Matthew 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets! You will know them by their fruit.

 Matthew 7:21–24

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father •in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, •cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them•, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ NKJV

Do not be deceived. The fruit of Holy Spirit is evident in the lives of those who are doers not just  hearers of the Word of God. Do  not trust those who say they are  followers of Jesus but whose lives  show otherwise. Keep evil far from you. Those who sow in peace will reap peace. Those who sow in love create unity. Those who sow dissension will reap chaos in their lives and the lives of all those they touch. The fruit of the Spirit begins and ends with love. Jesus came to proclaim it. Carla

Matthew 7:15-20

15 “•Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. NKJV

The way to tell false teachers from teachers of truth is by their fruits. Fruits here refers to more than their deeds; it includes their doctrine (16:12; 1 John 4:1–3). A person speaking in the name of God is to be tested by the doctrines of Scripture. The same principle still holds true today. Speakers and teachers should be tested against the truths in God’s Word (Jude 3; Revelations 22:18, 19). The NKJV Study Bible

Jesus teaches that people—godly and ungodly—are distinguishable by their deeds (Ephesians 2:8–10).

Beware Meaning “be alert” or “be watchful.” False prophets refers to those whose teaching contradicts Jesus’ teaching. Beginning in Matthew  5:17, Jesus has reinterpreted the established religious and social norms of His day. Here, He portrays those who contradict His instruction as false prophets—people who falsely claim to speak on God’s behalf  (2 Peter 2:1). Sheep’s clothing refers to disguises that portray innocence.

Ravenous wolves describes those seeking to undermine Jesus’ teaching for personal gain.

By  their fruits refers to people’s deeds—the natural outcomes of their choices and inclinations.

Grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles are images drawn from horticulture and would have resonated with Jesus’ audience, as first-century Palestine was primarily an agrarian society. In the Greek text, this rhetorical question is phrased in a way that expects a negative answer (“Of course not!”).

In other words, teachers of righteousness act righteously. False prophets act wickedly in accordance with the nature of their testimony. Jesus repeats these statements for emphasis in the following verse. You will recognize them by their fruits.  Faithlife Study Bible

Matthew 12:33–35

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…

Luke 6:43–44

“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 

Matthew 3:10

And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

James 3:12

Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Matthew 24:1–51

Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Every day after school, the young son of a well-known Rabbi would enter his house, place his backpack on the dining room table, leave the house through the back door and head into the woods behind the house.
At first, the Rabbi gave little thought to his son's ritual. Until it continued, for days, and then for weeks. Every day, out into the woods for almost a half hour. The Rabbi grew concerned.
"My son," he asked one day. "I notice that every day you leave our home to spend time in the woods. What is it you are doing there?"
"Oh papa," the son replied. "There is no need to worry. I go into the woods to pray. It is in the woods that I can talk to God."
"Oh," the Rabbi said, clearly relieved. "But you should know, as the son of a Rabbi, that God is the same everywhere."
"Yes, papa. I know that God is the same everywhere. But, I am not."

This little boy knew, instinctively, that there are two spaces in our lives. And both are important.
In the first space, we generate activity, productivity (to-do lists), accomplishment, and achievement (and yes, busyness, worry and a wee bit of stress). In this space we carry our calendars, our smart phones, our iPads, and our to-do lists.
But there is a second space. In this space we find sanctuary, quiet, reflection, contemplation, and meditation.
In this second space we find replenishment, spiritual nourishment and renewal. And in this space is born prayer, music, poetry, friendship, amazement, awe, wonder, renewal, and if we are lucky, unrepentant napping.
“God is the same everywhere. But, I am not.”

Today, I am grateful for the wisdom of a Rabbi's young son. Because there are times when I lose my way. When I am untethered and not at home in my own skin. I am easily riled, disconnected and wearied. Can you relate? In our world so full of the flurry of diversions and distractions and news fatigue, I see the toll untethering takes.
And this disconnect matters more because we forget that we are here to “walk one another home”.
I forget that replenished, I’m at my best for you... and for us.
It's not just about being drained. It’s almost like a paralysis. I am not present. I can't absorb beauty. I go through the motions, as if I have lost touch with all the good stuff: gladness, wonder, grace, empathy, compassion, hope, passion and the sacrament of the present. Sabbath Moments