This morning I am reading from Matthew’s Gospel. In my Bible app, these first verses were the highlighted verses of the day and as I started reading them I had some additional revelation. Here are the verses - Matthew 7:15-23 NIV:
[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.
[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!’
These two sets of verses provide an interesting contrast which almost seems contradictory at first. The first set Jesus is talking about the fruit of a person’s speech and prophetic ministry being the way to tell good from bad. In the second set of verses, He says that even if a person is doing miracles in His name (what would apparently be good fruit) it is possible that they still evildoers.
The last line of the second set (verse 23) gives us the key as to why these types of people could be considered evildoers, and it is lack of relationship with the Lord. The Lord in declaring, “I never knew you” is saying I have no relationship with you so it is not possible you were doing things in my name! In the same way the prophet is thought to be speaking messages from the Lord, but again, are misrepresenting themselves, for they clearly have no real relationship with the Lord!
The Greek word Ginosko is translated “knew” and it denotes deep and intimate knowledge (it can describe sexual intimacy between a man and a woman, and thus is speaking of much more than a passing knowledge of another, but rather a deep knowing. After nearly 40 years of marriage I often know exactly how my wife is thinking or how she will react, at times we can just look at each other and know fully what the other is thinking. I can generally represent her to others.
Jesus, is calling us into that place as well, where we can actually represent Him to others, by way of deep and abiding relationship. In such a relationship there is never a point where you can stop learning, stop listening, or stop interacting, as we are all living and growing and capable of individual thought. One of the more common questions between my honey and myself is “what are you thinking about?” We know that despite 40 years of marriage that there is more to know about our spouse.
In the same way, we are invited into a constant, growing relationship with the Lord. As we learn who the Lord is, through our interactions, we are more able to represent Him to others who don't know Him! We can learn to speak to others what He is saying. We can learn to see and hear what He is doing and join ourselves to that effort.
If we are operating outside of that type of relationship, than we are on dangerous ground, and our actions and words would not be inline with His! We can never assume to know, we must actually know what He is doing, and what He is saying.
I think the caution of judging by fruit is critical here. The Lord makes a clear distinction between good and bad fruit, and it is important to understand what exactly He is referring to with this idea. The Greek word translated fruit is Karpos, and it is defined as follows:
1) fruit
A) the fruit of the trees, vines, of the fields
B) the fruit of one's loins, i.e. his progeny, his posterity
2) that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result
A) work, act, deed
B) advantage, profit, utility
C) praises, which are presented to God as a thank offering
What is clear is that is something visible, and is the result of words or actions, another way to think would be what are their words and actions birthing, or bringing forward. In the false prophet section, it is clear the Lord is speaking about those whose whole motivation is toward themselves, not towards the Lord. They are hungry for notoriety,for prestige, for whatever they fancy. They are in disguise, thus actively trying to hide their true nature, but in time it will become evident. They might have started in the Lord, but have lost connection and are now driven by their own desires.
I am reminded of some verses from John, where the Lord speaks about remaining connected to Him - John 15:1,4-5 NIV:
[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”
[4] “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
[5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Apart from Him we can do nothing. He is speaking about good fruit here. We can create bad fruit on our own, and that is the only possible outcome of our acting on our own. This is why relationship with Him, being connected to the vine, being known by Him, and knowing Him, is so essential.
Lord, I pray that You would help me to remain connected to You! That I might be known and know, that I might be able to represent You because of the depth of my relationship with You!
Oh Lord, help us to judge rightly by the fruit we are producing and help us to remain connected to You.
Amen and Amen!
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