Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
A tree is known by what it bears, for thorns do not yield grapes nor thistles figs, but a good tree brings forth good fruit and cannot bring forth evil, and a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit and cannot bring forth good. False prophets come in sheep's clothing looking harmless and true but inwardly are ravening wolves, and they are recognized by what their lives and teaching produce, not by fair speeches, exalted profession, appearance, or claims. Every person as well as every prophet is known by the fruit of life and work, for conduct, words, and influence reveal the heart, principles, and true character and show whom the person serves. Profession, religious claims, prophecy, miracles, church membership, talk, prayer, and outward forms do not prove a living connection with Christ, but only doing the Father's will, obeying the commandments, and hearing and doing His sayings show genuine faith. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire, and each person is judged by deeds and fulfilled duties and by the fruit borne, not by profession.
Sermon Setting and Imagery
Matthew 7:12-20 gives words that every person should study for individual benefit, together with the warning that only the doer of the will of the Father enters the kingdom of heaven and the likeness of the wise man who built his house upon a rock. It is part of the sermon on the mount, which was given especially to the disciples while the assembled multitude also heard it. There Christ disappointed hopes of worldly greatness and laid the foundation principles of the kingdom of God. The verse helps undo false education and gives a right conception of His kingdom and of His own character. It sets forth the conditions of entrance into the kingdom without making a direct attack on error and without vividly delineating the misery of the world on account of sin, but by teaching something infinitely better and leaving hearers to draw their own conclusions as to the nature of the kingdom. Its truth is no less important now than to the multitude on the hillside, and its foundation principle still must be learned.
As thorns do not produce grapes and thistles do not produce figs, a person’s fruit reveals what that person is. False prophets may look harmless and true but inwardly are destructive, and they are recognized by the results of their lives and teaching, not by outward claims or religious works alone. A good tree produces good fruit and a corrupt tree produces evil fruit, so outward appearance or claims are not enough to establish that someone belongs to God or is trustworthy. Good fruit comes from a purified heart, while an evil heart cannot produce good fruit, and a base deceiver cannot produce unadulterated truth and sanctifying power, just as thorn plants do not yield eating fruit. A person’s principles and conduct reveal whether the believer is genuine or false, including whether a prophet is false, and outward productivity cannot make a corrupt tree good. A tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and burned.
The test of fruit stands joined to entering the strait gate and narrow way that leads to life, to doing the will of the Father rather than mere profession, and to hearing and doing His sayings like a wise man building on rock. Good trees produce good fruit while corrupt trees produce evil fruit, and a profession of faith must be shown in conduct, for religious claims and impressive works do not prove a person belongs to Christ. A good tree brings forth good fruit and a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit, and a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit nor a corrupt tree good fruit, and every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Mere profession of saying Lord, Lord does not enter the kingdom of heaven, but only doing the will of the Father in heaven. Even prophesying in Christ’s name and casting out devils and doing many wonderful works in His name will not save workers of iniquity, for in that day He will profess I never knew you and command them to depart from Him. Building character by following Christ’s words is like building a house on the rock, which stands through the storm, while those who teach the truth while not themselves doing it greatly dishonor the Lord, because they are looked up to as knowing what it means to be a Christian, and when they fail to make straight paths for their feet the lame are turned out of the way. Words and works testify on which side a person stands, whether on the right side of obedience to the word of the Lord and the leadings of the Holy Spirit or on the wrong side.
False Prophets Exposed
False prophets come in sheep's clothing, looking harmless, gentle and true as Christians, but inwardly they are ravening wolves, destructive in nature. They are recognized by their fruits, by the results and products of their lives, conduct, deeds, work and teaching, just as thorns do not produce grapes and thistles do not produce figs and thorn plants do not yield eating fruit. A good tree produces good fruit and cannot bring forth evil, and a corrupt tree produces evil fruit and cannot bring forth good, so a person's fruit reveals what the person is and whether the person is good or evil, genuine or false. Outward claims, appearance, exalted profession, fair speeches, appearance of godliness, religious works and outward productivity do not establish that someone belongs to God or is trustworthy, and they cannot make a corrupt tree good. A tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and burned, and what is unfruitful faces destruction. Safety is found in being strong in Christ, walking in His footsteps, following His orders instead of personal ideas and plans, entering the strait gate and narrow way that leads to life, doing the will of the Father rather than mere profession, and hearing and doing His sayings like a wise man building on rock.
The test of fruits is practical and universal, able to be used by all, so none need remain in uncertainty and doubt about whether a prophet is genuine rather than accepting appearances. There is always enough evidence to support an intelligent faith for anyone sincerely seeking truth who uses the test with eyes opened in faith, and as a plant bears fruit according to its nature, good sources produce good results and corrupt sources produce evil results that can be observed. Yet opportunity for doubt is left for those who prefer it, and God never removes from all persons and from anyone every cause for doubt. Those who reject the weight of evidence because a few things remain unclear to finite minds choose unbelief and skepticism and lose faith, and remaining on the side of doubting is not a virtue, since the test guards against Satan's power to entangle souls and confuse minds that do not cherish light, leading them from truth into error and darkness and using every advantage given him to ruin them. Applied to testimonies claiming divine origin, their teaching and influence are to be examined as evidence, including that they survived and grew stronger for seventeen years despite opposition.
False teaching is proved by its disagreement with God's Word and law, which is the standard for judging whether fruits are good or bad and by which a teacher's work is judged. True prophets both speak according to God's word and live according to it, faithfully reprove sin even when that brings the anger of self-righteous people who are deceived, lead to reverence and fear of God and to love for Him shown by loyalty to His commandments, and a person who does both should not be condemned. False prophets speak lies and offer smooth promises of peace and safety, spread falsehood and mislead others, tear down what God is building, depart from the faith, deny the power of godliness while appearing religious, and display selfish and harmful traits. If men do not feel the weight of the moral law, if they make light of God's precepts, if they break one of the least of His commandments and teach men so, they shall be of no esteem in heaven and their claims are without foundation. The verse gives an easy test for dangerous people who claim to be wholly led by the Spirit so they have little use for the law of God or any portion of God's Word, and who claim great light and great spiritual light while not sanctified through the truth, so that light can be discerned from darkness and their claims must agree with God's Word and their lives must show whether they are truly guided and sanctified by truth. They are doing the very work that originated with the prince of darkness, the enemy of God, and the warning applies to the church throughout the gospel age.
