Let us look at another parable in the next three verses. Jesus is telling His analogy of the good tree and the bad tree.
“43 For a good tree bringeth not corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasures of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
This is at the same time a simple analogy and a deep spiritual truth. Jesus compares people to trees and plants in the agricultural society where He preached. The fruit a plant bears is the means by which that plant is identified, whether a good plant or a weed. The same is true of people. The fruit we bear is the actions we perform without thinking. One of my mother’s favorite sayings is, “Actions speak louder than words.” Yet all too often we look on at the words (especially if they’re words we like) and excuse the actions. Let’s go deeper still.
The figs can be looked at as the religious practices of prayer, fasting, gathering with the Church and alms. These are things that are good when used for supporting a sincere and profound faith in Christ. Figs are good food, they nourish the body, just as good religious practices nourish the soul. An evil person usually can’t be bothered by these practices.
The grapes are the deep abiding love a true believer has toward God and his fellows. Grapes are used to make wine, which can be intoxicating. I know from experience, both romantic and divine, that love is also intoxicating. This is the only high God wants us to have, love. If we produce the fruit of love, it shows in all of our daily activities. Love shines like daylight from our hearts.
Therefore, if you see these fruit, you can tell the person is genuine in faith. If on the other hand, the fruit that person produces is thorns of anger and thistles of arrogance and egoism, you can tell the person is only acting as if in a play, a hypocrite. Be careful to examine your own fruit, as I do every hour of every day, to be sure it is good and not evil. If you find evil fruit growing in your life, make haste to root out the cause of that evil before it overcomes your entire heart.
The things you allow to reside in your heart, either love, faith and joy, or anger arrogance and egoism, will manifest in your words and deeds. It is only natural. So just as you can tell if a teacher is for real or only acting, others can tell your intent as well, and be sure they’re watching. You may be the only scripture that another person reads. Make it a good one that is filled with the revelation of God.
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