Daily Writing

Thursday, 13 February 2025

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Matthew 7:18

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Not it is able, a good tree, bad fruit to produce, nor a rotten tree good fruit to produce” (CG).

The previous verse conveyed Jesus’ words concerning how trees bear fruit. Good trees bear good fruit while bad trees bear bad fruit. He now restates the matter for complete clarity on the situation, beginning with, “Not it is able, a good tree, bad fruit to produce.”

It was noted in the commentary on Matthew 7:16 that this thought takes the reader back to Genesis 1 where every tree was created after its own kind. An apple tree bears apples with their seed inside. When the seeds are planted, thorns don’t come up. Rather, another apple tree is the result.

In fact, as Jesus rightly notes, an apple tree (a good tree) cannot produce bad fruit such as mistletoe figs. Rather, they will always produce apples. Likewise, Jesus continues with, “nor a rotten tree good fruit to produce.”

Jesus is restating things in various ways to make sure nothing is misunderstood. Just as a good tree will not produce bad fruit, a rotten tree will not produce good fruit. A sausage tree (a tree with inedible fruit) will never produce good fruit like the durian. It will always produce inedible fruit.

As noted in the previous commentary, Jesus’ words are dealing with type. It is true that an apple tree can have bad fruit on it, such as being eaten by bugs or sprouting on a defective limb. This isn’t what He is referring to. The type of tree produces the type of fruit.

The false prophets are equated to a type of tree. They cannot produce good fruit. The meaning is that what they teach will always be false. It cannot be converted into something that is later acceptable.

Those who follow after false prophets are obtaining bad fruit that will never be palatable for life. Likewise, when a person is teaching properly, his fruit will produce good fruit with seeds that are good, and the richness of more good doctrine for those who pursue it will result.

Life application: The doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses says that Jesus is not God. They claim He is the archangel Michael, a created being. Jesus’ words concerning trees can be applied to the Jehovah’s Witnesses as being a bad tree. They deny the deity of Christ. The resulting fruit from such a tree can never bring life because the fruit is bad.

No matter how many times such doctrine is replanted, a bad tree will always spring up from the seed. It is the tree itself that must be removed in order for the ground to yield something else that will produce good fruit.

This is true with any false teaching from any false prophet. The message will always stand against the truth. Jesus is dealing with types. We need to identify the bad types. No one who goes to obtain fruit from a Hebrew Roots Movement church will ever receive good fruit. The tree itself is bad.

Know which doctrines are wrong. Know which churches teach the wrong doctrines. Stay away from such churches. These things are important. Only a fool would knowingly try to eat a passionflower fruit. But the person who doesn’t know it is bad may do so. Knowing what is bad will keep you from filling yourself with that which can never provide health and life.

Lord God, we are saved by grace and not by any works of our own. There is nothing we can do to merit it. But we are also saved by You through Jesus. As salvation is of the Lord, we know that Jesus is Lord. Such key points of doctrine are set and must be acknowledged as we pursue You. Help us to learn what is right and what is false. Yes, help us in this, O God. Amen.

Wednesday, 12 February 2025

Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Matthew 7:17

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Thus, every good tree, it produces good fruit. And the rotten tree, it produces evil fruit” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that people will be known by their fruits. He then asked if grapes could come from thorns or thistles from figs. The answer is obviously not. He next says to His disciples, “Thus, every good tree, it produces good fruit.”

To maintain the analogy from the previous verse, this must be referring to type. He just contrasted grapes and thorns as well as thistles and figs. Not all grape vines will produce good grapes, and this is for a variety of reasons. Not all fig trees will have good figs. Examples of these are found elsewhere in Scripture, such as –

“He dug it up and cleared out its stones,
And planted it with the choicest vine.
He built a tower in its midst,
And also made a winepress in it;
So He expected it to bring forth good grapes,
But it brought forth wild grapes.” Isaiah 5:2

“The Lord showed me, and there were two baskets of figs set before the temple of the Lord, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. ² One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten, they were so bad. ³ Then the Lord said to me, ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’
And I said, ‘Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad.’” Jeremiah 24:1-3

Despite such examples, this is not what Jesus is referring to. He is referring to kinds in general, even if within the same kind there may be plants or trees that produce bad fruit (see the parable in Luke 13:6-9). Oranges will produce good fruit, meaning oranges. Durian trees will produce durian, which is good. Etc.

On the other hand, a thornbush will never produce good fruit nor will a thistle. Their fruit will always be bad. That is seen in his next words, “And the rotten tree, it produces evil fruit.”

