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Friend, you were made to be a fruit inspector!

Matthew 7:16-20 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Yesterday, we examined how wolves can look like sheep, but the Shepherd has not left us defenseless. He has given us His Word and taught us how to recognize the difference. Now Yeshua (Jesus) shows us exactly what to look for. He does not ask us to judge what is hidden in someone’s heart, because that belongs to God alone. Instead, He directs our attention to something that eventually becomes visible to everyone: the fruit.

He says it twice, at the beginning and at the end. In Hebrew teaching, repetition emphasizes something. This is not merely a recommendation for the particularly mature; it is the duty laid upon every sheep on the narrow road. You are to be a fruit inspector.

The Hebrew word for fruit is peri (פְּרִי), and it is used from the very beginning of Genesis, where God causes trees to produce fruit according to their kind. That expression is the entire point. A fig tree bears figs because it is a fig tree, and a thornbush produces thorns because it is a thornbush. Nothing in creation produces outside its nature. So when Yeshua asks whether people gather grapes from thornbushes, every Hebrew listener already knew the answer.

That is why He says He cannot. This is not about effort or intention; it is about nature. A false prophet might quote the Bible, pray well, and draw a crowd, but he cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit if his root is not in the Spirit. Sooner or later, what is in the root will show up in the branches. A disguise might fool people for a while, but the fruit will not fool anyone who is watching closely.

This is where noticing fruit becomes important, because the results of a false prophet are not always seen in his own life; they often show up among the people he leads. What effect does this person have on those who listen? Are they becoming more like Yeshua, more humble, more holy, more eager for the Word, and more in love with the Father? Or are they becoming more focused on the leader, more comfortable with compromise, and more convinced that surrender is not needed? Jeremiah’s false prophets led people to feel safe even as judgment neared. That was their fruit, and it showed the truth about them.

The Hebrew word for tree is etz (עֵץ), and in the Tanakh (Old Testament), a righteous person is often compared to a tree. Psalm 1 starts with ashrei (אַשְׁרֵי), meaning blessed is the man, and describes him as a tree planted by streams of water, bearing fruit at the right time. Jeremiah 17 says something similar: the person who trusts in the LORD is like a tree by the water, whose leaves stay green even in drought and always bears fruit. When Yeshua talks about good trees and good fruit, He is using this same picture. A blessed person is rooted, and someone with deep roots bears fruit whether or not anyone is watching.

So here is how to examine fruit without falling into a critical spirit, since discernment is rooted in love, not pride. You are not looking for faults in anyone. You are protecting the flock and remaining faithful to the Shepherd. Ask simple, honest questions. Does this voice bring me nearer to the King or merely closer to itself? Does it lead to repentance or only to relief? Does it make holiness attractive, or does it make it seem extreme? Does it bear love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, or does it display division, pride, greed, and fear disguised as spiritual things? It really is that straightforward.

Then Yeshua says the hard thing: every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. The Father Himself is the final inspector, and His inspection is coming. That should make us serious, but it should also steady us. You are not the judge, and you do not carry the axe. Your role is to see clearly and refuse to eat from a poisoned tree while you wait for the Master of the vineyard to do what only He can do.

This is a life of ashrei (אַשְׁרֵי), a truly blessed life. Blessed is the one planted by the water, whose roots drink deeply from the Word, and whose life bears good fruit in its season. This fruit is never forced or performed; it grows naturally because the root is healthy and the tree belongs to the Shepherd. Blessed is the one whose branches hang heavy with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, so that everyone who passes by can see exactly what kind of tree it is.

Friend, stay close to the Shepherd, rooted in His Word, and let the Spirit train your eyes to recognize good fruit. As you discern what is growing around you, invite the Father to keep cultivating what is growing within you. Let Him deepen your roots and shape your life until the fruit of His Spirit makes it unmistakably clear that you belong to Yeshua.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka

Editor's Note: Last week, Delta and United Airlines opened new flights to Israel, giving travelers more options to join us for our Worthy "Real Israel Tour". Only a few days remain before registration closes, and we would love for you to prayerfully consider coming with us. This is more than a trip; it is a chance to walk the Land of promise, stand where Scripture came alive, and see Israel through biblical and prophetic eyes. If the Lord has been stirring your heart toward Israel, now is the time — reply today and let us know you are ready to come.

Editor's Note: For the first week, we’re discounting The Eternal Kingdom Revealed to help get the book into as many hands as possible. My hope is that people will begin reading, share their thoughts, and leave honest reviews so others can discover the message of the Kingdom as well. If you’ve been thinking about getting a copy, this is a great time to pick one up. Available now on Amazon at a special first-week price.