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By Their Fruits You Shall Know Them
October 1, 2022
By their fruits you shall know them. Jesus told his disciples that and chances are this is a phrase you have heard many times. In the account from Matthew, Jesus was warning of false prophets, who appear to be religious but are really just predators, ravaging wolves. Instead of being part of the flock, they seek to use, exploit, and destroy the flock. Jesus taught that by their fruits you shall know them.
He explained that each type of plant produces a specific fruit, adding that we expect to get grapes from grape vines, and figs from fig trees. We never expect to get fruit from a noxious weed, nor do we expect the flowers of noxious weeds to grow in grape vines or fig trees. With Jesus, He explained the concept very easily, by their fruits you shall know them.
Jesus added that just because somebody claims to be religious, does not mean they are. He showed that people must do the will of God to enter the Kingdom of God, not just merely call on God’s name, and in this section of Jesus’ explanation, we begin to develop a deeper understanding of what he meant by their fruit you shall know them. Jesus was quick to point out that those who only call on the name of God without doing God’s will, is like a person who builds their house on sand. They will soon come to nothing. Believe it or not, when Jesus said this, he astonished the people because he came across as one speaking with authority, unlike the scribes who when they spoke, spoke as not having authority.
Matthew 7:15-29
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.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
When we think of fruit, especially when fruit is mentioned in the Bible, sometimes all we do is think is what is produced by a plant and the different varieties of fruit. For our purposes, while it is good to know that a good tree can only bring forth good fruit and not evil fruit, it’s also useful for us to consider that fruit is a product of that plant, the fruit is what results after many months. Results are important to God, not because God has sales or marketing goals, but because God is building character in each of us. Everything that is done by God is strategic in nature designed to lead people to salvation, and when God has a plan in our life, there is a result that is intended from what God has in mind.
Paul understood that God had results in mind as he did the work of an apostle. He knew for instance that while he planned what cities he would visit and what routes he would take, he understood what he did was based on what was effectual. In other words, Paul understood that what he did was intended to produce a desired result. Much like the fruit of a plant or tree is the result of that season’s product, Paul knew what we do through faith leads to an intended result. As we focus first on the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, it’s good for us to know that God works within a results-oriented environment.
1 Corinthians 16:5-9
Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.
For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
When God decides to intervene in our lives, there is an intended result in God’s action. On the broadest measure, God is leading us to salvation. Looking at that intended result through a narrower measure, Good could be looking at anything in our individual lives specifically that could be a stumbling block to our salvation. However God intervenes, a result will occur.
Ephesians 3:7
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
What God uses to bring about that intended result, what is effectual, could either be a blessing or seem like a chastening. To God, who does things in righteousness, who will not tempt us with evil or beyond what we are able to bare, that intended result is what is most important. Within matters of the Church, God wants the church to reach people with the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Paul knew that just as God was helping Peter to be effective with the Jews, Paul would be effective with the gentiles.
Galatians 2:8
For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:
When Paul wrote to Philemon, the shortest letter of Paul in the Bible, Paul connected results to faith, but maybe not in the way we might expect. You see, Paul explained to Philemon that for faith to be communicated effectively, there needs to be linked to faith every good thing that is part of us that can be linked to Jesus Christ. The whole idea of what’s in it for me sounds very selfish, but if people who are not presently called begin to consider what is good about our faith, it is best to link it to a result, such as, before I was called I was whatever, and now that I have been following Christ, I am no longer whatever, I am now this.
Philemon 1:4-7
I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
John restated the message of Jesus that the world is full of false prophets, and giving a test to distinguish between those who are of God and those who are not of God, and that test involves Jesus Christ, and if He lived as a man. Those who don’t believe Jesus lived as a man have the spirit of antichrist. There are all types of people who don’t believe Jesus didn’t live as a man and some of them will sound convincingly religious. It makes no difference if they sound religious or not, John is very clear in writing that those who do not believe Jesus came in the flesh are not of God, and in the broadest sense those who don’t believe Jesus came in the flesh are those who deny the power of Jesus, to provide forgiveness of our sins as a pathway towards salvation is established for us.
1 John 4:1-6
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
What Jesus spoke of and what John wrote for us reiterates some of what is given to us in Deuteronomy, about false prophets and dreamers who give a sign to worship another God. What is written in this Old Testament book is written for our admonition, that there will always be people as unknowing agents of Satan who will try to separate us from God, and who will do so with convincing fashion, because in Deuteronomy, we are specifically told what to do when their sign or wonder comes to pass. The false prophets that Deuteronomy describes are impressive, and just like God expects spiritual results from us, we need to be aware that through Satan and Satan’s agents, Satan can manufacture results to deceive us and separate us from God.
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
Instead of being deceived by a message that might sound great and have nothing to do with God and Jesus Christ, we need to remember the words of Paul to the Galatians who described the fruit of the Holy Spirit. If we are living vessels with the Holy Spirit, it is like we are trees of the Holy Spirit that produce fruit of the Holy Spirit, and the intended result of our lives is not evil, but what is listed by Paul in Galatians where the fruit of the spirit is listed. Paul reminds us that if live in the spirit we must walk in the spirit, meaning what results in our life must reflect our spiritual calling. We cannot claim to be of God and live a life that is opposed to what God expects of us.
Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Paul warned the Ephesians to not be deceived through words. While words themselves shouldn’t harm us, we can all remember the serpent in the garden of Eden used words to deceive Eve. Words are either heard by our ears, read by our eyes, spoken by our lips, our thought of in our minds. The vain words that can deceive us could come from any of these sources, so it is very important that we focus on the results that God expects of us through the fruit of the spirit and not religious discussions and debates that pull us away from the fruit of the spirit. We are to maintain fellowship with the light and avoid what is dark.
Ephesians 5:6-14
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Ecclesiastes tells us the end of something is better than its beginning and we need to avoid the delusion of the good old days. Focusing on the good old days instead of the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness can become a curse. We need to be careful if we look back in time and conclude things were better then. Anger and resentment tend to be at the root of focusing on the good old days. Instead of focusing on our past, stay focused on our future knowing God’s intended result is to bring us to salvation because we will bear much spiritual fruit.
Ecclesiastes 7:8-10
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
We can have complete confidence in God that when the righteous call out to God for help, God delivers the righteous from their troubles, even when those troubles are many. Instead of focusing on the good old days when we did not see any troubles for ourselves, we have complete confidence that God will deliver us from our afflictions, and this is possible because we are focused on the result of our faith, seeking first the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness that results in the present age in our spiritual development and baring fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 34:17-20
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
What we want in life has to be aligned with God’s intended result for us, with God’s will. We cannot circumvent or prevent God’s will, and it we try to avoid God’s will, God’s will will always have a way of reconnecting with us. When we seek results that are different than what God wants we will fail, even if we spend lots of extra time doing what isn’t part of God’s will.
Psalm 127:1-2
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
The Colossians were told to put on the fruit of the spirit, in all that they do, and doing all in the name of Jesus Christ giving thanks to God the Father through Jesus.
Colossians 3:12-17
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote that when we endure hardships today, the intended result is to lead us to salvation as God can and will comfort us from our hardships, so that we can comfort the people we know from their hardships. For instance, Paul explained that when his entourage experienced hardship, those hardships worked in favor of the church as those hardships were often centered in visiting and teaching the various early New Testament churches.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
In his second letter, Peter wrote of the building blocks of faith, and using these to ensure our calling and election is sure. Peter was telling the people then and by extension the reader today that focusing on these fruits of the spirit, the building blocks of faith, we are also focusing on a spiritual result that will lead to our salvation. Spiritually we cannot be barren or unfruitful in our calling. We are expected to do something with the calling we have been given, and if we stay focused on our calling while growing these fruits of the spirit, we will be part of the Kingdom of God.
2 Peter 1:2-11
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
James writes the effectual fervent prayers of righteous people really helps. Effectual prayers are prayers designed to lead to an intended result. When we pray to God, it is useless to use prayer to complain to God and we need to pray with an intended result in mind, knowing that whatever intended result we pray about needs to be aligned with God’s will.
James 5:13-18
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
The Ephesians were reminded by Paul that whatever God does is intended to benefit not only a person for salvation, but the entire church. When God establishes ministries within the church, there is a direct benefit to the church designed to end with the result of salvation for the church as through love the church spiritually matures and develops spiritual fruit.
Ephesians 4:7-16
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Even Satan is smart enough to know about results. Satan knows for instance that a house divided against itself cannot stand. The result that God intends for the church is not fractions and divisions where the church is against itself. As a church, we all need to be focused on seeking the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness.
Matthew 12:22-25
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Paul reminded the Thessalonians that when his entourage interacted with them, that there was not deceit in their dealings, nor any attempt to be a burden to them. Instead, Paul and his entourage treated the Thessalonians very kindly as a parent might treat a small child. Paul went on to explain that the reason his entourage took this approach was that he knew the word of God would be effective to bring them closer to salvation.
1 Thessalonians 2:3-13
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
The result that God looks for in all of his interactions with mankind is to bring all to repentance so that nobody dies. All that God does on earth knowing Satan is the god of this earth, is done with this result in mind. God has no desire that any person should die. The opposite is what is true for God, and as we look for a new heaven and a new earth, we too can remember that all that God does is so that the most number of people can be saved.
2 Peter 3:8-13
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Paul explained to the Philippians that the words that frame our thoughts, that come from our lips, that are written by our hands should be true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, having virtue, being praiseworthy. The result we seek is salvation for all people, as this is the result that God seeks. Paul explained to the Philippians how we can frame our minds even when talking with somebody who knows very little about the faith, and that we can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us.
Philippians 4:8-13
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
There is one result we can expect for those who love God who are also called according to God’s purpose. We can expect all things to work together for good, for our salvation and the salvation of others. We know that is coupled with the idea that nothing will ever separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:28-39
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God does work within a results-oriented environment seeking our salvation and the salvation of others.
All verses are from the King James Version.
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