Matthew 7:15-20 // A Tree and It's Fruit
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What’s the most useful subscription you have?
What’s the most useful subscription you have?
As i’ve started to get into budgeting more, I’ve been a lot more aware about my monthly payments. For me, some of my odd subscriptions were:
A couple years ago I was subscribed to the Panera Bread Coffee subscription
A clothing store that would give me a box of new clothes like once a quarter.
Think about all the different services and tv providers you subscribe to monthly.
TV providers: Disney+. Hulu, Netflix
Amazon Prime
Costco
Sports Channels
Doordash
The whole business market is moving to this subscription model because business can get paid monthly and consistently. This model starts to get engrained in our heads where we subscribe to something and get benefits.
We’ve started to treat Christianity and our relationship with Jesus the same way. We start the subscription when we pray the sinners prayer, and then we maybe go to church to check off some boxes and maybe tithe a certain amount to make sure when we die, we won’t go to hell. But on this earth, i’m gonna live the way I want.
But in reality, we all need to produce Fruit, not just subscribe to Christianity to get the heaven benefits. This is not a subscription, this is a relationship, a marriage. Being married I’ve started to understand this as I will love Berkley by not just what I say, but what I do and spend time with her. This is the same with my relationship with Christ. I will love Him through what I say and what I do.
Today’s passage is about Matthew 7:15-20 about discerning false prophets and what a true relationship in Christ looks like.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
A healthy tree, produces good fruit. A healthy tree is not just someone who treats Christianity like a subscription. does the 3-4 times a month ritual to make sure when you die, you won’t go to hell.
Prior to this passage, we have verses 13 and 14 talk about how the gate is narrow and those who find it are few.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
The passage that we will be going over today, is sandwiched by two passages that can be hard to grasp. Here we have that this is not an all roads lead to heaven theology, the bible is specific that it states Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. This then builds into how many people are lead astray and we see this from false prophets. The gate is wide because of so many false teachers. We also have after Matthew 7:15-20 that no all who say Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.
This passage in Matthew applies to false prophets but it also applies to us and Luke says it more toward everyone in what he records on the sermon on the mount.
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Today we will be reminded of the truth that Jesus has preached. That we must discern those false teachers so we aren’t lead astray but we also need to be reminded to bear good fruit, which doesn’t save us, but proves that we are His disciples.
Pray
Looks Can Be Deceiving
Looks Can Be Deceiving
This an expression that has been said about a variety of different things. Not everything that seems big and glamorous is great and someone who looks poor is not always poor. Looks can be deceiving and Christ is warning us of this pertaining to false prophets.
Verse 15
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
In verses 13 and 14, we have this narrow gate to get into heaven and those who find it are few. Who helps makes this gate wide that leads to destruction? False prophets.
What is a false prophet?
False prophets whether intentional or not, lead people away from the truth. And they are not doing this obviously, they look like sheep. Sheep is what God often refers to us as. Psalm 23 is a great representation of our relationship to God. How He is our Shepherd, He guides us, and leads us. Sheep often lack direction, but through the Holy Spirit, we have guidance and truth.
This is how I always viewed this passage. But the more that we look at the world and because of our Biblical illiteracy, the definition of sheep has changed. Sheep seems to almost refer to anyone who seems like a “good person.” Someone who is kind to others, compassionate, loving, or accepting. With a lack of biblical knowledge, many influencers can seem like good people, but actually leading them astray from God. Our lack of Biblical knowledge has thwarted our perception and has made discerning even more difficult.
The world has engrained what they think the good life is into everything we do. Our TV shows, movies, social media influencers and they are leading us to a path of destruction. We have main characters committing sexual sin and encouraged for it as long as they love each other. Movies that portray that it is okay to get divorced if you found your soul mate. Or just simply movies showing you what they think the good life is and paint it so happy and bright without Jesus.
Those things are not necessarily wrong to watch, but if you start to see it corrupt your view of God and the truth, be careful. Even these shows or movies that seem harmless can lead you astray and attack you like a ravenous wolf.
Many false prophets and teachers may seem like they are good or even representing Christianity but they are inwardly ravenous wolves. These false prophets will continue to lead you astray and Jesus is saying to beware of them. That we must be discerning. However, discernment may not always seem obvious.
