Transcript

Matthew 7:13-20 · NOBA @ Noon

Canon Justin Murff: The Gospel of Matthew chapter seven thirteen twenty Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many, for the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 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 thorn bushes or figs from thistles? So every heavenly 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. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus is now moving towards the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, and his teaching takes on increased sense of urgency. He's just spoken of two gates, one wide leading to destruction, and one narrow leading to eternal life. Now he addresses another danger, one still familiar to us today false prophets. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing. But are inwardly ravenous wolves. The imagery is vivid. Wolves don't announce themselves. They disguise themselves. They sneak in for the attack. These false teachers appear authentic, perhaps even gentler than genuine shepherds. They wear the costume of the flock, but their inner nature, their actual intention, is to devour, steal, and destroy the church from within. The early church faced constant challenges from teachers who Who claimed to speak for God, but they distorted the gospel. Some added requirements to grace, others subtracted ethical demands. For the church then and now, discernment is essential for survival. That's why Jesus says you'll recognize them by their fruit. Jesus is providing for us this litness test of authenticity. Appearances can often deceive, but character eventually reveals itself through continuous conduct. The fruit test requires time and observation. False prophets may initially be impressive, but their long-term performance will expose their true nature. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? So every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. This is agricultural common sense elevated into a spiritual principle. The nature of the tree determines the kind of fruit it will yield. You can't change the fruit by cosmetic adjustments to the branches. The issue is the core and essence of the tree, the inner life of the tree will produce the corresponding fruit. You'll never get an orange from an apple tree. This principle, though, cuts in two directions. First it provides criteria for actually evaluating teachers. What kind of lives do they produce in their own when no one's looking? And what kind of life is produced in their followers? What are the long term outcomes of their teaching? You see, character, not charisma, is the true measure of fruitfulness in the kingdom. Second, it invites us to do a spiritual self examination of ourselves. What fruit is my life producing? The answer reveals our actual spiritual health. The metaphor also speaks to the impossibility of certain kinds of change through mere effort. A disease tree can't simply decide to produce good fruit one day. It needs healing at the root level. Similarly, behavioral changes without heart transformation is futile. We need the deeper work in us that only God can do. You know, I love apple orchards. And when you see an apple orchard in full bloom, it's amazing. You'll have entire clusters of apples going off of these branches, sometimes three or four clusters of apples off of a single moment or bud. It's really unbelievable. But go through an apple orchard and In the winter time. It's a very different scene. Instead of this beautiful lush green orchard with vibrant red apples growing all over the place, it's barren and stark. All of the limbs and twigs have had to be cut back. It's raw and it's ugly. But it's necessary because the trimmed branches produce even sweeter, even larger fruit in the next season. Sometimes The fruit that we want to produce is hampered by the fact that we haven't had some spiritual pruning. So how does this passage guide us today? First, it calls us for discernment regarding the teachers that we listen to. In an age of podcasts and social media influencers and celebrity preachers and insta-famous clergy, the ability to evaluate our spiritual leaders by their fruit is essential. What kind of communities does their teaching actually create? What do their closest relationships actually look like? What's their home life or family life? Second, it warns against being impressed by outward appearances. Sheep's clothing, sure, it can be convincing. The most dangerous false teachers often seem the most sincere. Charisma, eloquence, and the apparent success on a monetary scale are not reliable indicators of spiritual authenticity. Only the fruit can tell the truth. Third, this passage invites us to To an honest sense of self-assessment. What fruit is my life actually producing? Not what do I intend or what do I profess or what do I want? No, what actually grows from my daily existence. If I'm honest about the fruit, I'll be honest about the tree. Today, maybe take the fruit test. What kind of fruit are you producing in your life? Bring whatever you find to Jesus, and let's see what he can do.