By Our Fruits We Are Known

Fruit is an oft-repeated theme in the Bible. In Genesis 2 we learn the importance of distinguishing between fruits. Among the trees in the Garden of Eden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God commanded Adam, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17 

What do we know about those trees – the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Were they quite similar or different in appearance? How close to one another were they? We don’t know these answers, but we would imagine that if a piece of fruit from each had fallen to the ground and rolled to be found lying together, Adam and Eve could have determined which fruit came from each tree. They may not have been able to point to either tree to confirm its identity out of season, but surely they would have known them by their fruits.

Two persons walking together may seem nearly identical based on their immutable attributes, style of dress, and how they speak – but we learn from Jesus in Matthew 7:15-23 that we can know them by their fruits:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a 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 is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'”

There are qualities that can demonstrate that one is of God. Paul tells us that these qualities are fruit – the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23  Paul, likewise, writes in Ephesians 5:9, “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.”

Jesus confirms that we can be known by our fruits, citing love, when in John 13:35 He expresses, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  The Apostle John builds on this in his first letter when he writes, “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:10

Speaking of false prophets in Matthew 7:16, Jesus asserts, “You will know them by  their fruits.” He repeats this sentiment in Matthew 7:20, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

This ought to make us think about our fruits. What are we showing the world by our deeds? More importantly, what are we showing God? One day, we want to hear those melodious words from our Sovereign, “Well done, good and faithful servant … enter into the joy of your Lord.”  Matthew 25:21,23