Matthew 7:15-23
True and False Prophets
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 25:33
“He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.”
Good Tree = Good Fruit
We need to be aware of false prophets. But, how do you recognize them? You can tell by looking at their fruit. The fruit of a person refers to their actions. It is the fruit of the lips, so listen to what people say. The things they say will help you to determine if somebody is true or false.
God separates the ‘goats’ from the ‘sheep.’ The sheep are the people who are led by the Shepherd. They do what is asked of them. The goats, however, do as they please and stubbornly walk the path of their liking. We must assess ourselves by our actions. We must speak carefully. God judges people by their words.
Be grafted to the Lord
Jesus described a parable of grafting yourself to the true grapevine, where those that are good trees will bear good fruit and bad trees will bear bad fruit. [Reference: Matthew 7:17-20] Trees are likened to people. So, this passage in Matthew is referring to us! The Messiah is the true grapevine, so we must be grafted to the Messiah. Grafting ourselves to the Lord means to listen to his words, believe, follow, and acknowledge that he is the Lord.
When somebody is grafted to the Lord, they are attached. They are attached with love and the same mentality. However, it is not simply the act of being grafted to the true grapevine that matters, but you must actually live the life of being grafted. You have to graft yourself and then stay alive by taking action and bearing good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down. If you hear the Word of God yet don’t take action on it, you won’t be able to bear good fruit. And according to God’s timing, you will be “cut down.” God always gives you opportunities and chances. Only those who repent can enter the gates of Heaven.
Life is an individual battle
It is better to gnash your teeth and overcome hardships on the path of life than to gnash your teeth on the path towards Hell. Don’t find the easy way out, but do things properly. Although life is an individual battle, it is also a group effort. You act in groups to carry out God’s history; yet, each person must fight their own individual battle.
You must pray to destroy Satan in the name of the Lord. Even if you are going through hardships, always remember you have the Lord and God with you. Satan is nothing if you pray!
