| “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). |
| Trees grow in many parts of the world, although there are some places where there is not enough rainfall to support the growth of trees. When we live where trees grow, we learn to identify them by various means — the shape of the tree, the kind of bark it has, the kind of leaves on it, and the kind of fruit it produces. Trees that lose their leaves in the fall are called deciduous trees, and we who live in cooler climates are used to seeing the leaves change color in the fall, then drop off. It is harder to identify a tree without any leaves, although sometimes the shape of it tells us what it is. |
| Because I grew up on a fruit farm, I can usually identify a fruit tree even in wintertime, but there is one thing I cannot tell. I cannot tell whether it will produce a good crop of fruit, or only a poor crop. However, in our verse for today, the Lord Jesus is talking about whether a tree produces fruit, or whether it produces only thorns, or something like that. |
| According to verse 15 in this same chapter, there are many false prophets around. They are like wolves in sheep’s clothing, and are not true believers. They are like trees that look like fruit trees, but when they produce something, it is only thorns instead of fruit that can be eaten. |
| It is important for us to be real before the Lord, too. Being real means that we have truly accepted the Lord as Savior and are not pretending. Then we will have a desire to please the Lord. Sooner or later it will come out as to what we really are, for “neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (vs. 18). Let us make sure that we are good trees! |