Fruit Reveals Character
The test reaches beyond prophets to every person, for life and work reveal what the tree is as surely as fruit reveals the tree, good trees yielding good fruit and corrupt trees yielding evil. Conduct, words, and influence lay bare the heart, the principles, and the true character, distinguishing the genuine from the false and showing whom a person serves and on which side he stands. Outward appearance, moral respectability, religious claims, church profession, and even impressive works do not prove belonging to Christ, for profession without corresponding practice is worthless. Good fruit is doing the Father's will and obeying Christ's sayings, obeying the commandments, receiving Christ as personal Saviour and living in His righteousness, becoming trees of righteousness; building character in this way is building a house on the rock that stands through the storm.
God judges the tree by the character of its fruit, not by human estimates of whether a project looks worthwhile, and human judgment remains finite and unable to read hearts. Men cannot reliably separate the wheat from the tares, so true and false remain mixed until the harvest, while angels recognize character by its fruits and will not err in gathering the wheat. False prophets may look harmless outwardly, but deeds reveal what they are within, and a claim to serve God even with religious works does not establish goodness when the life bears the fruit of iniquity. Applied to the Lord's vineyard, the principle calls for careful thought about the work to be done and how it is to be sustained, for men and their enterprises are tested by results borne. The fruit of investments and enterprises is measured by whether they actually advance God's worldwide work in every part of the world, so costly plans that consume resources and produce little good reveal poor fruit, one field is not to be overfunded at the expense of work elsewhere, the work done in America is not to be made the pattern for every large center, and the plants of righteousness become distinct and plain by their fruit as memorials of truth make a proper impression on the world.
Good fruits themselves stand as evidence that refutes falsehood, slander, and lying charges, so that those who know the life can see the refutation in the fruits without further answer or defense. The successful work done in the South through God's cooperation was such evidence of divine support, yet some who saw that fruit closed their eyes to it. Their harsh, loveless treatment of others showed they were not acting in Christ's spirit but were deceived and working in Satan's lines, for spiritual principles are known by the fruit lives and work produce.
Profession Requires Obedience
Thorns do not yield grapes and thistles do not yield figs, so a person's life and teaching reveal what that person is, and outward claims or religious works alone do not establish belonging to God. A tree is known by its fruit, with good trees producing good fruit and corrupt trees producing evil fruit, and good fruit includes doing the Father's will and obeying Christ's sayings. Profession is worthless without corresponding practice, and believers must be trees of righteousness that bring forth good fruit. Outward appearance, moral respectability, religious claims, prophecy, miracles, church membership, name on the books, honored name or descent, talk, prayer, excitement, and outward forms do not prove a true Christian or a living connection with Christ and do not make bad fruit good. The test is the fruit of a life that does God's will, shown in obedience to God's commandments, receiving Christ as personal Saviour, living in His righteousness, and hearing and doing His sayings. Building character by following Christ's words is like building a house on the rock, which stands through the storm, while those who hear and do not obey are rejected.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit nor a corrupt tree good fruit, and every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Mere saying Lord, Lord does not enter the kingdom of heaven, but only doing the will of the Father in heaven. Even prophesying in Christ's name and casting out devils and doing many wonderful works in His name will not save workers of iniquity, for in that day Christ will profess to them, I never knew you, depart from me. This is illustrated by the men who built upon the rock and upon the sand, where safety is found in being strong in Christ, walking in His footsteps, following His orders instead of personal ideas and plans, and entering the strait gate and narrow way that leads to life. Those who teach the truth while not themselves doing it greatly dishonor the Lord, because they are looked up to as knowing what it means to be a Christian, and when they fail to make straight paths for their feet the lame are turned out of the way.
At the final judgment each person is judged by deeds and fulfilled duties and by the fruit borne, not by profession, and those who fail to produce good fruit face judgment. The righteous Judge measures life and weighs motives, reading every secret of the soul. The verse tests obedience and exposes disobedience, warning those convicted of truth not to excuse disobedience because obedience involves self-denial and the cross. Christians living in these last days, as the commandment keeping people of God, must reveal the most attractive fruit in unselfish actions and in the very best representation of good works, with words, deportment, and dress bearing fruit of the very best quality. This test is to be set before infidels and rationalists who refuse to receive the Word of God, demand a miracle before they will believe, count the miracles of Christ as idle tales, and encase themselves in cherishing scientific delusions that are the working of Satan, to whom no further miraculous evidence will be given.
Testing Teachings and Movements
Religious movements and revivals are known by what they produce, and neglect of the Bible and turning from its plain, soul-testing truths that call for self-denial and renunciation of the world is evidence that God's blessing is not bestowed. Loss of the nature and importance of the law, wrong ideas of conversion and sanctification, a lowered standard of piety, and lack of the Spirit and power of God are fruits showing that the revivals of the time do not have God's blessing. Emotional excitement, widespread interest, and the mingling of the true with the false are not proof that God is at work, and movements arising where God's warnings are neglected or opposed, including in churches that rejected Advent truth after 1844 and those expected in the future, are not the work of His Spirit but the work of another spirit, Satan's counterfeit under a religious guise to mislead, hinder true revival, and extend his influence over the Christian world. Genuine revivals and genuine repentance are known by deep heart-searching and humility, prayer and wrestling with God for souls, self-denial and sacrifice, rejoicing to suffer reproach for Christ, godly sorrow working carefulness and clearing and zeal, and reformation of life in restoring the pledge, giving back what was robbed, confessing sins, and loving God and fellow men, with transformed lives that benefit the community and bring salvation and the uplifting of humanity, and there is no evidence of genuine repentance unless it works reformation.
