Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”, and in chapter twelve and verse thirty-three of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus talked about, “a good tree” and “a corrupt tree” where we read:
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt:
for the tree is known by his fruit.
The verse reads, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt:” Matthew began with the words, “either make” which means “rather make ready, prepare, produce, acquire and provide” “the tree good” or “the tree beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable and admirable”, “and his fruit good” which means “and the tree's works, acts, deeds, advantage and profit handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable and admirable”; “or else make” which means “or rather make ready, prepare, produce, acquire and provide” “the tree corrupt” or “the tree rotten, putrefied, corrupted, worn out and no longer fit for use”, “and his fruit corrupt” which means “and the tree's works, acts, deeds rotten, putrefied, corrupted, worn out and no longer fit for use”. Matthew shared how Jesus employed the example of a “tree” that bears either “good” or “bad fruit” as a comparison to a person whose works, acts and deeds are either “good or bad”.
The verse goes on to say, “ for the tree is known by his fruit.” Matthew continued with the word, “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “the tree” or “the tree of which Jesus refers” “is known” which means “is understood, perceived and learned” “by his fruit” or “through and by means of the tree's works, acts, deeds”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the Pharisees and the crowd that a “tree” is known by the “fruit” it bears.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see another analogy given by Jesus to describe people. “Trees” are known by their “fruit”. For example, an orange tree bears oranges, and a lemon tree bears lemons. Apple trees don't bear grapefruit, and lime trees don't bear figs. Each tree bears after it's own kind. This is the same with people. Those who have a “good” soul, bear “good” fruit, and those who are rotten within bear “bad” fruit. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person, and when they receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He changes their inward nature and they begin to bear “good” fruit. If there is no change, a person bears “fruit” after their nature, and oh how “bad” that fruit can be.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus declares, “O generation of vipers”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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