Matthew 7:15-20 and 12:33-35, Luke 6:43-45 (By Their Fruits)

Rachel Workman:

Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
7:15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. How can we know a false prophet? For one thing we no longer have prophets. We do have false teachers. The way you can discern a false teacher is to know the word of God. The way you get to know the word of God is by reading it. Sitting in Church every Sunday will not suffice. It is our responsibility to read His Word. And it is our privileged. Imagine the world without it. People risk their lives just to see a glimpse of what's in it. And it's sold at practically every store here in America. Yet it's not read.  16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. 12:33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. So when we say something and then add just kidding. We're really not. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say. If you say it, it's in your heart. Adding just kidding doesn't change that you've said it. I've seen people say things that are really hurtful under the pretense of kidding. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. That's easy isn't it? A good person produces good things and a evil person produces evil things. If I'm to be known by my fruit (and we all are) then I had better make sure it's good fruit.		43 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

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John Burnett: 

Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
7:15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. 12:33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.	These passages are more true today than they were when Jesus spoke them.  The number of false prophets claiming to be of God are really vicious wolves.  The perfect example is Joel Osteen.  At the beginning of each of his sermons, he says, “This is my Bible. I am what it says I am.  It says I’m a wretched sinner, not a champion. I can do what it says I can do.  It says I can do no good, no not one. Today, I will be taught the Word of God.  I have yet to see him exegete a single verse correctly. I boldly confess:  Nothing about my sin that condemns me. My mind is alert, My heart is receptive.   If there mind was alert and there heart was receptive to the gospel, they wouldn’t be sitting in those pews. I will never be the same. I am about to receive The incorruptible, indestructible,  Yet he corrupts and twist scripture to lead people to destruction Ever-living seed of the Word of God.  What in the world does he mean by seed? I will never be the same .  I, I, I, my, my, my. Never, never, never. I will never be the same. In Jesus name. Amen.	43 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. What flows from Joel’s heart is evil and has nothing to do with the living water in the Word of God.  He is bad fruit.

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Mike Grimm: 

Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
7:15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. False teachers are just as common today. Jesus says to beware of those whose words sound religious but who are motivated by money, fame, or power. You can tell who they are because in their teaching they minimize Christ and glorify themselves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. We should evaluate teachers’ words by examining their lives. In the same respect our teachings should reflect our lives. This includes our words, thoughts, and actions. Good teachers consistently exhibit good behavior and high moral character as they attempt to live out the truths of Scripture. Every one of us is subject to sin, and we must show the same mercy to others that we need for ourselves. When Jesus talks about bad trees, He means teachers who deliberately teach false doctrine. We must examine the teachers’ motives, the direction they are taking, and the results they are seeking.  12:33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts. What kinds of words come out from our mouths? That is an indication of what our hearts are really like. We can’t solve our heart problem, however, just by cleaning up our speech. We must allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with new attitudes and motives; then our speech will be cleansed at its source.		43 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Jesus reminds us that our speech and actions reveal the true underlying beliefs, attitudes, and motivations. The good impressions we try to make cannot last if our hearts are deceptive. What is in your heart will come out in your speech and behavior.