Claimed visions, testimonies, and spiritual gifts are to be judged by fruits and results rather than by rumor, excitement, or unsupported suspicion. Fanaticism, noisy exercises, false speaking in tongues, and excitement and strong feeling that leave people spiritually lower afterward produce no good fruit, are not gifts from God, and are not reliable evidence of faith or of God's leading, while meetings marked by solemnity, honest self-examination, humility, and learning from Christ are more fruitful for spiritual growth. Claims of holiness and faith in Jesus while disregarding God's commandments bear evidence that the faith is not genuine, and words and professions without the precious fruit of a Christlike character expose false claims, for those who insist on their own holiness while refusing reason and contradiction display an influence unlike Christ the true pattern, and such pretentious profession can mislead others. The published visions can be examined by this rule, and that they survived and grew stronger for seventeen years despite opposition is cited as observable fruit of their character.
A new view is to be tested by the results it produces, not by who brings it, for the position, influence, or identity of the advocate does not decide the value of the word spoken, even when the hearers have been students of the Bible for many years, because God sends His words of warning through whomever He chooses. Truth preached by one who has not experienced its power is still truth and is blessed to those who accept it when drawn by the Spirit of God, while when truth is presented by one who is himself sanctified through it, it has a freshness and force that gives it convincing power to the hearer, and both are needful, the clear word addressed to the understanding and the inward testimony of the Spirit with its power upon the heart. Knowing Christ as righteousness comes not only because He is so described in the Bible, but because His transforming power has been felt in the heart. The message borne by Jones and Waggoner produced good fruit where received, bringing vigor, hope, courage, and faith. A minister is known by the fruits of labor, meaning how many souls he has brought into the truth and what his general influence in a place tells for or against the truth, and speaking talent, large audiences, excitement, and a good first impression do not prove spiritually fruitful ministry. Where few embrace and keep the truth, or many soon abandon it, and humility, simplicity, purity, and holiness are lacking, the work reveals an unsanctified ministry, and if the longer he remains the worse the real state of the cause becomes so that his influence works more against the truth than all his efforts work in its favor, with wrong course, lack of energy, envy, jealousy, and suspicion doing more harm than good, his fruits condemn him, especially when failure to see himself and change character and course to meet the will of God leaves him without the confidence of the people. Church members are right to expect this evidence of their ministers' labor, and those who seek support as ministers should first show good results from their work, for until then they are not entitled to rely on the church for support.
Good character and work produce good results while corrupt character and work produce evil results, and a tree producing no good fruit is cut down and burned. Genuine truth and the Spirit of God produce righteousness and a gentle, kind, forbearing, truthful, Christlike spirit that draws people to Christ and teaches truth that unites believers, rather than seeking to gather followers around themselves, while a harsh, unchristlike spirit, division, and scattering are evidence against the teaching it accompanies. Scripture interpretations that lead to such fruit cannot be trusted merely because their advocates claim to be defending biblical truth, and a doctrine that produces a harsh, unchristlike spirit does not bear the fruit of genuine truth. The work at Healdsburg bore good fruit though genuine and spurious elements were mixed together, and it was to be investigated through prayer and attendance at its meetings rather than condemned from a distance, for good fruit did not justify stopping the work but called for discerning, steady-minded people to correct errors and guide it while allowing the interest to grow. Some may show fanaticism or take extreme views, but the Spirit of God transforms the life, works inwardly, and cleanses the soul from sin, and these fruits may be mistaken for fanaticism by those unprepared to recognize God's work. The work of burning up pictures of friends and pictures of every kind as idols under the second commandment is tested in the same way, by whether those who made the sacrifice have come to higher consecration, showing in words, deportment, and soul that they are ennobled, elevated, and more heavenly minded, with richer experience, more prayer, more perfect faith, having come up into the mount, with holy fire kindled in their hearts giving new zeal and greater devotion to God and His work, with a live coal from the altar touching heart and lips.
Good Fruit and Evil Fruit
Good fruit is a purified heart and transformed character, known by the character of the works produced just as a tree is known by what it bears. It is the fruit of the Spirit, especially charity in its longsuffering, kindness, humility, unselfishness and endurance in truth, shown in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, with mercy, thankfulness, praise, delight in God, justice, benevolence and obedience. It is proved not by noise and bustle or extraordinary deeds, nor by religious claims, prophecy, miracles, profession or church standing, but by doing the will of God and the Father's will, as in bringing good tidings, healing the brokenhearted, freeing captives, comforting mourners, and bringing joy and righteousness. Such usefulness appears in silent, faithful work done in meekness and humility, in daily need of the Spirit, satisfied to do the work at hand faithfully even when unseen and unappreciated, with names written in heaven among the noblest workers. Those who bear it are clothed with Christ's meekness from daily communion, speaking words that are sweet and not crushing, scattering seeds of love and kindness unconsciously because Christ lives in the heart, with an influence felt more than seen, looking toward a glorious harvest. Self-denying generosity and liberal use of means to help save others are fruits of genuine Christianity that differ from the spirit of the world and preach effectively to unbelievers, who see strong motives and hearts reaching toward imperishable treasure, while offerings without charity cannot atone for defects of character. It includes caring for the homeless, needy, sick, fatherless and widows.
Evil fruit is known by the same rule, for the fruit of daily life, words and actions decides character and reveals exactly what is in the heart and thoughts. It is selfishness, covetousness, pride, dishonesty, envy, jealousy, suspicion, accusation, faultfinding, gossip, talebearing, strife, division, contention, harshness, cruelty, oppression, worldliness and disobedience. It appears in business as scheming dishonesty, false dealing, sharp and unfair dealings, unfaithfulness in weights, balances and all work, and eagerness for gain, which are briers and thorns by which the world measures Christian worth and by which God tests, barring the unfaithful from His kingdom. It appears in speech as evil speaking, accusing others and tearing down character, trifling and cheap conversation, jesting, flirtation and flattering familiarity, and love of pleasure and display, for one with Christ cannot enjoy such talk, since a spiritual heart produces spiritual speech, the tongue of the just is valuable while the heart of the wicked is worthless, and the life unfurls like a banner testifying to the inner condition. It appears in the church as jealousy and faultfinding, talebearing and gossip, sowing dissension, stirring up strife, spreading envy, suspicion, distrust and discord, and meddling as busybodies in other men's matters, which shows the person is not a branch of the true vine nor a peacemaker but manifests the attributes of Satan, wounding others and introducing distrust and injustice into fellowship so that profession or apparent good works tainted by selfishness cannot make the fruit good.
