By Their Fruit You Shall Know Them
The statement of Jesus, “By their fruits you shall know them” (Mt. 7:20) is often used to teach that you can tell whether or not a person is a Christian by their lifestyle.
Did Jesus mean that you can look at a person’s lifestyle and conclude from that the individual is a Christian? The problem is some non-Christians have a good lifestyle. It should go without saying that living a righteous life does not make a person a Christian (Titus 3:5).
Did Jesus mean that you can look at a professing Christian’s life and conclude that individual is a Christian? The people in the church at Corinth were professing Christians, but their life did not show it. In fact, Paul says they were living as if they were non-Christians (1 Cor. 3:3)!
Did Jesus mean that you can look at a professing Christian’s life and conclude that individual is not a Christian?. Self-appointed fruit inspectors do not see what they have determined is the fruit of a Christian and conclude that a particular professing Christian is not a Christian. The problem is fruit is seasonal (note: “brings forth its fruit in its seasons” in Psalm 1:3).
Years ago a lady Bible teacher told me about a conversation she had with her husband. Looking out the window, she informed him that the tree in their backyard was not an apple tree. He disagreed with her because he knew for a fact that it was an apple tree. When he asked her how she reached such a conclusion, with tongue-in-cheek, she said, “I don’t see any apples.” She did not see any apples, because it was not the season for apple trees to produce apples.
What did Jesus mean when He said, “By their fruits you shall know them? The answer is obvious. Just read the passage—in context. Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits” (Mt. 7:15-16). In this passage, “them” is often taken to be a reference to everyone and “fruit” is taken to be a reference to character, but, the word “them” in verse 16 is referring to the “false prophets” in verse 15 and “fruit” is a reference to prophecy (the fruit of a prophet is prophecy). Later in His ministry, Christ used this illustration and there fruit is clearly “words” (12:33, see 12:32, 34. 36, 37). It should also be pointed out, that fruit is that which is produced for the benefit of someone else. A true prophet speaks a word from God, which benefits others. A false prophet produces bad fruit. His message, not being from God, does not benefit others.
You have heard it said, “If something looks like a duck, waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. That is usually true, but it is not always the case. One of the exceptions is preachers! It is possible for someone to look like a spokesman for God and even sound like a messenger from God, but in reality not be from God at all. Thus, Jesus warns, “Beware of false prophets.” You will know them by what comes out of their mouth.
You need to know this truth, if you listen to Christian radio, read Christian literature, or go to church.
© G. Michael Cocoris 6/18/2014
Did Jesus mean that you can look at a person’s lifestyle and conclude from that the individual is a Christian? The problem is some non-Christians have a good lifestyle. It should go without saying that living a righteous life does not make a person a Christian (Titus 3:5).
Did Jesus mean that you can look at a professing Christian’s life and conclude that individual is a Christian? The people in the church at Corinth were professing Christians, but their life did not show it. In fact, Paul says they were living as if they were non-Christians (1 Cor. 3:3)!
Did Jesus mean that you can look at a professing Christian’s life and conclude that individual is not a Christian?. Self-appointed fruit inspectors do not see what they have determined is the fruit of a Christian and conclude that a particular professing Christian is not a Christian. The problem is fruit is seasonal (note: “brings forth its fruit in its seasons” in Psalm 1:3).
Years ago a lady Bible teacher told me about a conversation she had with her husband. Looking out the window, she informed him that the tree in their backyard was not an apple tree. He disagreed with her because he knew for a fact that it was an apple tree. When he asked her how she reached such a conclusion, with tongue-in-cheek, she said, “I don’t see any apples.” She did not see any apples, because it was not the season for apple trees to produce apples.
What did Jesus mean when He said, “By their fruits you shall know them? The answer is obvious. Just read the passage—in context. Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits” (Mt. 7:15-16). In this passage, “them” is often taken to be a reference to everyone and “fruit” is taken to be a reference to character, but, the word “them” in verse 16 is referring to the “false prophets” in verse 15 and “fruit” is a reference to prophecy (the fruit of a prophet is prophecy). Later in His ministry, Christ used this illustration and there fruit is clearly “words” (12:33, see 12:32, 34. 36, 37). It should also be pointed out, that fruit is that which is produced for the benefit of someone else. A true prophet speaks a word from God, which benefits others. A false prophet produces bad fruit. His message, not being from God, does not benefit others.
You have heard it said, “If something looks like a duck, waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. That is usually true, but it is not always the case. One of the exceptions is preachers! It is possible for someone to look like a spokesman for God and even sound like a messenger from God, but in reality not be from God at all. Thus, Jesus warns, “Beware of false prophets.” You will know them by what comes out of their mouth.
You need to know this truth, if you listen to Christian radio, read Christian literature, or go to church.
© G. Michael Cocoris 6/18/2014