Charles Spurgeon states "Discernment is not simply a matter of telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather it is the difference between right and almost right."
Many influencers and people out there take principles from the sermon on the mount and apply that to their life but don’t have Jesus at the center. It might seem right, but without Jesus, it is wrong.
This is the danger of false prophets because they look like they are right. But looks can be deceiving. The way we can recognize them though their fruits.
The Heart Reveals the Deception
The Heart Reveals the Deception
We all know the expressions “The heart wants what the heart wants” and that is true. A sinner’s heart will want sin. A bad tree will produce bad fruit.
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Verse 16
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Although some prophets might seem obvious on if they are false or not, many of them will probably say things that seem to align with what we believe. However, you will recognize them by their fruits. This is why it is important to first off, know the truth, know God’s word. But this is also something where you have to be careful with whom you are listening too if you don’t know them. A lot of people who proclaim the word of God are not false and it is good to listen and learn from them. However, it’s also good to know them. If you can’t have a relationship with someone, research more about them. What does their life start to look like outside their sermon? What is their ministry or church look like? Because you can start to see several red flags by just how they live their life. Whenever I hear fruit I think of what it states in
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
But the fruit can even go deeper and in more detail where it states in:
10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
The fruit that these leaders bear is not just evident in how they act but evident in what they teach. True fruit is provided from the vine, which is Christ. You can first recognize them by their fruit if they are not teaching this truth. Discerning questions you can ask yourself that regards to:
- Are people increasing in their knowledge of God?
- Is the congregation bearing fruit in every good work from these leaders teachings?
- Is the speaker or prophet displaying the fruit of the spirit?
- From you listening to this preacher, do you find that yourself affirming your selfish ways or drawing closer to Jesus?
The word of God will convict our hearts. Sometimes we don’t pay attention and that’s our fault but maybe what you are seeing is that the word of God is actually not being preached and its just a self help message that labels God on it. Is the message telling the full truth. Is the message going to help produce fruit. If the teacher or prophet is false, then you won’t find this.
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
We won’t find the good fruit of Christ in a false prophet or teacher even if some of it seems go along the lines of what we say.
Verses 17-18
17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
At first, this can almost seem as if we need to live perfect lives. If we produce bad fruit, we are not apart of this good tree as no good tree produces bad fruit. That thinking is false because as someone who is a true Christian, we will still sin. This sin though is pruned:
John 15:1-3
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
Through Christ, we are able to bear good fruit. But we will not be perfect, we need to do what Matthew 3:8 states.
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
What is interesting about this passage is that the context is key. What we first see here is that Jesus has been talking about the pharisees. How they may look like the prime example of what a follower of God should look like but they are inwardly looking after themselves and their reputation. They are actually leading people astray and saying Jesus is not the son of God and is blaspheming God. Jesus is showcasing the fact that He is the healthy tree. He will not produce bad fruit. The pharisees, although may look like a healthy tree at moments are truly bad trees as they are producing bad fruit. Apart from Christ, they cannot bear good fruit.
What He is saying that these false teachers and prophets don’t have any good fruit in them because they don’t have Christ.
The second thing that is interesting is how this is all being said before the coming of the Holy Spirit. The only other time this idea that bad fruit can not be with good fruit is in Luke 6 where this is also referring to the sermon on the mount. Jesus knows that He is providing a helper, that they will not be doing this on their own.
We will still keep sinning, but it will be less and less. 1 John 1:8
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
He knows we won’t be perfect but through the power of the holy spirit, we will be able to bear good fruit and our sin can be pruned now through Christ living in us.
No one is perfect, and many leaders and pastors who will make mistakes and still sin. There will be teachers who are not in a good season and maybe need to step away from ministry for a time. Does that negate the good fruit that God has worked in their life? No, and we also need to be careful at being judgemental on people and lacking grace and forgiveness in our hearts.
A way in helping discern this true repentance such as what Matthew 3:8 stated. When a teacher, prophet, or leader is properly rebuked and corrected by the elders and leaders, are they repenting and going to Christ and finding correction in His word to go back in bearing good fruit and teaching the truth. In this instance we find humility and as a church pray for us leaders that we would continue to stay humble and put God first in everything.
