Authors: Anna Howard and Kelley Miller
Matthew 7:15-20 (NRSVUE)
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.
A Tree and Its Fruit
Fruit trees produce good fruit when the tree is cultivated and cared for. How you care for the tree determines the harvest, you can’t simply wish for good fruit, you need to work for it. Jesus is letting us know that we need to practice being “good fruit” and keep our eye out for anyone that might lead us away from this practice.
In Galatians chapter 5 beginning with verse 22b, Paul teaches us about the Fruit of the Spirit.
…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ[e] have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
We are tempted each day to seek the things of this world at the expense of the kingdom of God. Power, wealth, and acquiring more at any expense is antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus calls us to return to the cultivation of the fruits of his Spirit and turn away from the false prophet who looks good and successful on the outside but is rotten on the inside.
We cultivate good fruit when we ask the Spirit to help us acquire it through prayer, study, and practice. Want more patience, grow in the Spirit. Want to love like Jesus, grow in the Spirit. Self-control is a challenging fruit because we want what we want and we generally want it now. Lent is the season to abstain from things that take us away from the purpose that God has for us as we live and love one another in the here and now.
People who are filled with the Spirit will show you that they produce good fruit with their acts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and self-control. They/you are kingdom of God builders!
Prayer
Good and gracious God, you sent us your Son so that we might have the best life now by following his example through our own actions. We ask for you Spirit to make itself at home in us and help and guide us as we cultivate good fruit and build your kingdom here on the earth you love so much. Amen