43 “A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good fruit. 44 Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don’t gather figs from thorny plants, nor do they pick grapes from prickly bushes. 45 A good person produces good from the good treasury of the inner self, while an evil person produces evil from the evil treasury of the inner self. The inner self overflows with words that are spoken.
Reflection
At my high school, freshman year I was a new student and didn’t know anyone. The school had a big sports culture, so when someone gave me a tour, they pointed out the popular kids—mainly the football players and cheerleaders. Frank was one of those kids. He played varsity football, had a tight-knit group of friends, and always hung out with the “cool” crowd. I’d seen Frank from a distance in our math and science classes, but we never really talked much. I assumed he only cared about being with friends like him, and I figured he was probably mean to anyone different, just like the others he hung out with.
Then, one day during junior year, we had an assembly about drug abuse. The guest speaker invited anyone to come up and share their story. I didn’t expect much, but then a girl with blue hair stood up. She was quiet but brave as she spoke about her struggles with self-harm and suicide. The room fell silent as she shared her deeply personal story in front of the entire school. It was raw and vulnerable, and I couldn’t help but admire her courage.
Afterward, as we were heading out, I overheard a group of kids, including some from Frank’s circle, mocking her. “Did you hear what she said in front of everyone?” one of the varsity cheerleaders sneered. Their voices were filled with ridicule, clearly trying to belittle her.
But then something unexpected happened that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Frank, who had been quiet until then, interrupted. He spoke up loudly, “Yeah, that was really brave of her.” He didn’t just agree with the mockery like everyone else. He defended her, right there in front of all his friends. The group fell silent, and for a brief moment, the mocking stopped.
Frank probably thought nothing of it, but it made me feel guilty. I had passed judgment on someone I never even knew enough to have a meaningful conversation with. I had characterized him by the actions of others. That was wrong, and I promised myself from that day on I would try my hardest not to judge strangers. It made me think about the verse, “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.” I realized that Frank’s words were the fruit of something good inside him. Even though he was popular and could’ve easily joined in with the crowd, he chose to do the right thing. His actions showed that his heart wasn’t what I had assumed. Instead of joining the ridicule, he chose kindness.
In that moment, I saw that people, like trees, reveal who they are through their actions—the fruit of their hearts. He had the courage to stand up for what was right, showing that beneath the surface, his heart bore good fruit.
by Ali Clark
For Pondering and Prayer
This passage challenges us to examine the fruit of our own lives. It’s important to remember that bearing good fruit is not an instantaneous process. Just as a tree doesn’t produce fruit overnight, our spiritual growth is a continual process.
When we experience moments of frustration, anger, impatience, or selfishness, we need to ask ourselves: what’s in our hearts? What is the root cause of these responses? Jesus points out that our actions don’t come from external sources or circumstances but are an overflow of what’s inside us. If our hearts are aligned with His will, our actions will reflect that alignment.
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for Your Word that speaks so clearly to us. We acknowledge that the fruit of our lives reflects what is in our hearts. We ask You to help us examine our hearts and remove anything that is not of You. We ask for Your help to stay rooted in Your love, truth, and grace. May our lives reflect Your goodness and love in everything we do. In Your name, Amen.
