A Community of Fruitfulness
For Meditation (Corey Widmer)
As Jesus moves toward the end of the Sermon on the Mount, his tone grows even more urgent and sobering. If the narrow road warning in verses 13–14 was startling, what comes next is even more unsettling: a warning against false prophets, self-deception, and religious performance without true relationship.
Jesus reminds us that not everyone who says to him “Lord, Lord” will enter the Kingdom. These are not outsiders or atheists—these are religious people who have said and done all the “right things,” and yet Jesus says to them, “I never knew you.” What are we supposed to make of this?
Jesus is warning us here that spiritual activity—even miraculous, flashy, or seemingly fruitful ministry—is not necessarily a sign of real faith or Kingdom living. He says the true test is doing the will of the Father. And that begins with being known by Jesus, and living in honest, humble obedience to his teaching. The image of the tree and its fruit reminds us: what’s going on beneath the surface will always eventually show up in what kind of fruit we bear.
This is not meant to produce fear, but rather honesty. It invites us to examine not just what we do in the name of Jesus, but why we do it and who we are becoming. As you prepare for worship this Sunday, consider the following:
Jesus’ most severe warning is aimed at religious people who think they are “in.” Why do you think Jesus speaks so directly here? What might he be trying to reveal about the human heart?
What’s the difference between doing things for God and being known by God? How can we learn to recognize that difference in our own lives?
Jesus says “by their fruit you will recognize them.” What kind of fruit does Kingdom living produce, according to the Sermon on the Mount?
What does it mean for you—not just in general, but practically this week—to do the will of the Father? Where is Jesus inviting you to deeper alignment with him?
Matthew 7:15–23
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”