The source ruling within is revealed by what is produced, for divine truth produces good works and a noble, generous character like Christ's, while control by evil angels produces selfishness, covetousness, pride and evil passions. The Spirit of Christ leads to sober, righteous and godly living in exact harmony with the whole teaching of Scripture and God's law, and its working is known by good works, never leading to deception or accusing brethren, operating silently rather than boastfully or in outward noise, yet more powerful in good influence, with sincere heartfelt emotion showing inward piety more clearly than claims of holiness. A pure fountain does not send forth an impure stream, so a true Christian does not speak abusively or enter into contention, and a heart not guided by the Holy Spirit produces no good in character but gives rise to dissension, alienation and strife. The fruit of a life set on God appears amid continuing struggle, for the enemy of all righteousness seeks in every way to discourage and cast down and the world stands opposed to Christ and His work, yet those striving to do God's will are united with the highest authorities of heaven and by trusting Christ and advancing step by step will gain the victory.
Bearing Fruit Daily
The test of the fruit is the test of daily business life, for character is decided by what the daily life produces as a tree is decided by what it bears. Strict integrity and faithfulness in weights, balances, bargains, and all work are good fruit that show whether men and women are entitled to be called sons and daughters of God, while scheming dishonesty, false dealing, and eagerness for gain are evil fruit, briers and thorns. Self-denying generosity and the generous use of possessions to help save others are the fruit of genuine Christianity, testifying that the heart reaches toward imperishable treasure, differing from the spirit of the world and preaching effectively to unbelievers who see strong motive and hope in such works. Selfishness, greed, avoidance of responsibility, and preference for ease contradict profession of following Christ, even Sabbath-keeping profession, and true fruit is seen instead in disinterested benevolence and care for others, with each person receiving reward according to works. Laziness and dishonest handling of God's goods deny Christ through action even while the law is claimed to be kept and taught, because conduct fails to uphold its principles; the world measures Christian worth by this fruit, God sees it and tests by it, and those continuing in unfaithful work cannot truly serve the Lord nor hope to enter His kingdom. In the home the same test holds, with patience, tenderness, and peace as good fruit instead of fretting, scolding, and quarreling.
Fruit is known in speech, dress, and outward order, for words and actions reveal exactly what is in the heart and thoughts. Good fruit is all goodness and righteousness and truth seen in spiritual conversation, gracious words, and gratitude, for a spiritual heart produces spiritual speech and a good conscience produces good conversation, while trifling cheap talk, evil speaking, murmuring, complaining, fretful passion, sport, ridicule, jokes, shameful folly, low fun, and coarse jests are bad fruit revealing selfishness, stubbornness, frivolity, and unsanctified principles. Those at one with Christ cannot enjoy listening to such conversation and much less engage in it, and ministers especially must be pure in heart and life, grave, solemn, and heavenly in speech, cheerful with serenity without lightness or levity, because imprudence and trifling out of the pulpit counteract preaching and produce superficial converts no higher than their teacher. Unkindness and churlishness at home will appear in the church, and jesting, joking, and worldly conversation belong to the world and not to those who have the peace of God. Inward fruit of a meek and quiet spirit, of great price, appears in outward conduct and dress in harmony with inward peace and holiness, showing changed tastes, and true children of God bear fruit in neatness and cleanliness in person and home as outward purity reflecting purity of soul, without needless adornment or display, while carelessness after receiving truth shows a life not devoted to Christ.
In church life those truly connected with God bear through His Spirit the fruit of harmony, love, and unity, while envy, strife, jealousy, contention, and division are contrary fruit revealing a carnal, immature experience and a spirit opposed to Christ and the truth. The question of what fruit is borne calls every professed follower to examine the character displayed, for actions and the results of work reveal whether spiritual life is sound, with good works joined with meekness showing wisdom. Faithful work points souls to Christ rather than to human leaders and builds them up in faith toward eternal life, while workers not sent or qualified scatter and confuse rather than gather in, and their converts often show the same deficiencies as their teachers. Unbelief and criticism, as at Minneapolis and Battle Creek, sowing unbelief and discord and misleading the flock, are known by this test as bad fruit that drives souls away instead of binding them to Christ.
The test is given to be studied critically again and again for one's own enlightenment and salvation with deeper consecration, not to prove supposed faults discerned in others. Being absorbed with the faults of others while blind to one's own shortcomings, quick to discern others yet refusing to humble the heart, die to self, sacrifice will and pride, and be corrected, is itself a very serious defect in fruit that leaves hereditary and cultivated traits unfit for the kingdom. Safety is in greater effort to perfect character and reveal patience and kindness, in humble learning from Christ, cleansing from sin and surrender of self, abiding in Him as branch in the vine without which no good fruit can be borne, and in earnest prayer seeking the Lord with whole heart and soul, which Christ will answer. Mere outward profession does not prove living connection, and persistent unfruitfulness ends in separation, for a good tree brings forth good fruit and a corrupt tree evil fruit, and every tree not bringing forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Unless there are decided conversions, many who think they are lights will by their fruits prove stumbling blocks, deceived while thinking they do the Lord's work through refusal to obey the commandments, living divided lives while scheming their own plans that retard the work Christ died to accomplish, especially near the close of earth's history when confusion prevails and misleading sentiments stealthily confuse even those who know the truth. Knowing by fruits means looking for light burning in good works, conformity to the image of Christ, and inward adorning with holy grace kept as oil in the vessel with the lamp, for baptism alone does not make ready while old habits are clung to and life is woven with worldly ideas and customs.
Christ gave the divine standard of the fruit to be borne on the Christian tree, to be prayerfully consulted to test profession and conduct. The test exposes superficial professed Christians who are ready for gatherings for pleasure or sport and who draw tried Bible Christians and youth into the party as decoys. Neglect of the fruit test leaves souls confused about right conduct, unwilling to be thought singular, inclined to follow the example of others under the influence of those without the divine touch on heart or mind. Such entertainments are a banquet to keep souls from accepting the call to the marriage supper of the Lamb and from receiving the white robe of character which is Christ's righteousness.
