Parables, The Tree and its Fruits
Scripture:
Matthew 7:15-20
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 18 A sound tree cannot bear evil 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 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Why study this parable? We are warned by Jesus to guard our faith with knowledge of the works of those who would lead us. Jesus even advises us in the way we are to recognize them. Our faith is susceptible to the wiles of Satan and he is always looking for ways to capture our souls. Jesus would have us be wise and cautious. He also describes what will happen to those who would betray us.
Mat 10:16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Mat 18:7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!
Meditation: The imagery used by Jesus would have been very familiar to his audience. A certain thorn bush had berries which resembled grapes. And a certain thistle had a flower, which at least from a distance, resembled the fig. Isn't it the same today? What we "hear" might have a resemblance of the truth, but, in fact, when you inspect it closely, it's actually false. False prophets or teachers abound today as much as they did in biblical times. What's the test of a true or false teacher? Jesus connects soundness with good fruit. Something is sound when it is free from defect, decay, or disease and is healthy. Good fruit is the result of sound living — living according to moral truth and upright character. The prophet Isaiah warned against the dangers of falsehood: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20). The fruits of falsehood produce an easy religion which takes the Backbone out of religion, the cross out of Christianity, and any teaching which eliminates the hard sayings of Jesus, and which push the judgments of God into the background and makes us think lightly of sin. How do we avoid falsehood? By being true — true to God, his word, and his grace. And that takes character! Those who are true to God know that their strength lies not in themselves but in God who supplies what we need. The fruit of a disciple is marked by faith, hope and love, justice, patience, prudence, fortitude and temperance.
1. Devourable Christians Among the early Christians there were false prophets. They have to have prey.
2. Another Bible, Another gospel Be aware of them. It shows in their actions. They may be attractive, but poison,
3. False teachings There is a thorn bush that has a bloom which resembles a grape. Examine it before you touch It.
4. False religions As well, a flower among thistles that resembles a fig. Do not be hasty to grasp it
5. False doctrines What do you know about bad trees? Some are attractive, but attract bats and wasps, some have thorns, some have very bad tasting fruit. And some produce fruit that is rotten as soon as it matures
6. If Jesus is all you’ve got, that is all you need, don’t trade him off. They live among us and we hear of them daily. Sound doctrines, and false doctrines. Jesus is the basis for all sound doctrine. He is a nice guy in all false doctrines.
7. God’s fierce anger and judgment on those who turn from him The Bible is full of sound doctrine, and warnings of God’s wrath Watch for the signs, Revelations is full of it.
Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness
,and streams in the wasteland. Learn God’s way and if Jesus is on the path, take it.
Pg. 2
Matthew 7:15-20
15. "Beware of false prophets, Jesus is speaking to the multitudes as well as the disciples, describing false teachers.
Where do we find them? Are they in our midst? Who might they be. Zealous for their faith. In the house of God regularly without fail every Sabbath. Fasting. Tithing. Praying ostentatiously. Setting an example to the others.
Surely God would commend their zeal and commitment! But did He? NO! Jesus criticized them constantly, fought them tooth and nail. Strong on religion, but weak on relationship. Who were they? These were the scribes, and the Pharisees. There were the Sadducees, Elders and Chief Priests also, all were included in Jesus’ remarks
who come to you in sheep's clothing. Jesus is describing them, as those listed above, all sanctimonious and discerning practitioners of the law and the strict interpretation of it. They held themselves out as teachers and interpreters for the people, and they did not like Jesus. How do they present themselves? Do they wear clothes of the saints and prophets? Was that the way Jesus identified them?
but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Jesus knew that what they wanted was power over the people to continue their ravenous appetite for prestige and accommodation and high praise among the people. Does that seem possible in that day and time?
16 You will know them by their fruits. What did Jesus say are the fruits?
(Mat 23:15-16 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.'
