Fruit-Bearing Trees

I. Introduction
   A. Jesus, as the Master Teacher, often taught using the world 
      around Him
      1. He did this especially in parables
      2. He did it to be easily understood
   B. Sowing seed, buying pearls, mustard seeds-- Jesus did well using 
      such common things to express profound spiritual truth
   C. One such image that Jesus uses consistently is that of the 
      fruit-bearing tree
      1. On many occasions, Jesus conveyed great spiritual truth using 
         trees and the fruit they bear
      2. Let us spend some time looking at how Jesus uses this image

II. The Tree and Its Fruit: Matthew 7:15-20
   A. Jesus talks about false prophets and illustrates His point using 
      the fruit of trees
   B. Recognizing trees by fruits
      1. In nature, like produces like
      2. Apple trees produce apples, peach trees peaches, etc.
      3. We would consider it a freak of nature if apples came from a 
         pear tree!
      4. Likewise, what seed you plant will lead to what kind of tree 
         you get spiritually
      5. Plant Baptist doctrine, you get a Baptist!
      6. Plant Roman Catholic doctrine, you get a Roman Catholic!
      7. Plant the Gospel, and you get a Christian (Matthew 13:1-8)
   C. Fruit Inspection
      1. This passage is helpful in understanding the tension between
         Matthew 7:1-2 and passages like 1 Corinthians 5 and 1 John 4:1
      2. It is beyond us to judge the destination of a soul, and we are 
         not to judge others by a different standard than that to which 
         we would hold ourselves
      3. But we are to discern whether what one teaches is consistent 
         with the Scriptures
      4. Just as it is harmful to cut into a tree to inspect it, and 
         much better and easier to inspect the fruit, so it is best to 
         inspect fruit and not "cut into" people
      5. We need to be fruit inspectors, not judges!
      6. Do not be distracted by trying to find exceptions to the 
         example
      7. Diseased trees have bad fruit; people with evil within them 
         will manifest that evil
      8. Good trees have good fruit; good people manifest goodness
      9. How is your fruit?

III. The Fig Tree: Matthew 22:18-19
   A. On the surface, not much would seem to be here
   B. Jesus sees a fig trees with leaves but no fruit, and causes it 
      to wither
      1. Mark 11:11-13: Mark says it was not time for figs yet
      2. On the other hand, the tree looked ready, since it had leaves 
         out
   C. There is a message, however, behind what occurs
   D. Just as Jesus expects to see fruit on a tree that has displayed 
      its leaves, so Jesus expects to see maturity and good deeds from 
      those who would profess Him
      1. Matthew 7:21-23
      2. Matthew 3:8-- bear fruit in keeping with repentance
      3. Colossians 1:10
   E. Let us, therefore, not be condemned as Christians with leaves 
      but no fruit!

IV. The Unprofitable Tree: Luke 13:6-9
   A. Jesus speaks a parable regarding a tree that has not borne fruit
      1. Trees do take time to develop fruit
      2. Conditions must be good
      3. The time was ready for the tree to bear fruit
   B. The master wants to see the tree cut down, but the servant 
      requests the exercise of patience 
      1. First fertilize the tree!
      2. If it still bears no fruit, cut it down
   C. The lesson is fairly clear
   D. If someone is not growing, what are we to do?  Simply cut them 
      off?
   E. Perhaps, as with the fig tree, it is a matter of condition!
   F. How much "manure", or encouragement, is needed?
   G. If the encouragement does not work-- the conditions for growth 
      are all present but no growth occurs-- then the "tree" is 
      manifestly bad and can be cut down 
   H. Are we the tree?  Are we providing the necessary "manure" for 
      others?

V. Conclusion
   A. We have looked at Jesus' main use of the image of the fruit 
      bearing tree
   B. We have seen the lessons Jesus communicates with this everyday 
      plant
      1. Like produces like-- plant the right seed!
      2. We cannot know the heart, but we can see deeds-- inspect 
         fruit! 
      3. We are not to just seem like Christians-- we must have leaves 
         and fruit!
      4. Sometimes people must have good conditions to grow-- provide 
         the fertilizer!
   C. Let us seek to bear good fruit for the Lord
   D. Songbook/invitation