A GOOD TREE PRODUCES GOOD FRUIT

PROCLAMATION

“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by his fruit.”  Matthew 12:33 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to the Apostle Matthew.  After Jesus invited them to believe in Him and offered them salvation, (Matthew 11:28) He declared Himself to be The Lord of The Sabbath. (Matthew 12:8)  He healed a man with a shriveled hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:9-13)  Because of this, the Pharisees sought to kill Jesus. (Matthew 12:14)  He left that city and a great multitude followed Him and He healed all of the sick among them. (Matthew 12:15-17)  A demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Him and He healed him, and the man was able to talk and see. (Matthew 12:22)  Seeing this, some of the people thought that He was a Man of God, while the Pharisees said that He was a man of the devil, Beelzebub the prince of the devils. (Matthew 12:23-24)  Jesus refuted them by saying that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, devils would not drive out other devils. (Matthew 12:25-29)  He said, “He that is not with Me is against me…” (Matthew 12:30) Then Jesus went on to say that a good tree produces fruit good; and a bad tree produces bad fruit; for the tree is known by the fruit that it produces. (Matthew 12:33)  He said the same is true for a man. (Matthew 12:34-35)  Then Jesus, The Christ, said that men would be judged by every word that they speak.  By their words they will be justified or condemned. (Matthew 12:36-37)  Then Jesus predicted His death, burial, and resurrection. (Matthew 12:38-41)

 

APPLICATION

Whatever is in a man’s heart, that is what will come out of him.  A man with good things stored up within him will produce good.  A man with evil in his heart will produce that which is evil. (Matthew 12:35)  Jesus, The Christ, said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16 and 12:33)  If we are saved, then we should produce the fruit of The Holy Spirit of God which is within us and that is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (self-control). (Galatians 5:22-23)  The fruit that we produce is visible to others and it is for the benefit of others.  If you are not happy with the fruit that you are producing, turn your life over to Christ and ask Him to change you.  He can create in you a clean heart and a right spirit (Psalm 51:10) and make you a new creature. (2 Corinthians 5:17)