Knowing Bad Fruit | Matthew 7:15-20

Discerning can be difficult

Author

Caleb Lee
January 30, 2024

When it comes to Christianity, there are tons of false prophets around. People who claim to study the Bible so much that they’ve gleaned some “extra” wisdom from the text.

It’s important to know how to discern the good teachers from the false ones.

15  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased 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 recognize them by their fruits.

Matthew 7:15-20

I love Jesus’ use of analogy in this passage. Though, to a certain extent, all humans are diseased trees, one sure sign of a false prophet is the consistent production of bad fruit.

Where this gets tricky is those churches that seem like they’re producing both. Churches that seem to produce passionate, church-planting Christians, but also produce people who want nothing to do with church again.

Is that a sign of church leadership being false teachers? Or is it a sign that the church is actually doing something right?

Jesus did offend many and push people away, after all.

I suppose the answer lies in the leader’s reaction to losing the 1, and if it’s similar to Jesus’ reaction to it.

3  So he told them this parable: 4  “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:1-7

Does the church leader focus more on keeping the 99 in a tightly knit circle? Or does he go after the 1?

Does he rejoice in the fact that he has the 99? Or does he lament over the 1 and do everything in his power to get the 1 back?

Hypothetical questions, perhaps. And many other things to consider.

All I know for sure is that the pursuit of Jesus cannot be a one-time thing. It’s a lifelong journey for anyone who considers themselves a Christian. Whether you’re a teacher, a pastor, an apostle, or a congregation member.

It’s a daily walk with Him.

And that’s how we avoid becoming false prophets.

Have a blessed Tuesday, my friends.