43 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 46 "Why do you call me `Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 47 Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."
Meditation: Why does Jesus set figs and grapes over against thorns
and brambles? The fig tree was the favorite of all trees for the
people of Palestine. It symbolized fertility, peace, and prosperity.
Grapes, likewise, produced wine, the symbol of joy. Thorns and brambles
were only good for burning as fuel for the fire. There's a proverbial
saying that you know a tree by its fruit. Likewise a person will produce
good or bad fruit depending on what is sown in the heart. Charles Read
said: "Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap
a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny." Character,
like fruit, doesn't grow overnight. It takes a lifetime. Jesus connects
soundness with good fruit. Something is sound when it is free from
defect, decay, or disease and is healthy. Good fruit is the result of sound
living — living according to moral truth and upright character. The prophet
Isaiah warned against the dangers of falsehood: Woe to those who call
evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness
(Isaiah 5:20). The fruits of falsehood produce an easy religion which
takes the iron out of religion, the cross out of Christianity, and any
teaching which eliminates the hard sayings of Jesus, and which push the
judgments of God into the background and makes us think lightly of sin.
How do we avoid falsehood and bad fruit? By being true — true to
God, his word, and his grace. And that takes character! Those
who are true to God know that their strength lies not in themselves but
in God who supplies the grace we need to live as his disciples.
The fruit of a disciple is marked by faith, hope and love, justice, prudence,
fortitude and temperance. Do you cultivate good fruit in your life
and reject whatever produces bad fruit?
Jesus told another story about the importance
of building on the right foundation to reinforce his lesson about sound
living. When Jesus told the story of the builders he likely had the following
proverb in mind: When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but
the righteous stand firm for ever (Proverbs 10:25). What's the
significance of the story for us? The kind of foundation we build
our lives upon will determine whether we can survive the storms that are
sure to come. Builders usually lay their foundations when the weather
and soil conditions are at their best. It takes foresight to know
how a foundation will stand up against adverse conditions. Building
a house on a flood plain, such as a dry river-bed, is a sure bet for disaster!
Jesus prefaced his story with a warning: We may fool humans with our speech,
but God cannot be deceived. He sees the heart as it truly is — with
its motives, intentions, desires, and choices (Psalm 139:2). There is only
one way in which a person's sincerity can be proved, and that is by one's
practice. Fine words can never replace good deeds. Our character
is revealed in the choices we make, especially when we are tested.
Do you cheat on an exam or on your income taxes, especially when it will
cost you? Do you lie, or cover-up, when disclosing the truth will
cause you injury or embarrassment? A true person is honest
and reliable before God, himself, and his neighbor. His word can
be counted on. What foundation is your life built upon?
"Lord, you are the sure foundation and source of life and strength for
us. Give me wisdom and strength to live according to your truth and to
reject every false way. May I be a doer of your word and not
a hearer only."