A Tree is Known by it's Fruit

A Tree Known by Its Fruit

(See also Matt. 7:15-20)

Matthew 12v33

33¶“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

Jesus used the analogy of good and corrupt trees several times in the gospels.

In the context of Matthew 12 he is rebuking the religious leaders - the Pharisees - who had accused Him of casting out demons by Beelzebub the prince of demons. v24

Essentially they were attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. v28

In v31&32 we clearly see that this denotes or characterises the unpardonable sin.

There are those in certain denominations, who are on very dangerous ground, as they too attribute the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues to the devil. Speaking in tongues is clearly scriptural, so if you attend such a denomination and agree with their position you need to be extremely careful.

But back to what I want to share.

In v33 Jesus tells the Pharisees to either be one thing or another and in very black and white terms says either make the tree good or bad because there is nothing in between. There is no grey area.

You see like many professing, church going, religious Christians today, the Pharisees were trying to portray themselves as something they most definitely were not..

They appeared outwardly to be pious, godly, caring, the custodians of God's law and the chosen messengers and voice of God to the people.

Matthew 23v27&28

27¶“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

28“Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Luke 20v46&47

46“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,

47“who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

How much pretence and hypocrisy is a stench in God's nostrils today, as people have put on their Sunday best and went to church? (not that there is anything wrong with going to a church building many sincere believers have done so today).

How many have prayed pretentious prayers?

How many of our religious leaders have handled God's Word shamefully, by relying on their own wisdom, their Bible college or seminary training but their sermons are devoid of revelation knowledge and the anointing?

How many have spoke with persuasive and enticing words of man's own wisdom instead of in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power? 1 Corinthians 2v4

Pretence, hypocrisy, self reliance, man's own wisdom and a complete lack of Christ's compassion, love and mercy, characterises the religious activities and the people who are involved in them.

Strong words but nonetheless words which must be said, as they are the truth.

Is it any wonder Jesus was called the friend of sinners and spent most of his time demonstrating His love and mercy toward them. And who was it that condemned Him for it - you've got it the religious leaders.

You see they can wear their long flowing robes, dog collars and regalia but if they are not carrying God's heart and clothed with His beautiful garments, then it is all a pretence and an abomination in the sight of God!!

Either make the tree good and it's fruit good or make the tree bad and it's fruit bad.

Jesus was saying, to stop trying to be something you are not.

You can't hide your true nature and religiosity, no more than a tree which is bad can produce good fruit..

The nature of the tree will determine what fruit it bares.

Matthew 7v16-18

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.

Is it any wonder that the unsaved are put off Christ, when all they see is pretence and hypocrisy.

People need reality not religion.

Far better having an encounter with Jesus Christ than with dead religion..

Our young people, men and women who are without hope and Christ, need the real thing not a form of godliness which denies the power of God, which makes Jesus real to people.

I'm not talking just about Roman Catholicism or the Church of England or orthodoxy. I'm talking about the lack of true reality and Christlikeness across every denomination, Presbyterian, Baptist, Brethen and most conspicuously Pentecostal churches. Why do I pick on Pentecostals because that's what I was brought up in and although I love the true Pentecostal experience I don't like Pentecostal religiosity and I've seen a lot of it and been guilty of it.

Friends it's a travesty to see and it's a wake up call to us all, when the unsaved are put off Jesus because we are too busy playing church and waiting for the sweet bye and bye, while all the while our shallow, pretentious lives are so unrepresentative of the Saviour we purport to serve.

Thank God, the unsaved can see through the veneer and shallowness of it all and are staying away.

We dont need more religious converts and church goers and members.

I believe that God in His infinite mercy and wisdom is keeping people away, so that when the latter day outpouring of the Holy Spirit and corresponding endtime harvest occur, then souls who are free from all the religious baggage will be gloriously saved and will become true disciples of the cross and firebrands in the hands of our Almighty God.

Give me a sinner who curses, drinks, sleeps around any day, than a religious hypocrite, including Pentecostal ones, who know what and who they are, for I tell you the truth, there is more hope for such a one.

Remember what Jesus said to the religious leaders in Matthew 21v31b&32

31b"Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots (prostitutes) enter the kingdom of God before you.

32“For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

At the heart and root of religiosity and churchianity is PRIDE.

The hypocrisy and pretentiousness are the fruit or outward manifestation but at it's very root is PRIDE.

Andrew Murray in his book "Humility" wrote these words:

"Pride, or the loss of this humility, is the root of every sin"

"When the serpent breathed the poison of his pride - the desire to be like God - into the hearts of our first parents, they, too, fell from their high estate into all the wretchedness in which man is now sunk"

In all of heaven and earth, pride and self-exaltation are the gate and the curse of hell".

Book: Humility, Chapter 1, Pages 10&11.

Religious pride causes us to think we are better than others and creates a holier than thou attitude.

The heart of pride refuses to humble itself and admit it got it wrong and apologise and make it right.

The religious, proud heart is hard and compassionless.

It would rather honour the Sabbath than see a sick person healed.

Religion stinks to high heaven folks.

We need to leave religion behind and seek the genuine reality that only God can give.

We need the real thing!

James 1v27

27Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

All scriptural references from NKJV.