The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Fruit
Walking Through Matthew • Sermon • Submitted
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As we continue to walk through the Book of Matthew we are going to look at . It covers three very important aspects about walking in relationship with Jesus.
First there is warning about the false prophets, that are trying to look like fellow sheep.
Second there is the conversation about fruit and how every good tree produces good fruit and how bad fruit only produces bad fruit. Just like christians who are walking in relationship with Jesus will be producing good fruit.
Third there is another warning that not everyone who claims to be walking in relationship with Christ will enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 7:15-23
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
The second and most complex picture of contrasting responses to the Kingdom is found in 7:15–23. The vivid imagery of this section is drawn from both animal (7:15) and plant (7:16–20) life and is meant to portray the false prophets who endanger the journey of the disciples (cf. Luke 6:43–44). The section begins with the general warning of 7:15, which compares the deceptiveness of the false prophets (cf. 24:11, 24) to vicious wolves (cf. John 10:12; Acts:20:29) that somehow appear as sheep (10:16; 25:33; cf. Ps 78:52).
Wolves ie… false prophets are looking to mislead the disciples of Christ by acting and looking like sheep. Their only plan is to get into the body of Christ so they can cause division (die-vision) to destroy the body of Christ and to create kaous in the family.
Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
We can tell the prophet by their fruit!!! Are they producing good fruit or is it bitter and rotten fruit???
You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Matthew 7:1
Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? The plant metaphor continues in 7:16b with a rhetorical question that highlights the folly of expecting harmful weeds to produce beneficial fruit. These false prophets are in some sense part of the community of the disciples, since they call Jesus “Lord” and minister in his name (7:21–22; cf. 10:16; 24:11, 24).
What do you do with the good fruit? You bring into the house so that you can eat it!
What do you do with bad fruit? You throw it away, why because bad fruit will cause the good fruit to spoil and go bad!
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
1 Corinthians
Warning do not be deceived by by those who will try to mislead you and distract you from the purpose of the Lord. In every church there are those who want to divide the body of Christ. This is bad fruit.
Matthew 7:17-19
So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
The stronger we are in our relationship the more we will share the faith of our walk in Jesus.
The more we allow the wiles of the world into our lives with the weaker we get and the more corrupt we will become and the further we get from the Lord.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
What kind of fruit do you want to be know by, good fruit or bad fruit?
Matthew 12:33
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
Matthew
Disciples (good trees) repent and obey Jesus (good fruit). Others (worthless trees) turn away from God and his Kingdom and live accordingly (bad fruit).
The reward of being good fruit is Heaven and the reward of being bad fruit is being thrown into the fire!
The choice is yours!
Because not everyone who calls Jesus Lord will enter into Heaven!
Matthew 7:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Just because people do things in the name of the Lord, doesn’t make it ok or right or even a Christ follower. There are many people and religions who emulate Jesus.
The problem is not that there is no fruit, but that the fruit is counterfeit, though the false prophets claim it is genuine (cf. 13:24–30, 36–43, 47–50; 24:23–28). Only those who do the Father’s will (6:10; 12:50; 21:28–32; 26:42) will enter the Kingdom.
Jesus concludes this passage with I never knew you!!!
Jesus is saying despite all that you claim to have done I don’t know you and that He never knew them as a child of God!
Think about where you and I really stand and what we really believe, do we really believe that Jesus is Lord and the one and only son of the Living God, does your relationship and your walk line up with the values and principles of Jesus and His Word???
What kinda fruit are you and what do others see you as???
Cornerstone Biblical Commentary,