21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
these passages warn against "false prophets" (people who claim to be sent from God but are not) described as ferocious, ravenous wolves... and we all know of a few. late night television and certainly the internet is flooded with stories about them
then the passages speak of a most practical test: "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."
finally, Christ will judge and only those "who did the will of my Father, will enter the kingdom of heaven!"
these passages are not about far-out, crazy, people but really speaks volumes about how deceptive my own heart can be... and bearing consequences of my bad decision, i try to console myself thinking i am doing the will of God!
thank you Jesus for showing me the truth and setting me free... help me to become a beautiful tree and bear good fruit and be allowed to enter your kingdom saying, well done faithful daughter!
5 comments:
thanks for your post, helen. i think these verses cut to the heart of every one of us.
the first part of this chapter famously warns us, "do not judge lest you be judged";
yet this passage clearly talks about the need for a certain type of judgment and discrimination
we assume the genuineness of someone's faith by their christian words and deeds. plainly, though, these things, by themselves, prove nothing.
this is not to mention the multitudes within the church who call Jesus "Lord". Jesus says there will be "many" of those.
"by their fruit you will recognize them", Jesus says. what you are by nature will most certainly and unmistakeably manifest itself in time. the scary part is that the many who come to Jesus on that day will be genuinely surprised by Jesus's rejection of them.
i think these people based their faith on their outward deeds, as many of us do--"did we not prophesy . . . did we not drive out demons . . . did we not perform miracles?"
but again, as throughout the sermon on the mount, Jesus makes it clear that what counts in the end is your relationship with Him,
if that part is right, all manner of good fruit will be borne. for the many who labored in the church but did not put "first things first", Jesus says, "I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you'".
Yea..I think sometimes it's really hard to know what's good or bad. Judging myself is hard as well.
We don't even know we're doing good or bad. We really need to pray for the wisdom to know God's will and distinguish things in his way.
Prophesying, driving out demons, performing miracles, don't they seem like good fruit? Yet, Jesus will tell many who performed these deeds, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!
I use to worry about how much I have yet to accomplish for the kingdom of God-how much fruit I've yet to bear. But, I guess doing "good works" or continuing on with a religious life is not necessarily bearing good fruit and doing the will of our Father in heaven. I've been reminded once again, that I've got to focus on my relationship with Jesus Christ.
As I was praying today and had my eyes closed, I felt my mind and heart filled with God's presence. I was afraid to open my eyes because I was afraid that my eyes will start to focus on the reality of the world around me- my room, myself, my to do list, the news outside, the roads that lead to the places I will have to go today. Through the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, our eyes have opened but to have eyes that can focus on God- that can happen only through Jesus Christ. I pray that each one of us will bear much fruit from having a living relationship with Jesus Christ.
I agree with all of your comments and observations but I have a question.
Say a person is a "bad tree" bearing "bad fruit"...What if they do not know they are one or are fully aware of this? I mean if they adamantly believe that what they believe in (whether it is a misinterpretation or just their stubbornness to see the truth) is the truth, what is to stop them from corrupting those around them? Should they be allowed to remain blind and foolish? I think it's scary that God allows these people to roam the Earth and past judgment on people when they have nothing to really stand on.
But then again my questions are answered with the second half of this passage because Christ will ultimately get the last word.
The part that really gets to me is when these people go to Jesus on their day of judgment and ask Him if he recognizes them but Jesus does not and turns them away. I don't know about you but that would be the most devastating thing to happen to anyone, especially to someone who thought they spent their whole lives in the service of God but it was really service of their god that they created in their own image.
Sometimes, I wonder how I would react if this would happen to me when I come face to face with Christ. I know I would definitely be crushed and devastated. This really makes you really look and carefully examine everything in your life and who you are according to Him.
To be honest, this passage strikes fear into my heart because I sometimes wonder whether I am a "bad tree" or a false child/follower of Christ. But then you can think of it as a reminder of Christ's "what not to do when you follow Him."
i see how imperative it is to continually keep yourself in daily communion with God. we will never have the knowledge to distinguish the difference between those bearing "bad fruit" or "good fruit" without God's wisdom.
my i be confident that i am bearing good fruit where ever i am as i continue to grow and strengthen my relationship with God.
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