Text: Matthew 7:16-20

¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-20

Jesus Christ taught and minister to people with authority. Even His critics and enemies wanted to know the secret of His power. Matt. 8:23-24 People said “he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:29 Because His word made impact on people lives in a new way. He said. “Every good tree bears good fruit and a good tree cannot bear bad fruit”.  Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? The answer is no. Good fruit, therefore, is the product of good tree. Jesus is not talking about false prophets alone, He said, by their fruits you shall know them. Even Jesus was known by His own good fruits – He went about doing good. Matt. 14:33 And after Jesus left the earth, believers we called Christians because of the fruits they exhibited. Acts 11:26 And By your own fruits also, you will be known by God and the people around you.

I said last week that the focus of Jesus in this chapter, is not to judge or condemn anyone, but to make you a good tree which can produce only good fruits. How is that possible? “… Follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19 In other words, you will have the characteristics and nature to bear good fruits. It is not about what you know or learn how to do, but that God through Christ makes you or empowers you to do great things. For “… as many as received him, (Jesus the son of the living) to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12  This is what Christianity is a matter of life means – A life which bears the fruits of God with the authority of the son of God.

Jesus Christ puts it all in perspective when he said ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 This is the powerful way to imagine living the Christian life or doing the work of ministry. Whatever you do in thought, word, and action; must pass through the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus Christ. This is the only way the fruit of your life and ministry can be good, because it is produced by Jesus and you are a willing vessel the Master can use. Whether you are a beginner or a Bishop, recognize that ¹ Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;  Psalms 127:1  You cannot go wrong or bear corrupt fruits if you abide in Christ and let Him bring forth good fruit through you. Then you will be known, by the fruits which Jesus bears through you.

Apostle Paul shared his experience in this regard. He said, ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 This is how it comes to pass that “Every good tree bears good fruit and a good tree cannot bear bad fruit”.  Because it is Christ, the author and finisher of our faith who lives within and produces the good fruits. He just cannot produce bad or evil fruits. At the same time, He also said that, ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 7:19 Why so? We will continue from here to conclude this series. See you then. God bless you.