Every Tree That Does Not Bear Good Fruit is Thrown Into the Fire - Matthew 7-19

Many people in the church would deny this teaching is possible of Jesus. The might say the fire Jesus is talking about is the refiners fire. But this is not so. The trees that do no bear fruit are cast into the fires of hell.

OUR TEXT:

Matthew 7:19 (New King James Version)

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Jesus tells a story in the Gospels about a gardener who checks a tree that should be bearing fruit and it isn't. The owner wants to cut it down but the gardener says, let us fertilize the tree this year and if it does not bear fruit next year we will cut it down.

This is an example of the Christian life.

We are all given a measure of talents in this world. Jesus shares the parable of the talents in Matthew chapter 25. As many of you are aware there was a person that did not invest the talent but hid it. This person was severely judged by Jesus.

Matthew 25:25-30 (New King James Version)

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' 26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.29 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

The lazy servant was cast into hell. This is where people go that do not bear fruit for Jesus. This is not a joke folks. Jesus was telling his apostles this and even warning them lest they fall away.

The Christian life should be a life that has more than the fruits of the Spirit. Bearing fruit is not just the fruits of the Spirit, as many non Christians exhibit the fruits more than Christians.

We are put on this earth to be salt and light to the world that is perishing. We are put on earth to multiply.

Jesus says that we should multiply 30 fold and a hundred fold. He says that some people don't bear fruit as thorns choke them. The deceitfulness of riches and the cares of this world make certain Christians unfruitful. In Matthew chapter 13 the story is told of the sower. In verse 22 we see that many Christians in this world do not bear fruit for these two reasons mentioned

Matthew 13:22 (New King James Version)

22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

James speaks about how works have a direct effect on faith and whether it is alive or not. Of course people with a dead faith would not go to heaven would they?

James 2:14-17 (New King James Version)

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

So there you have it people. If you are bearing fruit and denying yourself in this world you will get to heaven. If your lack fruit you will be cast off and thrown into the fire.

If you have enjoyed my article you can read the book "The parables of Jesus made simple" for free here in its entirety or just selected parables in chapters at http://www.parables-of-jesus-christ.net/ The book will be published in book form in January 2011