A tree is known by what it bears, for thorns do not yield grapes nor thistles figs, but a good tree brings forth good fruit and cannot bring forth evil, and a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit and cannot bring forth good. False prophets come in sheep's clothing looking harmless and true but inwardly are ravening wolves, and they are recognized by what their lives and teaching produce, not by fair speeches, exalted profession, appearance, or claims. Every person as well as every prophet is known by the fruit of life and work, for conduct, words, and influence reveal the heart, principles, and true character and show whom the person serves. Profession, religious claims, prophecy, miracles, church membership, talk, prayer, and outward forms do not prove a living connection with Christ, but only doing the Father's will, obeying the commandments, and hearing and doing His sayings show genuine faith. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire, and each person is judged by deeds and fulfilled duties and by the fruit borne, not by profession.
Sermon Setting and Imagery
Matthew 7:12-20 gives words that every person should study for individual benefit, together with the warning that only the doer of the will of the Father enters the kingdom of heaven and the likeness of the wise man who built his house upon a rock. It is part of the sermon on the mount, which was given especially to the disciples while the assembled multitude also heard it. There Christ disappointed hopes of worldly greatness and laid the foundation principles of the kingdom of God. The verse helps undo false education and gives a right conception of His kingdom and of His own character. It sets forth the conditions of entrance into the kingdom without making a direct attack on error and without vividly delineating the misery of the world on account of sin, but by teaching something infinitely better and leaving hearers to draw their own conclusions as to the nature of the kingdom. Its truth is no less important now than to the multitude on the hillside, and its foundation principle still must be learned.
As thorns do not produce grapes and thistles do not produce figs, a person’s fruit reveals what that person is. False prophets may look harmless and true but inwardly are destructive, and they are recognized by the results of their lives and teaching, not by outward claims or religious works alone. A good tree produces good fruit and a corrupt tree produces evil fruit, so outward appearance or claims are not enough to establish that someone belongs to God or is trustworthy. Good fruit comes from a purified heart, while an evil heart cannot produce good fruit, and a base deceiver cannot produce unadulterated truth and sanctifying power, just as thorn plants do not yield eating fruit. A person’s principles and conduct reveal whether the believer is genuine or false, including whether a prophet is false, and outward productivity cannot make a corrupt tree good. A tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and burned.
The test of fruit stands joined to entering the strait gate and narrow way that leads to life, to doing the will of the Father rather than mere profession, and to hearing and doing His sayings like a wise man building on rock. Good trees produce good fruit while corrupt trees produce evil fruit, and a profession of faith must be shown in conduct, for religious claims and impressive works do not prove a person belongs to Christ. A good tree brings forth good fruit and a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit, and a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit nor a corrupt tree good fruit, and every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Mere profession of saying Lord, Lord does not enter the kingdom of heaven, but only doing the will of the Father in heaven. Even prophesying in Christ’s name and casting out devils and doing many wonderful works in His name will not save workers of iniquity, for in that day He will profess I never knew you and command them to depart from Him. Building character by following Christ’s words is like building a house on the rock, which stands through the storm, while those who teach the truth while not themselves doing it greatly dishonor the Lord, because they are looked up to as knowing what it means to be a Christian, and when they fail to make straight paths for their feet the lame are turned out of the way. Words and works testify on which side a person stands, whether on the right side of obedience to the word of the Lord and the leadings of the Holy Spirit or on the wrong side.
False Prophets Exposed
False prophets come in sheep's clothing, looking harmless, gentle and true as Christians, but inwardly they are ravening wolves, destructive in nature. They are recognized by their fruits, by the results and products of their lives, conduct, deeds, work and teaching, just as thorns do not produce grapes and thistles do not produce figs and thorn plants do not yield eating fruit. A good tree produces good fruit and cannot bring forth evil, and a corrupt tree produces evil fruit and cannot bring forth good, so a person's fruit reveals what the person is and whether the person is good or evil, genuine or false. Outward claims, appearance, exalted profession, fair speeches, appearance of godliness, religious works and outward productivity do not establish that someone belongs to God or is trustworthy, and they cannot make a corrupt tree good. A tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and burned, and what is unfruitful faces destruction. Safety is found in being strong in Christ, walking in His footsteps, following His orders instead of personal ideas and plans, entering the strait gate and narrow way that leads to life, doing the will of the Father rather than mere profession, and hearing and doing His sayings like a wise man building on rock.
The test of fruits is practical and universal, able to be used by all, so none need remain in uncertainty and doubt about whether a prophet is genuine rather than accepting appearances. There is always enough evidence to support an intelligent faith for anyone sincerely seeking truth who uses the test with eyes opened in faith, and as a plant bears fruit according to its nature, good sources produce good results and corrupt sources produce evil results that can be observed. Yet opportunity for doubt is left for those who prefer it, and God never removes from all persons and from anyone every cause for doubt. Those who reject the weight of evidence because a few things remain unclear to finite minds choose unbelief and skepticism and lose faith, and remaining on the side of doubting is not a virtue, since the test guards against Satan's power to entangle souls and confuse minds that do not cherish light, leading them from truth into error and darkness and using every advantage given him to ruin them. Applied to testimonies claiming divine origin, their teaching and influence are to be examined as evidence, including that they survived and grew stronger for seventeen years despite opposition.
False teaching is proved by its disagreement with God's Word and law, which is the standard for judging whether fruits are good or bad and by which a teacher's work is judged. True prophets both speak according to God's word and live according to it, faithfully reprove sin even when that brings the anger of self-righteous people who are deceived, lead to reverence and fear of God and to love for Him shown by loyalty to His commandments, and a person who does both should not be condemned. False prophets speak lies and offer smooth promises of peace and safety, spread falsehood and mislead others, tear down what God is building, depart from the faith, deny the power of godliness while appearing religious, and display selfish and harmful traits. If men do not feel the weight of the moral law, if they make light of God's precepts, if they break one of the least of His commandments and teach men so, they shall be of no esteem in heaven and their claims are without foundation. The verse gives an easy test for dangerous people who claim to be wholly led by the Spirit so they have little use for the law of God or any portion of God's Word, and who claim great light and great spiritual light while not sanctified through the truth, so that light can be discerned from darkness and their claims must agree with God's Word and their lives must show whether they are truly guided and sanctified by truth. They are doing the very work that originated with the prince of darkness, the enemy of God, and the warning applies to the church throughout the gospel age.