The word is sapros. It is variously translated as rotten, useless, corrupt, depraved, etc. It is derived from sepo, to corrupt or rot. And so, it can mean bad fruit on a good type of tree, but that would not fit His previous contrast between types. Rather, the sense can be derived from His parable in Matthew 13 –

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, ⁴⁸ which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, ⁵⁰ and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:47-50

The good fish are those types that are acceptable for eating. The bad would be those types that are unacceptable to eat. Likewise, false prophets are represented by one type of plant, the bad, such as the thorn or the thistle. Those who teach properly are represented by the other, the grape or the fig.

False prophets, by their very nature, are bad. Nothing they put forth will be good. On the other hand, proper teachers may have some bad fruit if their doctrine isn’t perfect, but their fruit in general will be good.

Life application: False prophets have already been equated to wolves, even if they come in sheep’s clothing. Their nature is that of being wolves. The exterior doesn’t change that which is found inwardly.

The only way for a false prophet to not be a false prophet is to have a complete change in nature. Unlike a tree, this is not impossible. Humans are not trees. However, the nature of a false prophet is to provide false teachings. There will always be bad fruit coming from a false prophet as long as he continues to put forth that which is false.

An initial error is to be found in the false prophet, for example, Joseph Smith who founded Mormonism. But the error could have been stopped from spreading if those who heard him properly identified him as a false prophet. However, they didn’t. Thus, the secondary error lies with the people who fail to identify him and walk away from him.

They had access to the proper manual, meaning the Bible. It was readily available in the US at the time of Joseph Smith. But it was left unattended t by those who heard him and then followed him in his false teachings.

Mormonism is not simply a branch of Christianity (an orange tree, for example) that may have bad oranges on it, meaning a good tree with bad fruit. Rather, Mormonism is a different plant altogether (a thistle, for example) that is corrupt by nature. It can never be a good plant. If a person in Mormonism wants to be a part of what is proper, he must go to the good tree to get its fruit.

Paul explains this in Galatians 1 when referring to Judaizers, the equivalent of today’s Hebrew Roots Movement –

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, ⁷ which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9

Paul says, “which is not another.” The doctrine of Mormonism, like that of the Judaizers, is not another display of the good news. It is bad news. The inherent nature itself is corrupt. Be sure to be able to identify both bad inherent nature as well as bad fruit coming from a good tree, meaning wrong doctrine within the overall family of true Christianity. We are all accountable for what we accept. Check out what you are taught!

Lord God, You have saved some of us from Islam, Buddhism, or atheism. But You have also saved some of us from Mormonism, Judaizers, and other religions that at first appear to be a part of the Christian faith. Help us to identify the error of false religion and then speak out against it so that others can also be saved from the false paths they are on. Amen.

Tuesday, 11 February 2025

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:16

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“From their fruits you will recognize them. Not any, they gather from thorns a grape or from thistles figs?” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus warned against false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but who are inwardly ravenous wolves. Now, He continues with, “From their fruits you will recognize them.”

This goes right back to Genesis 1 –

“Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth’; and it was so. ¹² And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ So the evening and the morning were the third day.” Genesis 1:11-13

There are various plants bearing particular fruits that have been determined by God to produce according to their kind. Normally, they are distinct enough that a person can look at the tree or bush and tell what kind of fruit it will bear. Some are similar enough in appearance where one has to wait for the fruit to come out. But once it does, you will know what type of plant it is because it will be according to the plant it came from.

With that happening, you will know if you want to keep the plant or cut it down. The fruit is the final indicator to alert a person to what the plant is. Understanding this, Jesus next says, “Not any, they gather from thorns a grape.”

He introduces the word méti, not any. It is derived from the negative particle mé, not, and tis, an interrogative pronoun signifying who, which, why, etc. HELPS Word Studies says, “properly, not perhaps, ‘no on first blush (reaction)’ – while still keeping ‘the possibility open’ to elicit the desired reaction from the listener (reader). … (mḗti) then draws out an immediate ‘no,’ while still conjuring the idea, ‘unless.’”

A.T. Robinson says, “‘Is not this the Christ (mḗti)…’ elicits ‘the negative answer (“this cannot be”) . . . “unless He really is the Christ!” (holding out the “diplomatic possibility”) and thus heightening their interest.’”

Jesus is asking them this question to get them to think through the answer. Do people gather thorns from a grape? Certainly not. As for the words translated as thorns and grapes, both words are introduced by Jesus at this time. Of interest is that the word staphulé, grape, is believed to be the base of the word stephanos, a crown or garland. Just as a cluster of grapes is intertwined, so are the ancient woven crowns. Jesus continues the words with, “or from thistles figs?”

Both words are new as well. The thistle, tribolos, is found only here and in Hebrews 6:8. It is derived from treis, three, and belos, a dart or missile. Hence, it is a crow-footed type of thorny plant or a three-pronged obstruction used in war.

