You Will Know Them by Their Fruit Galations
Question
What does it mean that yous will know them past their fruit in Matthew 7:16?
Answer
The statement "yous will know them by their fruit" (Matthew 7:16) is part of Jesus' teaching about recognizing true followers and avoiding imitation prophets. Beginning with verse xv, nosotros read this context: "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, just inwardly are ravenous wolves. You volition know them past their fruits. Grapes are non gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every skilful tree bears good fruit, merely the bad tree bears bad fruit. A adept tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce practiced fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cutting down and thrown into the burn. Then then, you lot will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:xv–20).
The seventh affiliate of the Gospel of Matthew is a gold mine of teaching from the popular verse one to the well-known parable most the wise man building his house upon the stone (verses 24–27). In verses 21–23, Jesus makes a chilling declaration to many who assumed they belonged to Him. He warned them that on Judgment Day they will hear Him say, "Depart from me. I never knew yous." Just before that alert, Jesus had indicted those who pretended to follow Him but whose lives indicated something else. He told His followers that the "fruit" of their lives proved what was inside their hearts (cf. Marker 7:twenty–23).
When Jesus says, "You lot will know them past their fruit," what does "fruit" hateful? Jesus gave the illustration of grape vines and fig copse. When nosotros see grape vines, we wait them to contain grapes in flavour. We also expect fig trees to produce figs. A produce farmer who notices 1 of his fruit trees not bearing any fruit will cut it downwards. It is useless. Likewise, we would non come to a field of thistles and expect to harvest fruit. Thistles and thorn bushes can never produce fruit because of their nature. It is impossible. They accept no capacity to produce anything merely thorns (Matthew 12:33).
In our lives, every word and every activity is fruit from our hearts. Sinners sin because that's what is in their hearts. Thieves steal, rapists assault, and adulterers cheat because those sins are the fruit being produced from an evil center. Bad hearts produce bad fruit. When Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruit" concerning faux teachers, He was giving the states a guide for identifying them. Imitation prophets, speakers of lies, will have actions that correspond to their errant bulletin. Just as their message is anti-God, then will be their works. They will devious from the path of righteousness.
When we repent of our sin and receive Jesus every bit Lord of our lives (John 1:12; Acts 2:38), He changes our hearts (ii Corinthians v:17). Now the fruit that is produced is good fruit. Galatians 5:22 lists some of the fruit produced by a heart in tune with God. Our attitudes, actions, words, and perspectives change as we walk in fellowship with the Holy Spirit (1 John 1:6–vii). When our hearts change, our fruit changes.
Many false prophets have come and gone, and many of them lived in blatant sin while preaching their message. Jim Jones openly engaged in adultery, drug utilize, and profanity. David Koresh had child "wives" as young as eleven. Fake teachers might display the "fruit" of sexual immorality, greed, materialism, gluttony, and other sins while justifying their beliefs and lifting themselves upwards as something holy. Unfortunately, many people through the years accept been duped into following such characters and joining them in justifying the sin. If only they had heeded Jesus' warning that "you will know them by their fruit." No matter how skillful or convincing someone sounds, if he is bearing bad fruit, his message should be avoided.
Godly teachers will brandish skillful "fruit" such as making disciples (Matthew 28:nineteen), using their gifts to benefit others (Romans 12:iv–8), leading lost people to Jesus (James 5:20), loving their fellow believers (1 John three:14), and seeking humble ways to do good everywhere (Jeremiah 29:7). All of these things are indications of a adept center.
Ofttimes, people profess faith in Jesus as Savior, but it is a mere profession with no real organized religion. Some religious groups encourage baptism, confirmation, or other religious rites that are supposed to ensure one's future in sky. But as time goes on, the fruit being produced in such a life looks zilch like what is conspicuously prescribed in the Bible (1 Peter 1:sixteen). Some attend church building services just spend the remainder of their time living entirely for themselves. Some may rise to prominence, even educational activity or preaching, writing books, or dominating the media, simply the fruit of their lives belies their words (Matthew 24:24). Greed, deception, immorality, pride, or dishonesty defines them, making them simulated prophets by Jesus' standards (2 Peter 2:1–3).
While we can never know anyone else'southward heart, we tin make wise assessments well-nigh other people by observing the regular fruit of their lives. All of us stumble from time to time, and we may become through seasons of bearing footling fruit (1 John 1:viii). But i John 3:4–10 makes it clear that those who know God will not continue a lifestyle of bearing bad fruit. Nosotros have been transformed, and the fruit of our lives is evidence of that transformation. Apple tree copse don't produce bananas, and strawberry plants don't produce figs. This fact of nature is also true in the spiritual realm. Nosotros can place those whose hearts take been redeemed by the fruit we come across in their lives.
Questions about Matthew
What does it mean that you will know them by their fruit in Matthew vii:xvi?
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This folio last updated: January 4, 2022
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