid to the root of the tree, every tree not bearing good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire. Matthew 3:10; 7:16-20.
Either make the tree good and the fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and the fruit corrupt; the tree is recognised by the fruit. Matthew 12:33; Luke 6:43-44.
Every branch not bearing fruit shall be taken away, but every one bearing fruit shall be pruned that it may bear more fruit. He who abides in Me and I in him, this one bears much fruit. John 15:2-8.
Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Matthew 3:8.
He who was seeded into the good ground, this is the one who hears the Word and pays attention and bears fruit. Matthew 13:23.
Jesus said to the disciples, I have chosen you that you may bear fruit, and that your fruit may remain. John 15:16.
A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard: he came seeking fruit on it, but found none: he says to the vinedresser, Cut it down, why does it make the land unfruitful? Luke 13:6-9.
A man, a householder, let out his vineyard to farmers, that he might get its fruits, but they killed the servants sent to them, and at length, the Son; he therefore will let the vineyard out to others who shall render Him the fruits in their season. So shall the kingdom of God be taken away from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Matthew 21:33-35, 38-41, 43; besides many other places.
934. That "fruits" signify the goods which man does from love or charity, is known indeed without confirmation from the Word; for the reader understands nothing else by "fruits" in the Word. The reason why the goods of love or charity are meant by "fruits" is because man is compared to a tree, and is also called a tree, (89, 400). That "fruits" signify the goods of love or charity, which are called in common speech good works, may be evident from these passages:
The axe is laid unto the root of the tree; every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire, (Matthew 3:10; 7:16-20).
Either make the tree good and the fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and the fruit corrupt; the tree is known from the fruit, (Matthew 12:33; Luke 6:43-44).
Every branch that beareth not fruit shall be taken away, but everyone that beareth fruit shall be pruned, that it may bring forth more fruit; he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, (John 15:2-8).
Make fruits worthy of repentance, (Matthew 3:8).
That which was sowed in the good ground is he that heareth the Word, and attendeth, and beareth fruit, (Matthew 13:23).
Jesus said to the disciples, I have chosen you, that ye should bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, (John 15:16).
A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came seeking fruit on it, and found none; he saith to the vinedresser, Cut it down, why maketh it the earth unfruitful? (Luke 13:6-9)
A man, a householder, let out his vineyard to husbandmen, to receive the fruits of it; but they killed the servants sent to them, and at length his son; he therefore will let out the vineyard to others, who will render him the fruits in their seasons. So the kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits of it, (Matthew 21:33-35, 38-39, 41, 43), besides many other places.
934. Quod "fructus" significent bona quae homo ex amore seu charitate facit, quidem scitur absque confirmatione ex Verbo; nam legens per "fructus" in Verbo non aliud intelligit. Causa quod per "fructus" intelligantur bona amoris seu charitatis, est quia homo comparatur Arbori, et quoque vocatur Arbor (89, 400). Quod "fructus" significent bona amoris seu charitatis, quae communi voce vocantur bona opera, constare potest ex his locis:
"Securis ad radicem arboris jacet; omnis Arbor non faciens Fructum bonum exscindetur, et in ignem conjicietur," (Matthaeus 3:10; 7:16-20);
"Aut facite Arborem bonam et Fructum bonum, aut facite Arborem putrem et Fructum putrem; ex Fructu cognoscitur Arbor," (Matthaeus 12:33; Luca 6:43-44);
"Omnis palmes non ferens Fructum auferetur; omnis autem Fructum ferens putabitur ut plus Fructus ferat; qui manet in Me et Ego in illo, hic fert Fructum multum," Johannes 15:2-8);
"Facite Fructus dignos paenitentia," (Matthaeus 3:8); "Qui in terram bonam seminatus est, hic est qui Verbum audit et attendit et Fructum fert," (Matthaeus 13:23);
Jesus dixit discipulis "Ego elegi vos ut Fructum feratis, et fructus vester maneat," (Johannes 15:16);
"Ficum habebat aliquis in Vinea sua plantatam; venit Fructum quaerens in ea, sed non invenit; dicit ad vinitorem, Exscinde eam; quid terram infrugiferam reddet," (Luca 13:6-9); 1
Homo paterfamilias locavit Vineam suam agricolis, ut acciperet Fructus ejus; sed occiderunt servos ad illos missos, et tandem Filium; "quare Vineam locabit aliis, qui reddent Illi Fructus in temporibus suis. Ita auferetur vobis Regnum Dei, et dabitur Genti facienti Fructus ejus, (Matthaeus 21:33-35, 38-39, 41, 43). 2
(Praeter multis aliis in locis.)
Footnotes:
1. 6-9 pro "6 ad 20"
2. 33-35, 38, 39, 41, 43 pro "34, 40, 41, 43"