Fruit Reveals Character
The test reaches beyond prophets to every person, for life and work reveal what the tree is as surely as fruit reveals the tree, good trees yielding good fruit and corrupt trees yielding evil. Conduct, words, and influence lay bare the heart, the principles, and the true character, distinguishing the genuine from the false and showing whom a person serves and on which side he stands. Outward appearance, moral respectability, religious claims, church profession, and even impressive works do not prove belonging to Christ, for profession without corresponding practice is worthless. Good fruit is doing the Father's will and obeying Christ's sayings, obeying the commandments, receiving Christ as personal Saviour and living in His righteousness, becoming trees of righteousness; building character in this way is building a house on the rock that stands through the storm.
God judges the tree by the character of its fruit, not by human estimates of whether a project looks worthwhile, and human judgment remains finite and unable to read hearts. Men cannot reliably separate the wheat from the tares, so true and false remain mixed until the harvest, while angels recognize character by its fruits and will not err in gathering the wheat. False prophets may look harmless outwardly, but deeds reveal what they are within, and a claim to serve God even with religious works does not establish goodness when the life bears the fruit of iniquity. Applied to the Lord's vineyard, the principle calls for careful thought about the work to be done and how it is to be sustained, for men and their enterprises are tested by results borne. The fruit of investments and enterprises is measured by whether they actually advance God's worldwide work in every part of the world, so costly plans that consume resources and produce little good reveal poor fruit, one field is not to be overfunded at the expense of work elsewhere, the work done in America is not to be made the pattern for every large center, and the plants of righteousness become distinct and plain by their fruit as memorials of truth make a proper impression on the world.
Good fruits themselves stand as evidence that refutes falsehood, slander, and lying charges, so that those who know the life can see the refutation in the fruits without further answer or defense. The successful work done in the South through God's cooperation was such evidence of divine support, yet some who saw that fruit closed their eyes to it. Their harsh, loveless treatment of others showed they were not acting in Christ's spirit but were deceived and working in Satan's lines, for spiritual principles are known by the fruit lives and work produce.
Profession Requires Obedience
Thorns do not yield grapes and thistles do not yield figs, so a person's life and teaching reveal what that person is, and outward claims or religious works alone do not establish belonging to God. A tree is known by its fruit, with good trees producing good fruit and corrupt trees producing evil fruit, and good fruit includes doing the Father's will and obeying Christ's sayings. Profession is worthless without corresponding practice, and believers must be trees of righteousness that bring forth good fruit. Outward appearance, moral respectability, religious claims, prophecy, miracles, church membership, name on the books, honored name or descent, talk, prayer, excitement, and outward forms do not prove a true Christian or a living connection with Christ and do not make bad fruit good. The test is the fruit of a life that does God's will, shown in obedience to God's commandments, receiving Christ as personal Saviour, living in His righteousness, and hearing and doing His sayings. Building character by following Christ's words is like building a house on the rock, which stands through the storm, while those who hear and do not obey are rejected.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit nor a corrupt tree good fruit, and every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Mere saying Lord, Lord does not enter the kingdom of heaven, but only doing the will of the Father in heaven. Even prophesying in Christ's name and casting out devils and doing many wonderful works in His name will not save workers of iniquity, for in that day Christ will profess to them, I never knew you, depart from me. This is illustrated by the men who built upon the rock and upon the sand, where safety is found in being strong in Christ, walking in His footsteps, following His orders instead of personal ideas and plans, and entering the strait gate and narrow way that leads to life. Those who teach the truth while not themselves doing it greatly dishonor the Lord, because they are looked up to as knowing what it means to be a Christian, and when they fail to make straight paths for their feet the lame are turned out of the way.
At the final judgment each person is judged by deeds and fulfilled duties and by the fruit borne, not by profession, and those who fail to produce good fruit face judgment. The righteous Judge measures life and weighs motives, reading every secret of the soul. The verse tests obedience and exposes disobedience, warning those convicted of truth not to excuse disobedience because obedience involves self-denial and the cross. Christians living in these last days, as the commandment keeping people of God, must reveal the most attractive fruit in unselfish actions and in the very best representation of good works, with words, deportment, and dress bearing fruit of the very best quality. This test is to be set before infidels and rationalists who refuse to receive the Word of God, demand a miracle before they will believe, count the miracles of Christ as idle tales, and encase themselves in cherishing scientific delusions that are the working of Satan, to whom no further miraculous evidence will be given.
Testing Teachings and Movements
Religious movements and revivals are known by what they produce, and neglect of the Bible and turning from its plain, soul-testing truths that call for self-denial and renunciation of the world is evidence that God's blessing is not bestowed. Loss of the nature and importance of the law, wrong ideas of conversion and sanctification, a lowered standard of piety, and lack of the Spirit and power of God are fruits showing that the revivals of the time do not have God's blessing. Emotional excitement, widespread interest, and the mingling of the true with the false are not proof that God is at work, and movements arising where God's warnings are neglected or opposed, including in churches that rejected Advent truth after 1844 and those expected in the future, are not the work of His Spirit but the work of another spirit, Satan's counterfeit under a religious guise to mislead, hinder true revival, and extend his influence over the Christian world. Genuine revivals and genuine repentance are known by deep heart-searching and humility, prayer and wrestling with God for souls, self-denial and sacrifice, rejoicing to suffer reproach for Christ, godly sorrow working carefulness and clearing and zeal, and reformation of life in restoring the pledge, giving back what was robbed, confessing sins, and loving God and fellow men, with transformed lives that benefit the community and bring salvation and the uplifting of humanity, and there is no evidence of genuine repentance unless it works reformation.
