Matthew 7:15-20 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
It is a popular idea with some that these verses of scripture tell us how to know whether a person is going to heaven. To rightly divide the word of truth, we must keep the words of Jesus in the context they were presented and look at the overall impact of the scriptures. If we are going to consider the fruit that one bears as a way to determine who is going to heaven, then neither of the thieves crucified with Jesus stood a chance (Luke 23:39-41). Furthermore, neither do any of the rest of us when based on our actions, for the word of God tells us that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Jesus was cautioning His disciples to be on the lookout for religious pretenders. Herrod pretended to be religious by asking the wise men to let him know where they found Jesus. His stated purpose was so that he might go and worship Him. The fruit of Herrod’s action plainly showed that his real desire was to destroy Jesus. We must trust God to reveal the fruit to us.
We need to listen to what people are saying about the sovereignty of God with their words and their actions. If I preach to you to love your enemies and you see me in my daily walk being hateful and vindictive to others, then my fruit is bad. If I preach to you concerning the sinfulness of man, and yet I behave as though I have no sin, then my fruit is bad. If I preach to you that Jesus is the only way to God and then tell you how I can help you get there, then my fruit is bad.
Dear ones, you will be able to recognize false prophets by their fruit. If their doctrine and their walk is self-serving then it is corrupt. If their doctrine and their walk honor God and not man, then it is good. However, God alone is a discerner of the heart, and our eternal end is in the work of Christ alone.