A Tree Is Known By Its Fruit
Luke 6:43-45
43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad
tree bear good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For
men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a
bramble bush.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth
good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings
forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth
speaks.
A good tree does not produce bad fruit. Also, a bad tree does not
produce good fruit. Each tree is known by its fruit. People will not
gather figs from thorns or get grapes from bushes.
A good person has good things stored up in his heart. And so he
brings good things out of his heart. But an evil person has evil
things stored up in his heart. So he brings out bad things. A person
speaks the things that are stored in his heart.
Our Lord Jesus tells us that we can know a person by looking at
his character and conduct. How do we know whether a tree is good or
not? By knowing its fruit.
No good tree bears bad fruit, and no bad tree bears good fruit. Each
tree is known by its own fruit.
We will know what kind of tree we have by looking at its fruit. A
good tree will bear fruits that are good. A bad tree may bear no fruits or fruits that are not good.
What is on the inside or what the tree truly is will be revealed
or exposed by what kind of fruit it produces. This truth is the same
concerning people.
When good dwells in our hearts, it will be revealed in godly
conduct and conversation. But when evil resides in the heart, it
will be exposed in perverse speech and language. There is a great
connection between our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It reminds
us that what is inside of us will eventually come out in our words
and deeds.
We can know what is on the inside of a person by simply watching
his words and deeds, and listening to what comes out of his mouth on
a regular basis. Very often, when their deeds contradict their
words, we will know they are not what they claim to be. This is not
being judgmental but being truthful. We do not need to expose them
openly or bring them down relentlessly. We just need to know it for
our own good and for the good of others who may need to know the
truth about that particular person.
Some people might be able to put up a façade to
deceive others regarding their true character, but what is inside
will eventually come out. The mouth will speak out what is stored
inside the heart. If their agenda is the love of money or power or prestige,
they will speak it and others will know it!
If a person is arrogant, rude, angry, rude, lustful or immoral on a
regular basis, we can be assured that this is what he or she truly is on
the inside. But if a person is consistently loving, kind,
encouraging and polite, we can be sure that is what he or she is like on
the inside.
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Sinful words
and deeds on a regular basis are indicative of a sinful heart.
Instead of always giving people the benefit of the doubt, we would
do well by occasionally inspecting or observing their fruits, so that we
know how to respond accordingly, not falling into unnecessary traps
ourselves.
Before we can become good fruit inspectors, we need to know what is
good according to the Word of God. We must know what fruit is good
or not. Like being able to distinguish and select the good apples
from the bad ones when buying fruits at the supermarket.
As we ourselves are not without sin, we must not be too critical
or judgmental about others. But we need to be careful about whom to
trust, whom we allow to exert influence over us, and also whom we
are responsible for.
Sometimes we can deceive ourselves by believing that bad habits and
behaviors are okay. Especially concerning ourselves, our loved ones and friends.
When we see evil consistently coming out of some people in words
and deeds, we should not deceive ourselves by saying that they are
really good on the inside or they just have some bad habits. The way
they speak or talk is what they really are on the inside!
How many people fall in love and get married, thinking that the
bad behaviors they have observed are only some passing
traits? How many parents deceive themselves regarding the true
spiritual state of their children by thinking that they are true
believers even though they have gone away from God for a long while?
While looking at the fruits of others, we need to consider our
own fruits. Are our hearts filled or are our hearts empty? Are our
hearts like vacuums, always chasing after the wind, always getting
but not having enough? Are our hearts longing for the things of the
world such as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life? Or are our hearts filled with the goodness of God
such as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? What is stored inside our
hearts?
Galatians 5:16-26
Walking in the Spirit
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill
the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against
the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not
do the things that you wish.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which
are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of
wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I
tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that
those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is
no law.
24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its
passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another.
In order to have good fruits, we need to know what is spiritual
and what is carnal. We need to live by following the Spirit of God.
Then we will not do what our sinful selves want. Our sinful selves
are against the Spirit. The Spirit is against
our sinful selves. The two are against each other. So we must not do
just what we please. But if we let the Spirit lead us, we are not
under the law.
The result of sin’s control in our lives is clear. It includes
sexual immorality, impurity and wild living, worshiping false gods,
doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being
angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing
divisions among people, having envy, being drunk, having wild and
wasteful parties, and doing other things like this. Those who do
these things will not be in God’s kingdom.
But the Spirit produces and gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law
that says these things are wrong.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful
selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil
things they wanted to do. We get our new life from the Spirit. So we
should follow the Spirit. We must not be proud. We must not make
trouble with each other. And we must not be jealous of each other.
Sometimes, we can know whether we are truly loving, joyful,
peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled
when we are with people who are not. Our words and deeds will reveal
our fruits.
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
May our words and thoughts please God daily. May we speak good
things from the abundance of our hearts!
Written on:
13 February 2024