By Their Fruits You Shall Know Them Matthew 7:20

Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.” Jesus continued, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits.” Jesus added, “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples,“by their fruits you shall know them” where we read:

Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.

The verse reads, “Wherefore by their fruits ...” Matthew began with the word, “wherefore” or “so then and therefore” “by their fruits” or “by way and because of the false prophet's words, acts and deeds”. Jesus concluded His teaching concerning “false prophets” by repeating the idea of observing the “fruits” in their lives.

The verse continues, “... you shall know them.” Matthew added the words, “you shall know or “the disciples would discover, reveal, become acquainted with and recognize” “them” which means “the false prophets”. Jesus told His disciples they would “discover and recognize” “false prophets” by their “fruits” or “works, acts and deeds”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus desired for His disciples to know when they were encountering a “false prophet”. The inspection of the person's “words, acts and deeds” would reveal whether they were “true or false”. God desires to “save” every person who will “believe and trust” in His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Those who are wise will yield to Him and be equipped with the ability to discern the “false prophets” who were in the disciple's world and are certain to be in ours as well.

Next time Jesus tells His disciples, “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven”, 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.