How Can You Know?
Matthew 7: 15-20 NKJV
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes 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.
This is such a great chapter. Jesus is speaking of not judging others, asking, seeking, and knocking, the narrow way, and building on the rock. Many of these are well-known passages from Jesus.
In the middle of this chapter, Jesus warns against false prophets. These are the people who come looking like sheep, wearing sheep clothes. But inwardly they are wolves. Wolves are not compatible with sheep. Wolves hurt sheep. And these wolves are deceptive. They appear to be all good from outward appearances, so the big question is, how can we know they are off and to be avoided? Jesus gives us the answer. You will know them by their fruits. What they produce in their lives are the identifying factors.
Jesus then gives a simple biology lesson. You don’t get grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles. I’ll pass on the figs, but the point is clear: we know trees and fruit-bearing plants by what they produce. Grapes come from grapevines and figs from fig trees. No duh, you are thinking, but the simplicity should not escape us. Jesus goes further by defining good versus bad trees. Good trees produce good fruit, and bad trees produce bad fruit. Again, the point seems simple, yet when it comes to people, we can ignore this simple principle.
Jesus was not asking us to judge everyone we meet by what kind of fruit they have produced in their lives. We are all at different stages of growth, and many are completely on the outside without a relationship with the Lord. Jesus is warning against those who appear to represent the Lord yet have ulterior motives. This could mean the Christian business person who has a great deal for you. This could be the minister who has a word of the Lord that is especially for you. This could also be the person you are looking to add to the church staff. Before you commit, what is the fruit of their lives? You can also apply this: you shall know them by their fruits to potential employees and potential spouses.
I know that I have ignored this principle in the past and paid the price for it. I have hired people I never should have. Connected with people, I would have been better off leaving at an arm’s length away, or farther. I have also used this as a defense when people have made negative comments about a particular church or minister. If the fruit is good, then despite the possible style difference, they’re good.
Jesus has already warned against judging others. Examining the fruit in the lives of those who are interacting with you is a different story. Jesus specifically says, “Beware of false prophets who come to you.” I do suggest we pay attention to the people who intersect with our lives, which includes those we connect with via the media. Jesus says we know them by their fruits, not their smile, their looks, or their story.
Prayer
Lord, give me the discernment to recognize fruit in the lives of those who look to have influence in my life. And help me produce good fruit.