By Matthew 7:15–20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
As I was reading a couple of commentaries this morning, I found one paragraph that I would like to just stand alone for the day.
From a distance the little black berries on the buckthorn could be mistaken for grapes, and the flowers on certain thistles might deceive one into thinking figs were growing (v.16). But no one would be long deceived. So with people! One’s “fruit”–not just what one does, but all one says and does–will ultimately reveal what one is (cf. Jas 3:12). Living according to the kingdom can be feigned for a time, but what one is will eventually reveal itself in what one does. However guarded one’s words, they will finally betray that person (cf. 12:33–37; Lk 6:45).
Amen!
Leading Family Devotions 