(Mat 23:27-29 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? Can we understand this? A short, plain, easy rule, to know true from false prophets: True prophets convert sinners to God, or at the least confirm and strengthen those that are converted. False prophets do not. There also are false prophets, who though speaking the very truth, yet are not sent by the Spirit of God, but come in their own name, to declare it: Their grand mark is, Not turning men from the power of Satan to God. Luke 6:43- 46
17.So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. It’s interesting that Jesus used the words “A tree is known by it’s fruit” in other words you look at a tree loaded with apples and it’s safe to assume that it’s an apple tree. You then see a tree loaded with oranges and you quickly come to the conclusion that it’s an orange tree. Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. These are the attributes that are also missing from those in whom the Holy Spirit is missing.
18. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Gal 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Pg. 3
19. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
2Ti 3:2 - 5 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
What is Jesus telling us 2Pe 1:5 -8 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
Questions:
1.Were there false prophets in Jesus’ day?
2. What about today, do we have them now?
3. When the words “False Prophets” is spoken what comes to mind?
4. How do Christians avoid Doomsday prophets, snake charmers, cults and sects, and false healers that appeal to our baser nature?
5. But what of those who pose as true prophets with the dress and mannerisms of Prophets or teachers, How do we know? There may not be a way to recognize them at once but how are we advised?
6. How is much to be learned of our teachers and prophets and pastors? Do we see the results of their work?
7. How are they described to us? As wolves in sheep’s clothing, even the most wary of us are sometimes fooled. As a fish rises to a fisherman’s bait. Do unwary Christians lose their way by misstep, trusting the false teacher?
8.How are we to know them ? We will know them by the fruit of their work, Can they produce good works lest it have their brand on it?
9.How you will know them? Their works precede their arrival, Will they have the marks of Satan’s craft on them? Is there death and destruction in what they teach.
10. 2Pe_2:1 But there were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord
who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Do you think that someone could do that today?
Lord, may I bear good fruit for your sake. Help me to reject whatever will produce evil fruit. And help me grow in faith, hope, love, sound judgment, justice, courage, and self control." AMEN
_________________________________________________________________________________
Scripture:
Matthew 7:15-20
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 18 A sound tree cannot bear evil 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 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Why study this parable? We are warned by Jesus to guard our faith with knowledge of the works of those who would lead us. Jesus even advises us in the way we are to recognize them. Our faith is susceptible to the wiles of Satan and he is always looking for ways to capture our souls. Jesus would have us be wise and cautious. He also describes what will happen to those who would betray us.
Mat 10:16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Mat 18:7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!
Meditation: The imagery used by Jesus would have been very familiar to his audience. A certain thorn bush had berries which resembled grapes. And a certain thistle had a flower, which at least from a distance, resembled the fig. Isn't it the same today? What we "hear" might have a resemblance of the truth, but, in fact, when you inspect it closely, it's actually false. False prophets or teachers abound today as much as they did in biblical times. What's the test of a true or false teacher? Jesus connects soundness with good fruit. Something is sound when it is free from defect, decay, or disease and is healthy. Good fruit is the result of sound living — living according to moral truth and upright character. The prophet Isaiah warned against the dangers of falsehood: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20). The fruits of falsehood produce an easy religion which takes the Backbone out of religion, the cross out of Christianity, and any teaching which eliminates the hard sayings of Jesus, and which push the judgments of God into the background and makes us think lightly of sin. How do we avoid falsehood? By being true — true to God, his word, and his grace. And that takes character! Those who are true to God know that their strength lies not in themselves but in God who supplies what we need. The fruit of a disciple is marked by faith, hope and love, justice, patience, prudence, fortitude and temperance.
1. Devourable Christians Among the early Christians there were false prophets. They have to have prey.
2. Another Bible, Another gospel Be aware of them. It shows in their actions. They may be attractive, but poison,
3. False teachings There is a thorn bush that has a bloom which resembles a grape. Examine it before you touch It.
4. False religions As well, a flower among thistles that resembles a fig. Do not be hasty to grasp it
5. False doctrines What do you know about bad trees? Some are attractive, but attract bats and wasps, some have thorns, some have very bad tasting fruit. And some produce fruit that is rotten as soon as it matures
6. If Jesus is all you’ve got, that is all you need, don’t trade him off. They live among us and we hear of them daily. Sound doctrines, and false doctrines. Jesus is the basis for all sound doctrine. He is a nice guy in all false doctrines.