Good Fruit is the Evidence of Faith
Good Fruit is the Evidence of Faith
Verse 19 - “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”
These false teachers and prophets although maybe are saying some things correctly, their ultimate destination is hell. Jesus is saying why would you listen and follow these people where they themselves are going to the place that we don’t want to go. Just because you may like what they say or how they teach or maybe you like that they don’t focus on sin and the bad stuff, doesn’t make it right. Maybe you like their way of teaching because you can fit in more with the world. Give up less, sacrifice less, do what you want to do and not feel guilty. That is very dangerous and we must gravitate and go towards the truth.
Although this passage is referring to false prophets, this is also a a challenge for ourselves. Earlier in this chapter, we see how Jesus talks about the right way to judge. The earlier part is not stating that we can’t judge, it’s talking about do not be judgemental. We need to judge wisely as we need to discern. You use the elements of judging the biblical way when discerning who is a false teacher and who isn’t.
However, a key question we do need to ask is checking on our own heart. As we ask the question to teachers are they bearing good fruit, we also need to ask ourselves, are we bearing good fruit? Where is the evidence of our salvation?
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
This passage directly relates to verse 19. And the context of John is Jesus talking to His disciples. So we need to make sure that we are bearing good fruit. Not because it saves us, but because it proves that we are His disciples.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
This is not prove in the sense where I have to prove myself worthy to get to heaven. No this means proof that we proving that we truly are saved through the fruit we are bearing.
Your relationship with God is not by just saying the right things at the right time. It is not a subscription where you get the heaven benefits and do your weekly rituals. It s a day to day, hour by hour life of not doing it alone anymore, but with and through Christ.
A great reflection question that you should ask of false teachers and prophets, but also of yourself is what good fruit is Christ producing in your life? What good works through the power of Jesus have you been doing? Is the word of God important to you?
If the answer is no, don’t fear because God is love and His love casts out fear. Start today, repent of that selfish ambition, and pray and know Jesus more.
Know the Truth
Know the Truth
In order to discern who is a false teacher and prophet by their fruit. In order to reflect upon ourselves and making sure we are living a life for God bearing fruit. We have to know the root and foundation of it all: the truth.
That truth is Jesus. That Jesus is our Lord. That we are sinners, separated from God, and need a savior. This Savior is Jesus, the son of God who came from heaven to earth to take our place and die for the punishment we deserve. Jesus would be the perfect sacrifice for all of man kind. He would suffer, be betrayed, He would be tempted, yet He would not sin. Jesus died on the cross and then 3 days later would resurrect from the grave, defeating death and giving eternal life to those that whoever believes in their heart and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord.
That is the truth, that is the good news.
It doesn’t just stop with knowing that though, we must have faith.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
This faith in Christ should showcase a genuine, changed life. A life that will have good works that Christ has prepared before hand. We will still sin but we do not want to abuse this Grace as Romans 6:1-2 states.
This truth is a life looking and following Jesus and the rest will follow.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a British preacher and theologian, emphasized the transforming power of bearing fruit in his book "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount": "We are never to look at our past lives; we are never to look at our present lives; we are to look at our lives in Christ Jesus, and then it is a life which is bound to produce fruit."
Look to Christ and the fruit will come out naturally. This is important for you to understand this for your own relationship with Christ but also in discerning who is a false teacher or prophet.
To close, let’s look at the last verse:
20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
This has already been mentioned in verse 16 but now is mentioned a second time for emphasis. Those who know the truth and have the truth, their life will look different because a fruit filled life truly stands out from this world. An influencer, teacher, prophet, or leader, that is preaching the truth will have a heart for God.
And I will say this, the more our life is bearing good fruit, the more that discernment will become easier and easier. Look to Jesus to study the scripture. Look to Jesus and continue obey God in His commands and make disciples. Look to Jesus and continue to tell and talk to people about this savior. Look to Jesus and repent and turn away from our sin and go to Jesus as they go hand in hand with bearing good fruit. And the more we look to Jesus, the more more we will be able to discern who is speaking the truth and who is not.
