“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 7: 15-19, NKJV.
Dear God, once again we thank You for the privilege of living in a land where we can freely study Your holy Word. Please speak to our hearts this day, as we search for truth. This is our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today we continue with the second half of our Scripture, “Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” For a few minutes, we will address two premises contained in these verses. We will deal with them in the form of questions: Can our characters produce fruit contrary to the seed they possess? What will happen to those whose characters do not produce good fruit?
Let us begin with question number one? The question is asked, ” ‘ “Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” We know that the logical answer to this is, no. The closest we have come to doing this, I believe, is through the process of engrafting; and in our modern times, of Genetic engineering, where some changes are made to the original product. But we do not go to an apple tree expecting to find oranges. The apostle John made a very noteworthy statement regarding the power of the seed, in the production of the fruit. Listen:
“Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3: 7-10). Emphasis supplied. Jesus said it very clearly, “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.”
But you may ask, haven’t we all sinned? According to Romans 3: 10, 12, and 23, we have. But there is quite a difference between being overcome by sin, and living in sin. Those who are in Christ, clothed in His righteousness, practice the righteousness of Christ – like Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2: 20). Emphasis supplied. The seed of Christ’s character, produces its fruit in those who are His – those who have died to self, and are born of God!
What will be the final destination of the tree that does not bear good fruit? Jesus Himself answered that question in John chapter 15, “‘ ‘ “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away . . . If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” ‘ ” (1, 2, 6). The branch is a product of the same seed that produced the vine. As long as it stays attached to the vine, its life is preserved; separated from the vine, it will die, and will be gathered up and burned.
In keeping with the original thought of false prophets, or those who appear “godly”, and are not, let us look for a few minutes at the scene where Jesus curses the fig tree, “Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, ‘ “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” ‘ Immediately the fig tree withered away” (Matthew 21: 18, 19). What do you believe happened to that fig tree? It either stayed there withered, or it was cut down and used as fire wood.
Why do you believe Jesus cursed the fig tree? I truly believe it was because of its deceitfulness. It appeared to be something that it was not. It appeared to be bearing fruit, when in fact, it was barren. After Jesus cursed it, it would never be able to deceive anyone, ever again!
And so it will be at the coming of Christ, No form of ungodliness and deceitfulness, will be allowed to enter the kingdom of God. When that day comes, the only ones that will be able to stand the test, will be those who are citizens of Christ’s kingdom, who have the character of Christ: ” ‘ “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it” ‘ ” May God help us that the fruit of our characters, might be that of the kingdom of God!