Good Fruit versus Bad Fruit

Matthew 7:15-23 (New International Version)

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. ²¹ 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:15%20-%2023&version=NIV

Let’s think about this concept of a tree for just a little bit.  The entire status of our sinful nature hung on a decision regarding a tree and whether to eat the fruit from it or not.  The will of God was challenged when Adam took a bite of the forbidden fruit and all of our troubles began.  Now, Jesus is comparing the righteous and unrighteous by the fruit that they, the tree, bears.  I don’t know about you but I find that rather interesting. 

The first verses I thought of when I was reading this scripture was the fruit of the Spirit found Galatians 5:22-23,

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:22%20-%2023&version=NIV)

This is a very good passage to refer to when considering the difference between a good fruit and a bad fruit.  However, I began to think, when Jesus spoke these words, the Galatians passage had not yet been written.  So, what was Jesus referring to when He said these words?  I decided to look for “fruit” in the concordance and see what scriptures Jesus might have been referring to when He spoke of the fruit.

I found two scriptures that I would like for us to consider.  The first one I would like us to look at is found in Proverbs 11:30   ³⁰ “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2011:30&version=NIV)  As I looked at this scripture I could certainly see a comparison to what Jesus said and what Solomon had to say.  The tree of life is eternal life with Him.  Jesus tells us that there are trees that bear good fruit and trees that bear bad fruit.  You could gain the whole world but if you have not done so through the will of the Father but rather on your own will and desires then you can be assured you will bear bad fruit.  Solomon nor Jesus said that it will be easy to bear the good fruit but it is what will give us life, eternal life with Him.

The second passage of scripture I would like for us to consider is Psalm 1:1 – 3 ¹ “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 
² but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”  (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%201:%201%20-%203&version=NIV) Jesus tell us that we can recognize good by the fruit that is produces.  David tells us that a person who bears good fruit is one who finds delight in the Lord.  Someone who remembers God’s laws at all times because someone who meditates on the law isn’t so much concerned about what others think but what the Father thinks.  He tells us that these people will prosper.  Now, many times when we think of prospering we think of someone who has a lot of money, a successful businessman or woman but success in God’s eyes is not measured by the amount of money we earn.  As I read on in Psalms I realized what David meant when he said they would prosper.  Look at Psalm 1: 6  ⁶ “For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, 
   but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%201:%206&version=NIV)

Now, I have seen many unrighteous men who have become rich and famous.  When we farmed we would see our crops hailed out year after year while others who had no regard for God had great crops.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:45b  “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:45&version=NIV)  The wonderful and most satisfying point that I am trying to make is that which David made in Psalm 1:6, the LORD watches over those who are righteous.  Even though we did not have the bumper crops, there was never a day that we went to bed hungry or had to lay our head on a stone instead of a pillow.  The Lord carried us through difficult times and He provided fur us.  Are you living a righteous life?  Are you walking in the way of our Lord?  Are you seeking God’s will in everything that you do?  If the answer is “yes”, then rest assured He will take care of you.  Seek Him daily and meditate on His words and remember that He cares for you.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila