Sermon on the Mount - Discerning
“People don’t pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they? In the same way every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit. Any tree that fails to produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into a fire. So you will know them by what they produce."
-Jesus of Nazareth, 1st century
Matthew 7:15-20
[This is the 9th message of this series]
Fruit
In a previous lesson on another message series, we have discussed how the Apostle Paul wrote to the first church in Thessalonica about believers who weren't really believers -- Feeding the Sheep: Endurance.
Now, as we read from the excerpt from the passage above, Jesus already spoke about wolves who were passing themselves up as sheep in His Sermon on the Mount.
Discernment
So how can we tell the sheep from the wolves wearing sheep skins?
Scripture
First we would need discernment, that which comes by reading Scriptures.
Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
The Word of God separates the earthly (fleshly) from the spiritual. By reading the Word, we can tell if a person is of this world (walking in the flesh) or of the Kingdom of God (walking in the Spirit).
Out of the Heart, The Mouth Speaks
Jesus said it is not what we eat (what comes in to our mouths) that make us unclean but it is from what comes out of it.
Sometimes what comes out of our mouth are words out of the overflow of the heart. So if we have been hurt and have a wounded or broken heart, if we haven't come to the Lord to help us heal, then out of our mouth (unconsciously or purposely) will eventually flow out what is hurting us inside.
He was showing everyone, not to judge a book by its cover.
So how can we tell the sheep from the wolves wearing sheep skins?
Scripture
First we would need discernment, that which comes by reading Scriptures.
Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
The Word of God separates the earthly (fleshly) from the spiritual. By reading the Word, we can tell if a person is of this world (walking in the flesh) or of the Kingdom of God (walking in the Spirit).
Out of the Heart, The Mouth Speaks
Jesus said it is not what we eat (what comes in to our mouths) that make us unclean but it is from what comes out of it.
Sometimes what comes out of our mouth are words out of the overflow of the heart. So if we have been hurt and have a wounded or broken heart, if we haven't come to the Lord to help us heal, then out of our mouth (unconsciously or purposely) will eventually flow out what is hurting us inside.
What We Went Through
Hurts and wounds grow and will eventually turn into confusion, heaviness, frustration, hopelessness, resentment, bitterness, anger, depression and may escalate to wrath and even murder.
Hurts and wounds grow and will eventually turn into confusion, heaviness, frustration, hopelessness, resentment, bitterness, anger, depression and may escalate to wrath and even murder.
Envy, jealously, gossip, slander, undue criticism, backstabbing, condemnation and a critical spirit are all produce (fruit) that grew up from seeds that were planted in one's heart, that came out in its due season.
[No one wakes up one day and then decide to be a murderer. They would have already been assassinating people in their minds, their decisions, their actions and their words]
By Their Fruit, You Will Know Them
The surest way to know who's who is by waiting -- waiting for the fruit to come out.
Most people cannot tell trees apart, mostly because they look the same. Even if we know that a tree is an apple tree, we still don't know what kind for there are several different kinds of apples. (And different apples are meant for different purposes).
Very many people look and sound like everyone else. Most act nice and say the right words and we may need to know them for a much longer time to know who they are in the inside.
When we wait, we can tell which tree is which, which one is the peach tree, the pear, the fig or which ones are non-fruit bearing.
The surest way to know who's who is by waiting -- waiting for the fruit to come out.
Most people cannot tell trees apart, mostly because they look the same. Even if we know that a tree is an apple tree, we still don't know what kind for there are several different kinds of apples. (And different apples are meant for different purposes).
Very many people look and sound like everyone else. Most act nice and say the right words and we may need to know them for a much longer time to know who they are in the inside.
When we wait, we can tell which tree is which, which one is the peach tree, the pear, the fig or which ones are non-fruit bearing.
Holy Spirit
Secondly, we would know them through the gift of discernment (from the Holy Spirit).
1 Corinthians 12:8-10
"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues."
Secondly, we would know them through the gift of discernment (from the Holy Spirit).
1 Corinthians 12:8-10
"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues."
There are different spirits that may influence people and they may not be even aware about it. These influences depend upon where they came from or what they went through. The Holy Spirit knows all things and are able to discern the spirits behind people's words and actions.
Walking with the Spirit of God is the easiest way to know if someone may be influenced by a spirit other than the Holy Spirit.
Importance
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave a practical illustration that those listening to Him will understand. He said: you do not go to thornbushes to look for grapes, and you do not go to thistles to pick figs.
Importance
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave a practical illustration that those listening to Him will understand. He said: you do not go to thornbushes to look for grapes, and you do not go to thistles to pick figs.
Our eyes, our emotions and our biases may deceive us. Scripture and God's Spirit will guide us not to.
Takeaway
In our day to day life, we need Godly wisdom and discernment. And we need to refrain from making judgements, not to be easily swayed by first impressions or look at outward appearances. We also need to be aware of both implicit and explicit biases we may have.
Wait for the fruit to know what kind of tree it is.
Ahead of His Time
Jesus was ahead of His time, He shot down people's admiration towards the outwardly pious looking teachers of the law and religious leaders, while encouraging them to give people they look down upon, the benefit of the doubt and not judge them because of their outward appearance, status, reputation or stereotype.
They were to treat non-Jews (for example the Samaritan people) like they do they own kind, as well as the outcasts of society. And this is why Jesus taught and ate with sinners, fishermen, prostitutes, lepers and everyday people in the street.
Takeaway
In our day to day life, we need Godly wisdom and discernment. And we need to refrain from making judgements, not to be easily swayed by first impressions or look at outward appearances. We also need to be aware of both implicit and explicit biases we may have.
Wait for the fruit to know what kind of tree it is.
Ahead of His Time
Jesus was ahead of His time, He shot down people's admiration towards the outwardly pious looking teachers of the law and religious leaders, while encouraging them to give people they look down upon, the benefit of the doubt and not judge them because of their outward appearance, status, reputation or stereotype.
They were to treat non-Jews (for example the Samaritan people) like they do they own kind, as well as the outcasts of society. And this is why Jesus taught and ate with sinners, fishermen, prostitutes, lepers and everyday people in the street.
He was showing everyone, not to judge a book by its cover.
Comments
Post a Comment