"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
Let's start this lesson by defining what the term "fruits" means in this context. Strong's definition in part, (the part that most aptly applies in this context), is:
"fruit: The fruit of the trees, vines, of the fields. The fruit of one's loins, i.e. his progeny, his posterity. *That which originates or comes from something, an effect, result, work, act, deed."
The latter portion of this definition is most descriptive of the "fruit" that is referenced in today's lesson. "Fruit", as it is applied herein, refers to how an individual treats others as opposed to themselves.
The most descriptive of the above definitions is marked with an asterisk. Having said all that, it now needs to be explained what one must do in order to bear good "fruit". The answer is a simple one. In Matthew 22:26-39, when asked, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
This passage, very clearly, tells us that to be in obedience with the entire Law of Moses, (the standard of "goodness" that is generally applied today) we must only obey these two simple commandments.
What Jesus meant by this is that if we love God unconditionally, and we do every thing we do as if the affect would land squarely on our own shoulders, we would only produce good "fruit".
I don't want to mislead anyone by my reference to the Law of Moses. That law has no bearing on Christianity today, other than as an accepted standard, in that Jesus fulfilled it for those of us who have accepted God's grace, and place all our faith in Him.
Now, to get down to the crux of the lesson. It is very easy to identify the true children of God by how they interact with their fellow man/woman.
If one never drinks alcohol, never curses, never kicks the cat nor raises his/her voice, and attends church every time the doors swing, yet shows total disregard for the suffering of others that goes on around him/her, that one, according to what Jesus said, is producing evil fruit. Because, all those "good" things that one does by the standard of the law, is for that one's own gratification. His/her actions benefit no one other than themselves.
However, if one loves God above all else, curses, drinks alcohol, swats the cat occasionally, goes fishing on Sunday mornings, yet is always the first to arrive when there is someone in need, is always there when a favor is needed, and never asks for anything in return, that one is a producer of good "fruit", according to what Jesus said.
Sadly, our modern religious society has this lesson all upside down. If we, (and I say "we" because I'm also guilty of respecting people by the standards of man, and not the standards laid down by Jesus Himself,) would simply abide by the two simple rules Jesus laid out for us, what a wonderful world we would live in, and how much easier would it be to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who so desperately need to hear it.~
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