Bible Truth #65 - Matthew 7:16-20

Matthew 7:16-20

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.

Hmmmm. Ever know of a bad tree that bears bad fruit just up and change itself into a good tree? I’d say the answer to that is no. Why? Because #1 it doesn’t have the ABILITY to change itself, and #2 it doesn’t know and couldn’t care less.

A bad tree can NOT bear good fruit, because it isn’t ABLE. Sounds a lot like “an Ethiopian can’t change his skin nor a leopard its spots” (Jeremiah 13:23). This reconciles perfectly with:

o Many will try to enter and will not be ABLE to. (Luke 13:24)

o Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light

(John 3:20)

o Those controlled by the sinful nature can not please God. (Romans 8:8)

This same principle is applied to people and that is why the Lord talked in parables like this a lot. The principles He uses from nature: farming, vineyard care, fishing, livestock, etc. are understood by those whom He wanted to understand (Matthew 13:11 - Bible Truth #39). Just as the different soils can not change (Bible Truth #38), neither can a bad tree change itself into a good tree. A lost man CAN’T go against his nature and choose righteousness, he CAN’T love God. He can’t believe. He is not ABLE. God must FIRST change his nature. Only THEN can a formerly lost man believe.

We become children of God not by the will of the flesh (John 1:13).