A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. 45 A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. 46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. 48 That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. 49 But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.
After Jesus tells the disciples that an external showing of piety has no value in and of itself, he uses a metaphor of trees and their fruits to illustrate moral truths about human actions and their origin. The nature and character of a person (virtue or vice) determine the quality of their deeds. A good person produces good deeds, while an evil person produces evil deeds (Mt. 12:33-37). What a person says and does shows what is in their heart. How we speak is a key way we show our inner feelings and beliefs.
Jesus challenges those who confess him as Lord but fail to follow his teachings. He told his followers a parable to emphasize the importance of hearing and acting on his teachings (Js. 1:22-25; 2:14-26). Doing so would provide a person with a strong foundation so they could be able to withstand life’s trials and challenges. The faith of those who do not live by his teachings will fail amidst the trials and tribulations of life.
Heavenly Father, send your Holy Spirit upon us so that we may hear with the ears of our hearts and be changed by your word so that we may bear good fruit. Help us build our lives on the firm foundation of your teachings so that we can stand strong in faith when trials come. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
__________________________________
Sources:
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
Comments