THE KINGDOM AND JESUS' ILLUSTRATIONS - THE TWO TREES

Text: Matthew 7:15-20 (CSB) – “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.”

We are continuing our study of the Sermon on the Mount in the Book of Matthew. We are drawing this study to a close over the next few days. I pray that it has been encouraging and challenging.  Now we are looking at the topic of the Kingdom and Jesus’ Illustrations. An illustration we said is something that serves to illustrate such as

·      A picture or diagram that helps make something clear or attractive

·      An example or instance that helps make something clear

·      Something that illustrates, like a picture in a book or magazine.

·      A comparison or an example intended for explanation or corroboration.

·      The act of clarifying or explaining; 

Jesus is in this passage giving us 5 illustrations for what we need, how to treat others, and how to live as a true child of God. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount continually keeps bringing us back to our motives over our actions. Remember that God looks at the heart, not the outward designs. Being the Master Teacher of all times – He has given us what He wants us to learn. And, to close this lesson He is using some illustrations to cement the concepts into our minds – and lives.

The Third Illustration He uses is the Two Trees. He ties this with the warning about the false prophets that we discussed yesterday. He uses both the concept of the Two Animals and the Two Trees to send forth a dire warning about those who would lead you astray. In the part with the two animals, He warned that they will not draw you to God, but destroy your relationship with God. I want to point out that they cannot take your salvation away from you – but they can take the fellowship that you have with God away.

Looking at the teaching about the two trees, He starts by talking about good trees. He said – “every good tree produces good fruit….” A tree always produces what it is. He also said that “a good tree can’t produce bad fruit….” I can remember growing up that I was around two Apple trees. The one tree had an abundance of sweet, juicy apples that I loved to pick and eat. The other tree had sour, shriveled apples that no one wanted. They were consistent year after year. Eventually, the man who owned them cut down the bad tree and used it for firewood that winter. I think of that when I think that Jesus taught that a good tree cannot produce bad fruit (verses 16,18).

He also stressed that a bad tree cannot produce good fruit (verse 17, 19-20). Tying that in with the false prophets, it was a reminder that following or mixing their teaching in with the truth will not make what they say true – it will make what is true rotten. It is like my wife keeps a basket of apples on our kitchen counter. If you put a rotten apple in among the good ones, it doesn’t become good – it makes the other apples rot.

So, in these two contrasts, He is emphasizing that it does matter who we learn and study from. Today, pause and seek to determine if the one you are following is true or false.