Good & Solid or Evil & Unstable

Luke 6:43–49 ESV

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. 46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Consider the context- We need to remember what was just spoken by the Lord, prior to this section. We are given a hint because verse 43 begins with the word “For” indicates that what is about to be stated is an explanation of what was previously spoken.

I want us to focus our thoughts on vs 43 through 49, but in order to do so, we cannot neglect what precedes it. We see Jesus begins this conversation with the Beatitudes &Woes, then Love your enemies-Don’t judge-Look at yourself before looking at someone else.

Then in verse 43, Jesus “because . . . or let me explain why I just said all that I just said.

A tree bears fruit after its kind. A good useful, beneficial tree will not bear fruit that is harmful, unwholesome, rotten, filthy, diseased etc. . . nor will a bad tree bear useful beneficial, wholesome, good fruit. The same can be said for a person.

A person is identified just like the tree. A good person, produces good, a bad person produces bad.

Luke 6:45 ESV

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.

The fruit is what is spoken, the kind of tree we are is determined by the that which we store up, treasure and value in our hearts.

Jesus is guiding us to treasure the proper things, in order that we can produce good fruit.

Who is good? Who is bad?

No man is good, apart from God’s work, by the blood of Jesus Christ, cleansing, redeeming work, which is the result of our faith in Him, by His grace, we are able to come to a place of confessing Him as our Savior as He alone is able to justify us before God, because of His death burial and resurrection.

Jesus is not suggesting or demanding that each one of us, conjure up from within ourselves a goodness of our own. That is certainly not possible, because we are sinners by nature. There are several other passages that help us to define what is good and evil, even other passages that illustrate it using the picture of a tree & its fruit. Matthew 3:8-10, Luke 13:6-9 both help us see that a good tree will yield a good harvest of useable fruit. A good tree will be productive, worth keeping and cultivating and pruning and caring for.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Out with the bad, in with the new. If we are in Christ, we are good from the inside out. There will be good fruit produced in us. If we are “in Christ” we will treasure Christ and from the treasure within us, we will produce “Christ-like treasure”.

There is a healthy level of introspection that ought to happen in our lives. Jesus is training up his disciples and leaving us with these words of encouragement, so that we can know how to love and obey Him.

You do what you do, because you want what you want . . .

I go to the store to buy milk, because I want to drink milk. I go to high school events, because I want to express my support and love for the students, and to be able to spend time with their parents & siblings. I go for a run because I want to maintain good cardiovascular health. I read my Bible because I want to know God and know His commands, so I can live a life that pleases Him and glorifies Him. All of previous examples should also be done, in order that I can glorify God.

You want what you want, because you think what you think . . .

I want milk, because I think it is healthy for my body. I want to express my support and love for students because I think attending their events will communicate that I believe they are valued and loved, and their efforts are worthwhile.

I want to spend time with parents and siblings because, I think that knowing their interests what is happening in their lives will allow me to better minister to them and encourage them in their walk with the Lord.

I want to read my Bible because I think the Bible is God’s Word and that He reveals Himself to us in His Word.

TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE!!!

You think what you think, because you believe what you believe!

I think it is good to take care of my body, because I believe God tells me that the way I care for my body represents my love for God and my gratefulness to Him in giving me health and strength to obey and serve Him so long as He gives me breath.

I think students need to know that they are loved and need to be encouraged in the positive things they are doing, because I believe God loves them, He loves me and He has commanded me to love them.

I think I need to be able to minister to parents and siblings of the students because I believe, God has called me to minister and shepherd His people and to spur one another to love and good deeds.

I think that God reveals Himself to us through His Word, because I believe that He has told us so in His Word, and I believe Him to be Holy and Righteous and TRUE!

Luke 6:43–45 ESV

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.

Christ continues to flush this out by asking the people following Him a question.

Luke 6:46–49 ESV

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Do you call Him Lord?

Matthew 7:24 NASB95

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Did you notice the slightly different wording in the NASB? “Acts on them”. It is the idea of carrying out what has been spoken, advised or taught. It is actually being a doer of the word, not a hearer of the word.

If you call Him Lord, do you do what He tells you?

Ephesians 4:1 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Luke 9:23 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Are you Solid or Unstable?

Luke 6:48–49 ESV

48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Those who come, listen & do what Christ has said, will be Solid!

Those who “fear the Lord” are wise, and build there houses on a rock! It is work to dig down to a rock foundation, but it is worth the work. It sets your house on a sure foundation.

Those who fear the Lord, are those who believe Him and trust His Word.

Psalm 25:4–16 ESV

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. 6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord! 8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. 12 Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. 14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. 15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

Isaiah 55:6–13 ESV

6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”