In this post we will be looking at Jesus mean by “you will know them by their fruit with bible verses that quotes it.
INTRODUCTION
Wolves are not a thing that sheep should only concern themselves with when things get obviously bad. Sheep must always be alert and ready for such predators. And if the wolves can dress up as sheep, the threat becomes infinitely more severe. Jesus chose very strong words here to emphasize our need to be ever vigilant against a subtle but hostile threat to us and our brothers and sisters in Christ. But how are we to identify a threat like this? If the false prophet looks and acts exactly like a sheep, and is only inwardly a wolf, how do we figure it out? We cannot see the contents of the heart. Jesus, therefore, gave us a sign to look for: “You will know them by their fruits.”
What did Jesus mean by “you will know them by their fruit” with bible verses that quotes it.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:15-20 (and similar passages) are a powerful warning that there are many who come in His name who are actively seeking to lead us away from the truth, and we are to be on guard against this threat. Jesus uses now-famous phrases here like “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and “you will know them by their fruit” to make His urgent point. He says:
- “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits,” (Matthew 7:15-20).
What are the fruits? The Gospel of Luke gives us additional details that help to clarify:
“For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart,” (Luke 6:43-45).
We, therefore, will know the prophet by what he speaks. What comes out of his mouth will give him away. He may appear clean and upright to us on the outside in every way, but if deceit and falsehood are in his heart, this false teaching, false prophecy, and others perversions of the truth will come out of his mouth. The fruit of a fig tree is figs. The fruit of a grape fine is grapes. The fruit of a prophet is his prophecy. Jesus elsewhere said:
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned,” (Matthew 12:33-37).
Jesus’ words, offered similar words about what the fruit is that exposes the heart:
“But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh,” (James 3:8-12).
The genuine word of the LORD is life-sustaining grain while the false prophets bring forward only a dead, dry stalk. Again, you will know the true and false prophet by the content of their words. Elsewhere, Jesus plainly warned:
“for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance,” (Mark 13:22-23).