The sukon, fig, goes all the way back to Genesis 3 where its leaves were used to cover Adam and his wife after they realized they were naked. In the Bible, the fig signifies a spiritual connection to God or its lack thereof. That will be further explained in later commentaries in the Book of Matthew. The fig does not, as is often taught, represent the nation of Israel except in how it is spiritually connected or disconnected from God.

The point of Jesus’ words in both clauses is that each plant reproduces after its own kind. The fruit will reveal the type of tree, even if it was previously indiscernible. In using two sweet and tasty fruits, and contrasting them to painful thorns and thistles, He is making a point that will be further explained as He continues.

Life application: The word fruit can be singular or plural. How it is rightly translated is often tricky. At times, there is overlap where it can be translated either way. The Greek will be either singular or plural, but in English, that can be misunderstood.

One fruit is singular. Two fruits are plural. But many of one kind of fruit, such as, “They are all one fruit, the banana,” can speak of the singular type and the plural number of bananas. When referring to more than one kind of fruit, you would normally use the plural, such as, “There is a variety of fruits available.” However, some choose to keep that singular, such as, “There are many types of fruit on the table.” Though it is argued that this is technically wrong, it is not uncommon.

The reason for saying “fruits” in the translation of this verse is because it is plural in the Greek. One might say, “But there is only one type of fruit on each plant.” This is true, but the pronoun is plural too, “their fruits.” Therefore, it is referring not only to an indeterminate number of fruits on a tree, but various types of fruit on more than one tree, each differing from the other. Hence, using “fruits” is the more precise option, even if the singular “fruit” will do.

This is one word that can have several possibilities or translational preferences. This issue then becomes a game of semantics to some teachers and preachers, where they will dogmatically make a point about what Jesus or Paul (or whoever) is saying. In such an instance, the only way to know if what they are saying is true is to check with the original language.

This is why it is good to at least know how to refer to them online. Every single word of the Bible is fully parsed and can be studied in detail on many websites. If you are not sure that what the teacher has presented is correct, do the search and check it out. It would be bananas to not do so!

Lord God Almighty, we live in a marvelous age where Your word is so fully accessible to us that we can study it in the minutest detail without ever leaving our desks. We don’t even need to get out a book. Instead, our fingers on the keyboard of the computer will bring us right to where we need to go. Help us to use this wonderful blessing of the accumulation of thousands of years of history to fully search out Your glorious word. Amen.

Monday, 10 February 2025

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And you caution from the false prophets who – they come to you in clothes of sheep, and inwardly they are wolves – rapacious” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus explained concerning about the narrow gate and the compressed path that leads to the life. He now begins another thought with the words, “And you caution from the false prophets.”

Jesus uses the word pseudoprophétés. It is derived from pseudés, false, and prophétés, prophets. Thus, “false prophets” is a direct translation. Jesus said to have caution from, meaning watch and stay away from, the false prophets. He next says of them, “who – they come to you in clothes of sheep.”

Jesus introduces the probaton, sheep, to the New Testament. Let’s be honest. Sheep are cute. Their hair is soft, white, and fluffy, especially when they are young. Their faces make them look innocent, they bleat soothing noises, and their demeanor is almost always pleasant. Along with that, they graze. They don’t harm anything in their consumption of food.

False prophets come with such appearances and demeanor as well. Their words will be soothing, and one’s ears will be tingled by them. Their message appears appealing and not harmful. However, Jesus says of the false prophets that they are deceiving, “and inwardly they are wolves – rapacious.”

The word esóthen, inwardly, is introduced here. It speaks of the mind or soul of the person. The physical body, appearance, and outward projection are like a sheep. And yet, Jesus says they are lukos, wolves.

The word lukos is from leukos, white, bright, brilliant, etc. This is from their whitish hair. Wolves are devourers. They kill prey and eat it, even beginning if the prey is still alive. They are cunning in their conduct and predatory by nature. They will brazenly go after sheep and devour them without a care. And this is because they are harpax, rapacious.

The word signifies to seize or snatch, like in a robbery. Thus, there is both greed and violence being expressed in the thought. The word rapacious gets this across well when describing a wolf who is standing behind the pulpit, ready to pounce on whoever he can.

Life application: The word lukos is the etymological ancestor to our modern word lycan, a werewolf. Imagine walking into a church, and there was a wolf in sheep’s clothing who was standing in the pulpit. Would you be able to tell the difference in him from a true sheep?

Sadly, the fact is that most cannot. They haven’t bothered to take the time to read and study the word. They trust those who are in positions of authority in the church, often placing them on pedestals as if they were holy in and of themselves.

Their words, if pleasing, will keep the masses coming back. And yet, their words could be words of death. Jim Jones took an entire group of people to Guyana, where they eventually died drinking the Kool-Aid, literally.

This is because Jim Jones had a message that resonated with them. They failed to check the instruction manual, and it cost them their lives. This has happened in innumerable cults in recent times. Jesus warned against them, just as the people of Israel had been warned.