Claimed visions, testimonies, and spiritual gifts are to be judged by fruits and results rather than by rumor, excitement, or unsupported suspicion. Fanaticism, noisy exercises, false speaking in tongues, and excitement and strong feeling that leave people spiritually lower afterward produce no good fruit, are not gifts from God, and are not reliable evidence of faith or of God's leading, while meetings marked by solemnity, honest self-examination, humility, and learning from Christ are more fruitful for spiritual growth. Claims of holiness and faith in Jesus while disregarding God's commandments bear evidence that the faith is not genuine, and words and professions without the precious fruit of a Christlike character expose false claims, for those who insist on their own holiness while refusing reason and contradiction display an influence unlike Christ the true pattern, and such pretentious profession can mislead others. The published visions can be examined by this rule, and that they survived and grew stronger for seventeen years despite opposition is cited as observable fruit of their character.
A new view is to be tested by the results it produces, not by who brings it, for the position, influence, or identity of the advocate does not decide the value of the word spoken, even when the hearers have been students of the Bible for many years, because God sends His words of warning through whomever He chooses. Truth preached by one who has not experienced its power is still truth and is blessed to those who accept it when drawn by the Spirit of God, while when truth is presented by one who is himself sanctified through it, it has a freshness and force that gives it convincing power to the hearer, and both are needful, the clear word addressed to the understanding and the inward testimony of the Spirit with its power upon the heart. Knowing Christ as righteousness comes not only because He is so described in the Bible, but because His transforming power has been felt in the heart. The message borne by Jones and Waggoner produced good fruit where received, bringing vigor, hope, courage, and faith. A minister is known by the fruits of labor, meaning how many souls he has brought into the truth and what his general influence in a place tells for or against the truth, and speaking talent, large audiences, excitement, and a good first impression do not prove spiritually fruitful ministry. Where few embrace and keep the truth, or many soon abandon it, and humility, simplicity, purity, and holiness are lacking, the work reveals an unsanctified ministry, and if the longer he remains the worse the real state of the cause becomes so that his influence works more against the truth than all his efforts work in its favor, with wrong course, lack of energy, envy, jealousy, and suspicion doing more harm than good, his fruits condemn him, especially when failure to see himself and change character and course to meet the will of God leaves him without the confidence of the people. Church members are right to expect this evidence of their ministers' labor, and those who seek support as ministers should first show good results from their work, for until then they are not entitled to rely on the church for support.
Good character and work produce good results while corrupt character and work produce evil results, and a tree producing no good fruit is cut down and burned. Genuine truth and the Spirit of God produce righteousness and a gentle, kind, forbearing, truthful, Christlike spirit that draws people to Christ and teaches truth that unites believers, rather than seeking to gather followers around themselves, while a harsh, unchristlike spirit, division, and scattering are evidence against the teaching it accompanies. Scripture interpretations that lead to such fruit cannot be trusted merely because their advocates claim to be defending biblical truth, and a doctrine that produces a harsh, unchristlike spirit does not bear the fruit of genuine truth. The work at Healdsburg bore good fruit though genuine and spurious elements were mixed together, and it was to be investigated through prayer and attendance at its meetings rather than condemned from a distance, for good fruit did not justify stopping the work but called for discerning, steady-minded people to correct errors and guide it while allowing the interest to grow. Some may show fanaticism or take extreme views, but the Spirit of God transforms the life, works inwardly, and cleanses the soul from sin, and these fruits may be mistaken for fanaticism by those unprepared to recognize God's work. The work of burning up pictures of friends and pictures of every kind as idols under the second commandment is tested in the same way, by whether those who made the sacrifice have come to higher consecration, showing in words, deportment, and soul that they are ennobled, elevated, and more heavenly minded, with richer experience, more prayer, more perfect faith, having come up into the mount, with holy fire kindled in their hearts giving new zeal and greater devotion to God and His work, with a live coal from the altar touching heart and lips.
Good Fruit and Evil Fruit
Good fruit is a purified heart and transformed character, known by the character of the works produced just as a tree is known by what it bears. It is the fruit of the Spirit, especially charity in its longsuffering, kindness, humility, unselfishness and endurance in truth, shown in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, with mercy, thankfulness, praise, delight in God, justice, benevolence and obedience. It is proved not by noise and bustle or extraordinary deeds, nor by religious claims, prophecy, miracles, profession or church standing, but by doing the will of God and the Father's will, as in bringing good tidings, healing the brokenhearted, freeing captives, comforting mourners, and bringing joy and righteousness. Such usefulness appears in silent, faithful work done in meekness and humility, in daily need of the Spirit, satisfied to do the work at hand faithfully even when unseen and unappreciated, with names written in heaven among the noblest workers. Those who bear it are clothed with Christ's meekness from daily communion, speaking words that are sweet and not crushing, scattering seeds of love and kindness unconsciously because Christ lives in the heart, with an influence felt more than seen, looking toward a glorious harvest. Self-denying generosity and liberal use of means to help save others are fruits of genuine Christianity that differ from the spirit of the world and preach effectively to unbelievers, who see strong motives and hearts reaching toward imperishable treasure, while offerings without charity cannot atone for defects of character. It includes caring for the homeless, needy, sick, fatherless and widows.
Evil fruit is known by the same rule, for the fruit of daily life, words and actions decides character and reveals exactly what is in the heart and thoughts. It is selfishness, covetousness, pride, dishonesty, envy, jealousy, suspicion, accusation, faultfinding, gossip, talebearing, strife, division, contention, harshness, cruelty, oppression, worldliness and disobedience. It appears in business as scheming dishonesty, false dealing, sharp and unfair dealings, unfaithfulness in weights, balances and all work, and eagerness for gain, which are briers and thorns by which the world measures Christian worth and by which God tests, barring the unfaithful from His kingdom. It appears in speech as evil speaking, accusing others and tearing down character, trifling and cheap conversation, jesting, flirtation and flattering familiarity, and love of pleasure and display, for one with Christ cannot enjoy such talk, since a spiritual heart produces spiritual speech, the tongue of the just is valuable while the heart of the wicked is worthless, and the life unfurls like a banner testifying to the inner condition. It appears in the church as jealousy and faultfinding, talebearing and gossip, sowing dissension, stirring up strife, spreading envy, suspicion, distrust and discord, and meddling as busybodies in other men's matters, which shows the person is not a branch of the true vine nor a peacemaker but manifests the attributes of Satan, wounding others and introducing distrust and injustice into fellowship so that profession or apparent good works tainted by selfishness cannot make the fruit good.
