The Fruit According to It's Tree Matthew 7:18

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”, and in chapter seven and verse eighteen of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples,“a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit” where we read:

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

The verse reads, “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, ...” Matthew began with the words, “a good tree” or “a useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, excellent and distinguished tree” “cannot bring forth” which means “in in no way able to produce, bear, shoot forth or provide” “evil fruit” or “toiling, annoying, perilous, bad, diseased and wicked works, acts and deeds”. Jesus shared how a “useful and excellent tree” does not “produce” “wicked and perilous” deeds.

The verse goes on to say, “... neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ” Matthew continues with the word, “neither” or “no and not in any way” “can a corrupt tree” which refers to “is a rotten, putrefied, poor quality, bad, unfit for use and worthless tree able or capable to” “bring forth” or “ produce, bear, shoot forth or provide” “good fruit” which means “useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, excellent and distinguished works, acts and deeds”. Jesus contrasted the “corrupt tree” with the “good tree” and shared how the “corrupt tree” is not capable of producing “useful and pleasant” “works, deeds and acts”.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the nature of the tree determines the “fruit” that it bears. An orange tree brings forth oranges, and a lemon tree brings forth lemons. So it is with people who are of “good” nature verses those who are of “corrupt”. The “fruit” of their lives telegraphs what kind of “tree” they are. God desires to have a relationship with every person who will yield their lives to His Son Jesus Christ, and regardless of the “nature” they have demonstrated before, Jesus is able to make them “new”. From this “new nature”, they shall produce “useful and pleasant” “fruit” which shall not only benefit others, but also themselves.

Next time Jesus tells His disciples what happens to, “every tree that brings not forth good fruit”, 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.