7. God’s fierce anger and judgment on those who turn from him The Bible is full of sound doctrine, and warnings of God’s wrath Watch for the signs, Revelations is full of it.
Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness
,and streams in the wasteland. Learn God’s way and if Jesus is on the path, take it.
Pg. 2
Matthew 7:15-20
15. "Beware of false prophets, Jesus is speaking to the multitudes as well as the disciples, describing false teachers.
Where do we find them? Are they in our midst? Who might they be. Zealous for their faith. In the house of God regularly without fail every Sabbath. Fasting. Tithing. Praying ostentatiously. Setting an example to the others.
Surely God would commend their zeal and commitment! But did He? NO! Jesus criticized them constantly, fought them tooth and nail. Strong on religion, but weak on relationship. Who were they? These were the scribes, and the Pharisees. There were the Sadducees, Elders and Chief Priests also, all were included in Jesus’ remarks
who come to you in sheep's clothing. Jesus is describing them, as those listed above, all sanctimonious and discerning practitioners of the law and the strict interpretation of it. They held themselves out as teachers and interpreters for the people, and they did not like Jesus. How do they present themselves? Do they wear clothes of the saints and prophets? Was that the way Jesus identified them?
but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Jesus knew that what they wanted was power over the people to continue their ravenous appetite for prestige and accommodation and high praise among the people. Does that seem possible in that day and time?
16 You will know them by their fruits. What did Jesus say are the fruits?
(Mat 23:15-16 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.'
(Mat 23:27-29 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? Can we understand this? A short, plain, easy rule, to know true from false prophets: True prophets convert sinners to God, or at the least confirm and strengthen those that are converted. False prophets do not. There also are false prophets, who though speaking the very truth, yet are not sent by the Spirit of God, but come in their own name, to declare it: Their grand mark is, Not turning men from the power of Satan to God. Luke 6:43- 46
17.So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. It’s interesting that Jesus used the words “A tree is known by it’s fruit” in other words you look at a tree loaded with apples and it’s safe to assume that it’s an apple tree. You then see a tree loaded with oranges and you quickly come to the conclusion that it’s an orange tree. Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. These are the attributes that are also missing from those in whom the Holy Spirit is missing.
18. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Gal 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Pg. 3
19. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
2Ti 3:2 - 5 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
What is Jesus telling us 2Pe 1:5 -8 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
Questions:
1.Were there false prophets in Jesus’ day?
2. What about today, do we have them now?
3. When the words “False Prophets” is spoken what comes to mind?
4. How do Christians avoid Doomsday prophets, snake charmers, cults and sects, and false healers that appeal to our baser nature?
5. But what of those who pose as true prophets with the dress and mannerisms of Prophets or teachers, How do we know? There may not be a way to recognize them at once but how are we advised?
6. How is much to be learned of our teachers and prophets and pastors? Do we see the results of their work?
7. How are they described to us? As wolves in sheep’s clothing, even the most wary of us are sometimes fooled. As a fish rises to a fisherman’s bait. Do unwary Christians lose their way by misstep, trusting the false teacher?
8.How are we to know them ? We will know them by the fruit of their work, Can they produce good works lest it have their brand on it?
9.How you will know them? Their works precede their arrival, Will they have the marks of Satan’s craft on them? Is there death and destruction in what they teach.
10. 2Pe_2:1 But there were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord
who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Do you think that someone could do that today?
Lord, may I bear good fruit for your sake. Help me to reject whatever will produce evil fruit. And help me grow in faith, hope, love, sound judgment, justice, courage, and self control." AMEN
_________________________________________________________________________________
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