The Roman Catholic Church has been led by such men all along. They have led millions to trust them without ever teaching the word soundly or proclaiming the gospel of salvation by faith alone through grace alone. The current pope is a remarkable case study of just what Jesus warned against. And the people who follow him have failed to check the manual.

If you don’t read and know the Bible, how can you tell if you are being led astray? The truth is you cannot. Read your Bible.

“An astonishing and horrible thing
Has been committed in the land:
³¹ The prophets prophesy falsely,
And the priests rule by their own power;
And My people love to have it so.
But what will you do in the end?” Jeremiah 5:30, 31

Lord God, help us not to “trust but verify.” Rather, help us to know Your word so that we can verify and then trust. Amen.

Sunday, 9 February 2025

Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:14

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“For narrow the gate and having been compressed the way, the ‘leading to the life,’ and few, they are, those finding it” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus said, “You enter through the narrow gate. Because wide the gate and spacious the way, the ‘leading to the destruction,’ and many, they are, those entering through it.” He now continues that thought beginning with, “For narrow the gate and having been compressed the way.”

The word thlibó is introduced here. It signifies to crowd, as if one is in a throng or in a narrow place. HELPS Word Studies says, “properly, rub together, constrict (compress), i.e. pressed together; (figuratively) oppressively afflict (distress), i.e. like when circumstances ‘rub us the wrong way’ that make us feel confined (hemmed in); restricted to a ‘narrow’ place.”

These various instances all indicate some sort of crowding is taking place. As this is a path that one must pass through, the word compressed is suitable. However, in this verse, the verb is a perfect participle. Therefore, “having been compressed” gives the right sense. It was compressed in the past and the effects are ongoing.

Of this narrow gate and compressed path, Jesus says it is “the ‘leading to the life.’” The path and the gate are both referred to in the singular. It is one avenue alone that marks the way to “the life.” Though only Young’s elsewhere includes the article in the translation, its inclusion is appropriate. It isn’t just life, as if you can keep living in this earthly body, but “the life.”

It is the thought explained in Leviticus 18:5 –

“You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.”

In Genesis 3, because of man’s disobedience to the Lord’s law, access to the tree of life by which man could live forever was denied. Death entered the world. In Leviticus, a promise was made that through obedience to the law, the man shall live. Many scholars pass this off as meaning “live happily,” have a “higher life,” possess “true life,” etc. Their thoughts speak of a content and prosperous life under the law.

This is not at all what is being relayed here. It is a promise that if a man keeps the requirements of the law, he will live and not die. On the flip side, if one does not keep the requirements of the law, he will die and not live.

The Lord was dwelling in their presence. Access to Him was restricted because of the sin nature of man, but also because of the law itself. But in fulfillment of the law, access would naturally be granted once again. It could not be otherwise. The law is given to give life. If life is promised, then it must be granted.

If one doesn’t die, then he continues to live. If he lives forever, then he has eternal life. This is the implication of the words. This verse is looking forward to Christ – The Man who, in fact, did keep the ordinances and judgments of Yehovah, and He thus possesses eternal life.

This is exactingly explained in the book of Romans, but elsewhere in the New Testament as well. Christ fulfilled the law, and thus the law is fulfilled. In Him, life is granted. If you are looking for access to restored paradise and to the Tree of Life, you need look no further than Jesus Christ. He is “The Man who did.” As for what He did and the benefits of His work, He next says, “and few, they are, those finding it.”

The words seem contradictory to the church age which has spanned two thousand years and which has seen innumerable multitudes come to Him through faith in the gospel. However, there are two considerations that should be addressed.

The first is that the number of those in the church is actually small in relation to the total number of people that have been born over the centuries. But more to the point is that Jesus is specifically addressing His disciples and Israel through them. It is true that few of Israel would find Jesus and enter through Him. Paul says as much in Romans 9-11, such as –

“Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:
‘Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea,
The remnant will be saved.
²⁸ For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness,
Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.’” Romans 9:27, 28

Life application: There is life, and then there is life. People can go to the hospital, get healed, and return to life as usual. However, there is a life that transcends this life. It is life that must be appropriated in a specific way.

The use of the perfect participle concerning the way to “the life” shows that it was made that way and it will not change. God is not fickle. He would not send Jesus to die on the cross just to say, “Good job, Son, Your shed blood now provides another way to be reconciled to Me.” Rather, the Bible teaches that He is the only way to be reconciled to God –

“Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’
²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” John 6:28, 29

Lord God, give us the stamina when facing the crowd that comes against us to stand and acknowledge that Jesus alone can restore man to God. May we never give false hope in any other path to reconciliation. We know there is none. But we thank You that You have given us one. Yes, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.