Jesus teaches us about discernment.
To discern is to investigate.
We must investigate fruits. A strawberry can try to say they are a pineapple but the moment you take a bit out of that strawberry, you discern it's NOT a pineapple.
We MUST do the same when it come's to fruit inspecting.
We know people by their FRUIT not their FOLLOWING.
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. (Matthew 7:15-20)
They might look like a sheep on the outside, but they are wolves on the inside.
Wolves are skilled at hunting & taking down prey.
Wolves roam for large distances.
Wolves have manipulative abilities.
Jesus is teaching us to be aware & alert.
If you continue to read through all of Matthew 7, you'll notice Jesus breaks down in two.
Two roads. (Narrow & Wide) Matthew 7:13-14
Two animals. (Wolf & Sheep) Matthew 7:15
Two trees. (Bad fruit & Good fruit) Matthew 7:16-20
Two kinds of disciples. (True & False) Matthew 7:21-23
Two builders. (Wise & Foolish, Rock & Sand) Matthew 7:25-27
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 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. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:1-8)
Our ability to bear good fruit is our awareness to know that we must be attached to Jesus.
The vine - Jesus is the vine & the source of life and sustenance for the branches.
The branches - The followers of Jesus who draw life and the ability to grow and bear fruit from the vine.
The vinedresser - God the Father is the gardener who takes care of the vineyard.
Abide - to abide in the vine means to be connected to it & receive nourishment.
Bearing fruit - Fruit comes from being connected to the vine.
Pruning - To cut off what is needed to be cut in order for spiritual growth.
Gardeners KNOW when to prune a branch! Trust God through that process.
The Symbols
1. the Son is the true vine (15:1)
2. the Father is the gardener (15:1)
3. the believer is the branch (15:5)
The Steps
1. Submit to the pruning of the Father (15:2-3)
2. Abide in the Son (15:4)
The Success
1. Results in bountiful fruit (15:7-8)
2. Results in glorifying the Father (15:8)
11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. (John 20:11:18)
There was a moment when Mary saw Jesus but didn't know it was Jesus.
She didn't know it was Jesus UNTIL He called her by name.
When Jesus calls you, can you recognize it?
How to bear good fruit as a Christian?
#1 Good seed - word of God.
11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God (Luke 8:11)
#2 Good soil - heart.
15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. (Luke 8:11)
#3 Good ground - community.
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
#4 Good roots - faith & hope in Christ.
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, (Hebrews 6:19)
Roots keep trees planted.
Hope keeps people planted.
#5 Good fruit - character. (Galatians 5 fruits of the Holy Spirit)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)