The Fruit Tells All (Matthew 7:15-23)

A long time ago, Aristotle put into words the subconscious laws our minds naturally recognize when we seek to consider something logical.

Those laws are the law of causality, the law of non-contradiction, the law of the excluded middle and the one which our Lord applies in our text, the law of identity.

Basically states exactly what our Lord is saying, that everything produces of its own kind.

According to its Kind

Everything produces of its kind

This is nothing new, we are taught this in Genesis 1.

Every tree will produce according to its kind and every animal according to its kind.

If you plant a cucumber seed, it will produce cucumbers

If you see a pregnant cat, you can be sure that it will give birth to kittens.

Nothing can produce what it isn’t

This would be contradicting and nonsensical

If you plant a cucumber seed and then see that something else begins to be produced, then you planted something other than a cucumber seed.

This is evidence for the existence of God

If life exists, then life must have always existed because life cannot be produced by non-life.

Same is true for other things like love, personality and intelligence.

Our Lord points to this fact in V.16

All things are revealed by its produce

We will know by the apples on the tree that its biology is that of an apple tree.

We will not be deceived any longer as to what kind of tree it is for the fruit will tell all.

What is going on inside is seen by what is going on, on the outside.

Once the fruit is producing you can see if it is good or bad.

You can see if the tree or the plant has any diseases or if it is lacking any specific nutrient.

This is true in the hearts of man as well. (Matthew 15:18–19 “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false witness, slanders.” )

According to the Heart

What condition is our heart in?

Is our heart full of wickedness and unrighteousness?

Are we putting into it that which is unholy and displeasing to God, that which is unfitting for a servant of Christ?

Would we fit the description of mankind during the days of Noah? (Genesis 6:5 “Then Yahweh saw that the evil of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Have we a heart of stone, hardened toward the ways of God, good for nothing but weighing us down

Is our heart full of obedience and righteousness?

Drenched in the grace and mercy and love of God found in the precious blood of Jesus Christ

Do we delight in the Lord and in His statutes and love Him with all our hearts, as we are commanded too?

Jesus says that it is those who do the will of His Father who will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. V.21

Our fruit will be of the same

Our hearts will produce of its own kind

If wicked then wickedness a.k.a. “bad fruit”

And good for nothing but to be thrown into the fire. V.19

If righteous then righteousness a.k.a. “good fruit”

This is why it is so important to guard our hearts

Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Good fruit will testify to who we are and the vine of which we abide.

We will be known by our fruits

Nothing will be hidden any longer once we begin to bear fruit

We will be known as a “good tree” or a “bad tree”

What is going on inside will be revealed by what is going on, on the outside.

If there be any nutrient deficiency or disease setting in, the fruit will tell all

If we lack patience, humility, faith or love, or any “nutrients” at all it will be made known.

If the diseases of hate, pride, or unbelief are growing inside, all will be made known.

If that tree is watered by the living water of God and absorbing the radiance which is the glory of God in His Son then the fruit will tell all.

The fruit will be good and of the Spirit of the Living God. (Galatians 5)

And by bearing much good fruit we will show that we are His disciples. (John 15:8 ““My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” )

This is what the Lord speaks of in V. 16 & 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.”

According to the Lord.

He knows our hearts.

He does not rely on the fruit to reveal it to Him.

He can see right through the sheep’s clothing to the ravenous wolf hiding within.

Matthew 9:4 “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?”

He sees the condition of our hearts and by the Spirit condemns and commends us

He is not surprised by our fruits.

The quality of the fruit does not catch Him off guard.

It will catch many people off guard

They will believe their fruit was good and pleasing unto the Lord but will find out otherwise. V.22

He will dismiss those who were disobedient and produced bad fruit by practicing lawlessness. V.23

He tells us to abide in Him.

The branch separated from the vine will produce no fruit and die. (John 15:1-17)

According to the Lord, if we are going to produce good fruit we must remain in Christ.

The fruit will tell us plainly if we are or if we are not abiding in the Lord.