A Tree and Its Fruit

Matthew 12:33-37

 ‘Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.’

This section on good and bad fruit comes from a particularly dramatic few scenes from Matthew.  The Pharisees have been going after Jesus for one thing after another: first for picking heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath and then curing a man with a withered hand in the Pharisee’s synagogue – again, on the Sabbath.  Finally, Jesus cures a man with a demon who keeps him blind and mute, and predictably the Pharisees condemn the action, this time saying that Jesus gets his power from demons.

All things considered, Jesus’ reply here is one I think that should be expected.  He’s angry.  Righteously ticked off with frustration.

Only he’s Jesus, and we aren’t aren't always comfortable seeing him angry.  And when he says things like “I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned,” we probably are right to shake in our boots.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve uttered a lot of careless words, and I’ve also been guilty of some “Pharisaical” thinking: missing the forest for the trees by judging others actions before I’ve taken a long hard look at my own.

But this section isn’t the end of the story for Jesus.  His anger, while righteous, comes after much pushing and poking by the Pharisees, and he will continue to teach, continue to love, continue to heal, continue to forgive.  It might be tempting to worry as to whether we are good fruit or bad, and it probably is a good idea to pray each day for help in bearing good, loving fruit.  But we must also remember that Jesus is not done yet and that as careless as our words and actions can be, we don't have the last say on the matter.  There is much more of the story to come.

God of righteousness, we ask your your forgiveness when our words and actions hurt rather than build up.  We ask you to remind us to look to our own actions before passing words of condemnation and judgment on others.  Guide us, Lord, toward your Kingdom life that we might be bearers of good fruit.  Amen.