Know them by their fruits...

On Monday we looked at Matthew 7:15-23. Where Jesus is teaching us how to identify “False Prophets.” The wording is quite vivid inasmuch as He likens them to “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

He says…
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15 (New International Version, NIV)

I want to follow the thought progression here. So we need to know what Jesus said leading up to this warning!

In the previous three Verses 12-14 (Amplified Bible) He says…
“So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is (sums up) the Law and the Prophets.”

As an aside…
(I can remember as a kid learning this verse from “mom” and “grandmum.” Do unto others as we would have them do unto us.”)

Continuing on in Verses 13-14 Jesus is saying…
“Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.
But the gate is narrow (contracted [by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it."

Then, He goes on to tell us specifically how to recognize false prophets in Verse 16...
“You will fully recognize them by their fruits.“

This speaks to ones manner of living. What deeds are we doing? Do we practice good? Or do we practice evil?

Continuing in Verses 17-20 Jesus says …
“Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit. A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear [excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

The Word of God is so beautiful in its simplicity! Jesus already said in Verse 12 that we are to treat others the way we want them to treat us!

So then, we cannot act like we don’t know what good fruit is and what bad fruit is!

I dare to say, that if people were capable of thinking about whether or not they would like it, if they were on the receiving end of what they are doing to someone else -- then perhaps they wouldn’t do evil towards other people… ya think???

Then in Verse 20, Jesus says AGAIN what He said in Verse 12...
“Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.”

Notice in the next few verses, Jesus is also making us aware of the fact that “fruits” and what “people say” (verse 22), many times is contradictory. So we need to be discerning…

Verses 21- 23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

In other words, just because one calls on the “Name of Lord” or one “speaks about” the Lord or one claims to be doing the "work of the Lord," does NOT mean that they even KNOW the Lord!

And HOW do we know what the “will of God” is?

By reading the Word of God (the Bible).
(I prefer to use the word "Scriptures" because that's the term used in the Bible).

Jesus concludes this teaching with Verses 24-27…
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Notice the operative phrase here is...
“everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice…”

It is not enough to just hear or KNOW what the Word of God says. We must hear and then “DO” what it says.

Otherwise, when the trials and tribulations come (AND THEY WILL COME) we won’t stand a chance of overcoming them.

The flip-side is…
When we “HEAR and OBEY” the Word of God, we WILL be victorious when the time of testing comes!!! HALLELUJAH!!!

He who has ears to hear, let him hear…
Matthew 11:15

Blessings and favor to you today!

In His Name...
Mackenzie Crockett
A disciple of Jesus Christ
MyWordsAreSpirit.com