Luke 6:44

6:44 for each tree is known ¹  by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered ²  from thorns, nor are grapes picked ³  from brambles. ⁴ 

Luke 18:4

18:4 For ⁵  a while he refused, but later on ⁶  he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people, ⁷ 

Luke 20:35

20:35 But those who are regarded as worthy to share in ⁸  that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. ⁹ 

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¹ sn The principle of the passage is that one produces what one is.

² tn Grk “they do not gather”; this has been simplified to the passive voice in the translation since the subject “they” is not specified further in the context.

³ tn This is a different verb (τρυγῶσιν, trugwsin) for gathering from the previous one (συλλέγουσιν, sullegousin).

⁴ tn This is a different term (βάτος, batos) for a thorn or bramble bush than the previous one (ἄκανθα, akanqa).

sn The statement nor are grapes picked from brambles illustrates the principle: That which cannot produce fruit, does not produce fruit.

⁵ tn Grk “And for.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁶ tn Grk “after these things.”

⁷ tn Grk “man,” but the singular ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used as a generic in comparison to God.

⁸ tn Grk “to attain to.”

⁹ sn Life in the age to come is different than life here (they neither marry nor are given in marriage). This means Jesus’ questioners had made a false assumption that life was the same both now and in the age to come.