By their fruit you will recognize them

The disciples of Christ are known each other, and they are known each other by their fruits, in the same way, those who are not His disciples are also known in the same way, and Jesus warns us about this so we do not let ourselves be deceived. The Bible tells us what the true gospel of Christ is and we must study the Word so as not to be deceived by false prophets.

Throughout the Scriptures we find many warnings about deception, because God in His mercy knows that the heart of man can easily be misled when it does not remain firm in His Word. The call for every believer is to walk with discernment, examining everything carefully and holding fast to what is true. In a world filled with voices, opinions and spiritual confusion, the believer must cling to the voice of the Good Shepherd, who speaks through the Scriptures. Only by doing so can we remain grounded and capable of distinguishing between truth and error.

Jesus told us:

15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Matthew 7:15-17

Christ Himself commands us to guard against false prophets, those who come to us with something completely different from the gospel, offering us things that Christ has never offered us, and the only way for us to know when they are bringing us something that is not Gospel is reading and studying the Holy Scriptures.

The false prophets are known by their fruits and Christ tells us that every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. Let’s take care of the bad trees that are out there, since their fruits are bad and we can not do the same as they do. In the same way remember that the bad tree is cut and thrown into the fire, because there is no need to have it.

Let us ask God to show us through His Word how to bear fruit for salvation, to teach us to do His will.

When Jesus uses the metaphor of trees and fruit, He is exposing a spiritual truth that cannot be hidden: our actions reflect who we really are. A good disciple does not merely speak about God; he lives in such a way that his life testifies of Christ. Love, humility, obedience, service, integrity and truth are fruits that identify those who truly walk with God. On the contrary, pride, deceit, exploitation, manipulation and hypocrisy are the unmistakable fruits of those who only pretend to be part of the flock.

For this reason, Jesus warns us that false prophets wear sheep’s clothing, meaning they appear harmless and even spiritual, but their intentions are contrary to God’s. This shows us that appearances cannot be the standard by which we judge spiritual leadership. What truly matters is the fruit produced in time, because genuine fruit cannot be fabricated. A heart transformed by Christ produces transformation in others, while a corrupt heart inevitably leads people away from the truth.

To avoid falling into deception, believers must develop a life of constant study of the Scriptures. It is not enough to hear sermons or follow teachers; we must personally know the Word of God to recognize when something does not align with His truth. Discernment grows when we meditate on the Bible, when we pray, and when we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

Furthermore, bearing good fruit is not something we achieve by human strength. It is the work of God in us. As Jesus said, without Him we can do nothing. Therefore, we must abide in Him, spend time in His presence, and cultivate a relationship that produces obedience and transformation. Only then will our lives shine as witnesses of the gospel.

May God, through His Holy Word and the guidance of His Spirit, grant us discernment to identify falsehood, firmness to walk in truth, and grace to bear good fruit that glorifies His holy name.