As far as knowing people by their fruit, what that really means is knowing a preacher by his disciples. Fruit are people, not works.
Any verse can say the fruit of the lips, or of the earth, or of your hands, or of the womb in which case we can contextualize our understanding. Yet I will only show verses that just say fruit, tree, or cluster alone and the assumption is people.
The Sadducees would never produce Bible believing God fearing Christians. We know they are wicked because those who directly follow after them were doctrinally scattered and confused. They bring forth corrupt fruit or bad converts.
Exodus 21:22
If men strive, and hurt a woman WITH CHILD, so that HER FRUIT depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
Her fruit depart from her? That means her child dies, her fruit is her child.
Jeremiah 11:19
But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, LET US DESTROY THE TREE WITH THE FRUIT thereof, AND LET US CUT HIM OFF from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
Is this fruit works or actual actual people? Are they spiritual converts?
Mark 4:29
But when the FRUIT is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
James 1:18
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, THAT WE should be a kind of FIRSTFRUITS of his creatures.
Revelation 14:18
And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the CLUSTERS OF THE VINE of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a TREE OF LIFE; and he that WINNETH SOULS IS WISE.
Mark 8:23-25
And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
And he looked up, and said, I SEE MEN AS TREES, walking.
After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
EVER HEARD THE SAYING APPLE DOES NOT FALL FAR FROM THE TREE?
Matthew 12:33
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Romans 16:5
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved EPAENETUS, who is the FIRSTFRUITS OF ACHAIAA unto Christ.
1 Corinthians 16:15
I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of STEPHENAS, that it is the FIRSTFRUITS OF ACHAIA, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
Matthew 13:26
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth FRUIT, then appeared the tares also.
1 Corinthians 15:20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept.
Revelation 14:4
These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, BEING THE FIRSTFRUITS unto God and to the Lamb.
John 15:16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth FRUIT, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
God ordains men to win souls and set up churches or fruit or people. He did not choose them to do good deeds he expected that already, he chose them to win souls by spreading the gospel. Their fruit remains because once saved always saved.
-But to him that worketh not