What does "a good tree does not bear bad fruit" teach about character? The Immediate Text Luke 6:43–45: “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from a briar. The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” The Big Idea A person’s true character—what Scripture calls the “heart”—inevitably shows itself in outward behavior. Just as the nature of a tree determines its fruit, the nature of a person determines the quality of his or her actions, words, and attitudes. Why Jesus Chose a Tree Illustration • Familiar to every listener: fruit trees filled Galilee. • Unmistakable evidence: no one confuses a fig tree with a thornbush once the fruit appears. • Unarguable logic: a tree can only produce according to its kind (cf. Genesis 1:11–12). What Makes a Tree “Good” or “Bad”? • Origin: A tree grown from healthy seed and rooted in good soil thrives (cf. Matthew 13:23). • Nature: Its internal life—sap, root system, genetic makeup—decides the fruit before it appears. • Care: Pruning, watering, and fertilizing strengthen the tree; neglect weakens it (cf. John 15:2). Character Revealed in Actions • Words: “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). • Deeds: Consistent patterns, not isolated events, show the kind of “tree” we are (Galatians 5:19–23). • Motives: God looks beyond appearance to the inner person (1 Samuel 16:7). Marks of Good Fruit • Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). • Obedience to Christ’s commands (John 15:10). • Humility and service rather than self-promotion (Philippians 2:3–4). • Integrity in speech and conduct (Ephesians 4:25, 29). How Good Fruit Is Cultivated • New birth: Only a transformed heart can bear spiritual fruit (2 Corinthians 5:17). • Abiding in Christ: “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). • Walking by the Spirit: Yielding daily to His guidance (Galatians 5:16). • Saturation in Scripture: God’s Word renews the mind and roots the believer (Psalm 1:2–3). • Faith-fueled obedience: Acting on truth reinforces godly character (James 1:22). Warning and Encouragement • Mere profession of faith without fruit exposes a bad tree (Matthew 7:19–21). • Authentic believers may stumble, but overall trajectory trends toward holiness (Proverbs 24:16). • God prunes fruitful branches to produce even more fruit—trials often serve growth (John 15:2). • Assurance flows from visible evidence: increasing Christ-likeness confirms genuine conversion (2 Peter 1:5–10). Related Passages for Deeper Insight • Matthew 12:33—“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good.” • Romans 6:22—“Now you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God; the fruit you reap leads to holiness.” • James 3:11–12—Fresh and salt water cannot flow from the same spring. • 1 John 3:9—No one born of God keeps on practicing sin. Living It Out Today • Examine the fruit: attitudes, words, habits—what do they reveal about the heart? • Pursue intimacy with Christ: the closer the connection, the sweeter the produce. • Invite accountability: trusted believers help identify rotten spots early. • Expect growth: healthy trees bear more and better fruit over time; rejoice in progress and press on (Philippians 3:13–14). |
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