The source ruling within is revealed by what is produced, for divine truth produces good works and a noble, generous character like Christ's, while control by evil angels produces selfishness, covetousness, pride and evil passions. The Spirit of Christ leads to sober, righteous and godly living in exact harmony with the whole teaching of Scripture and God's law, and its working is known by good works, never leading to deception or accusing brethren, operating silently rather than boastfully or in outward noise, yet more powerful in good influence, with sincere heartfelt emotion showing inward piety more clearly than claims of holiness. A pure fountain does not send forth an impure stream, so a true Christian does not speak abusively or enter into contention, and a heart not guided by the Holy Spirit produces no good in character but gives rise to dissension, alienation and strife. The fruit of a life set on God appears amid continuing struggle, for the enemy of all righteousness seeks in every way to discourage and cast down and the world stands opposed to Christ and His work, yet those striving to do God's will are united with the highest authorities of heaven and by trusting Christ and advancing step by step will gain the victory.
Bearing Fruit Daily
The test of the fruit is the test of daily business life, for character is decided by what the daily life produces as a tree is decided by what it bears. Strict integrity and faithfulness in weights, balances, bargains, and all work are good fruit that show whether men and women are entitled to be called sons and daughters of God, while scheming dishonesty, false dealing, and eagerness for gain are evil fruit, briers and thorns. Self-denying generosity and the generous use of possessions to help save others are the fruit of genuine Christianity, testifying that the heart reaches toward imperishable treasure, differing from the spirit of the world and preaching effectively to unbelievers who see strong motive and hope in such works. Selfishness, greed, avoidance of responsibility, and preference for ease contradict profession of following Christ, even Sabbath-keeping profession, and true fruit is seen instead in disinterested benevolence and care for others, with each person receiving reward according to works. Laziness and dishonest handling of God's goods deny Christ through action even while the law is claimed to be kept and taught, because conduct fails to uphold its principles; the world measures Christian worth by this fruit, God sees it and tests by it, and those continuing in unfaithful work cannot truly serve the Lord nor hope to enter His kingdom. In the home the same test holds, with patience, tenderness, and peace as good fruit instead of fretting, scolding, and quarreling.
Fruit is known in speech, dress, and outward order, for words and actions reveal exactly what is in the heart and thoughts. Good fruit is all goodness and righteousness and truth seen in spiritual conversation, gracious words, and gratitude, for a spiritual heart produces spiritual speech and a good conscience produces good conversation, while trifling cheap talk, evil speaking, murmuring, complaining, fretful passion, sport, ridicule, jokes, shameful folly, low fun, and coarse jests are bad fruit revealing selfishness, stubbornness, frivolity, and unsanctified principles. Those at one with Christ cannot enjoy listening to such conversation and much less engage in it, and ministers especially must be pure in heart and life, grave, solemn, and heavenly in speech, cheerful with serenity without lightness or levity, because imprudence and trifling out of the pulpit counteract preaching and produce superficial converts no higher than their teacher. Unkindness and churlishness at home will appear in the church, and jesting, joking, and worldly conversation belong to the world and not to those who have the peace of God. Inward fruit of a meek and quiet spirit, of great price, appears in outward conduct and dress in harmony with inward peace and holiness, showing changed tastes, and true children of God bear fruit in neatness and cleanliness in person and home as outward purity reflecting purity of soul, without needless adornment or display, while carelessness after receiving truth shows a life not devoted to Christ.
In church life those truly connected with God bear through His Spirit the fruit of harmony, love, and unity, while envy, strife, jealousy, contention, and division are contrary fruit revealing a carnal, immature experience and a spirit opposed to Christ and the truth. The question of what fruit is borne calls every professed follower to examine the character displayed, for actions and the results of work reveal whether spiritual life is sound, with good works joined with meekness showing wisdom. Faithful work points souls to Christ rather than to human leaders and builds them up in faith toward eternal life, while workers not sent or qualified scatter and confuse rather than gather in, and their converts often show the same deficiencies as their teachers. Unbelief and criticism, as at Minneapolis and Battle Creek, sowing unbelief and discord and misleading the flock, are known by this test as bad fruit that drives souls away instead of binding them to Christ.
The test is given to be studied critically again and again for one's own enlightenment and salvation with deeper consecration, not to prove supposed faults discerned in others. Being absorbed with the faults of others while blind to one's own shortcomings, quick to discern others yet refusing to humble the heart, die to self, sacrifice will and pride, and be corrected, is itself a very serious defect in fruit that leaves hereditary and cultivated traits unfit for the kingdom. Safety is in greater effort to perfect character and reveal patience and kindness, in humble learning from Christ, cleansing from sin and surrender of self, abiding in Him as branch in the vine without which no good fruit can be borne, and in earnest prayer seeking the Lord with whole heart and soul, which Christ will answer. Mere outward profession does not prove living connection, and persistent unfruitfulness ends in separation, for a good tree brings forth good fruit and a corrupt tree evil fruit, and every tree not bringing forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Unless there are decided conversions, many who think they are lights will by their fruits prove stumbling blocks, deceived while thinking they do the Lord's work through refusal to obey the commandments, living divided lives while scheming their own plans that retard the work Christ died to accomplish, especially near the close of earth's history when confusion prevails and misleading sentiments stealthily confuse even those who know the truth. Knowing by fruits means looking for light burning in good works, conformity to the image of Christ, and inward adorning with holy grace kept as oil in the vessel with the lamp, for baptism alone does not make ready while old habits are clung to and life is woven with worldly ideas and customs.
Christ gave the divine standard of the fruit to be borne on the Christian tree, to be prayerfully consulted to test profession and conduct. The test exposes superficial professed Christians who are ready for gatherings for pleasure or sport and who draw tried Bible Christians and youth into the party as decoys. Neglect of the fruit test leaves souls confused about right conduct, unwilling to be thought singular, inclined to follow the example of others under the influence of those without the divine touch on heart or mind. Such entertainments are a banquet to keep souls from accepting the call to the marriage supper of the Lamb and from receiving the white robe of character which is Christ's righteousness.