As we saw in the Parable of the Sower of Seed (an agricultural parable regarding wheat or barley) (Matt.13:1-23), believers have different levels of receptivity to the Word of God. Some types of soil (humans) are pictured as being hardened or unreceptive to the seed (the Word of God). As an example, a hardened path or road was completely unreceptive to the seed (the Word) (Matt. 13:4). In other cases, there was only a surface level acceptance of the seed. In Palestine there was often rock or a rocky shelf just below the surface of the soil.[1] The rock below the surface did not allow the plant to take a firm root. When the sun rose, the plants were scorched. This exemplified believers who have no firm root. They easily fall away from their walk of faith when there is affliction, persecution, or opposition (Matt. 13:21). On the other hand, as to the seed (the Word) sown among the thorns, it was easily choked out (Matt. 13:7). The good seed (the Word) lost out in a competition with the thistles and thorns. The thistles and thorns were symbolic of the anxieties of the world, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the pleasures of life (Matt. 13:22; Luke 8:14). In other words, the spiritual life did not receive its needed emphasis. Finally, some of the seed landed on good soil, and there was fruitfulness thirty-fold, sixty-fold, or even one hundred-fold. As the reader might recall from my earlier blog[2], Dr. Craig Keener explained that thirty, sixty, and one hundred-fold are all “tremendously good harvests from Galilean soil.”[3] The average yield in Palestine was ten-fold. It should be noted that different soil (or souls) has different levels of receptivity and productivity.
Fruitfulness is symbolic of spiritual maturity. When the believer is receptive to the Word of God, he or she will grow spiritually and produce the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit includes things like “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). As we have also previously learned, our life in the Kingdom of God is described as “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). Such is the natural result of spiritual growth. We become happier and more balanced humans.
Psalm 1 teaches us that blessed is the man or woman whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he [or she] mediates day and night. He [or she] will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season… and in whatever he does, he [or she] prospers” (Ps. 1:2-3). The Hebrew word haga is defined as “to meditate or ponder.”[4] I agree with Dr. Tim Mackie of The Bible Project, who describes the Bible as Meditation Literature. We begin to see and understand after we have meditated upon Scripture again and again, over and over. We must have perseverance over many years. The maturation of fruit trees can be analogous to spiritual maturity. For example, the date palm tree, fig tree, and olive tree were common fruit trees found in Palestine. The date palm tree can take four to eight years after planting to bear fruit.[5] Fig trees can take around three to five years to produce ripening fruit.[6] Olive trees must be cultivated for seven years before producing fruit.[7] However, they do not reach full maturity until fifteen to twenty years.[8] A mature olive tree can produce as much as 1000 pounds of fruit annually and live for one thousand years.[9] And, so it is with the spiritual maturity of believers.
John the Baptist instructed his listeners “to bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matt. 3:8). John also warned that “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt. 3:10). Every believer is required to mature and be fruitful. We are designed to produce fruit, but we fail to be fruitful because of our own hardness of heart. If we fail to produce fruit, we will experience the wrath of God. As Jesus explained, every good tree produces good fruit, but every bad tree produces bad fruit (Matt. 7:17-18). Our free will is at issue. It is incumbent upon every believer to be receptive to God’s Word and will. Jesus warned that “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt.7:19). In the above verses, the “fire” (pyr) is symbolic for the wrath or judgment of God. The ramifications for disobedience happen both in this life and the next. In the Bible, the word “fire” is commonly used as Biblical Imagery to generically describe the wrath, judgment, or discipline of God. Occasionally, “fire” refers to the persecution or testing experienced by Christians (1 Pet. 1:7). Most significantly, in my opinion, the above passages referencing “fire” were not specifically alluding to going to Sheol (or Hades) after death because of a failure to produce fruit. These are generic warnings of God’s wrath for disobedience to God.
The reader is also encouraged to recall the Parable of the Vine and Branches (a parable regarding a grapevine) (John 15:1-8). Jesus explained that He is the vine, and the Father is the vinedresser. Every branch that does not bear fruit is removed, but every branch that bears fruit is pruned so that it might bear more fruit. We believers are instructed to abide in the branch so that we might bear fruit. In fact, Jesus explained that His Father is glorified by us bearing fruit and proving that we are truly His disciples (John 15:8). We are told that we cannot bear fruit unless we are connected to the vine (John 15:4-5). If we remain connected to the vine (fellowship with Christ), we will bear much fruit. We are warned that apart from being connected to the vine (in Christ), we can do nothing (spiritually). If we (believers), do not abide in the vine (in Christ), we will dry up and be thrown into the fire and be burned up (John 15:6). Again, in my opinion, these verses are not saying that we will lose our status as Christians or go to Sheol (or Hades) after we die because of not bearing fruit. However, in my opinion, these verses are saying that we cannot produce fruit unless we remain functionally in Christ. Being thrown into the fire is the equivalence of experiencing God’s judgment or discipline. Commonly, in the New Testament, “fire” is symbolic for God’s wrath or judgment. It should be understood metaphorically, not literally. It includes both punishment and loss of blessings. One’s future is compromised in both this life and the next because of one’s disobedience to God and failure to mature and produce fruit.
Finally, as to good works, we should simply do the works that God, the Holy Spirit, directs or leads us to perform. We should not seek to independently build a resume of works to impress God or others. We should seek to function in God’s will and timing.
[1] Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Second Ed. InterVarsity Press, 2014, p. 79.
[2] Smith, T. Kenan. “The Kingdom of God, No. 3: The Parable of the Sower of Seed.” Eyes to See The Revelation & The Kingdom of God. 20 Jan 2022. https://eyestoseetherevelation.com/the-kingdom-of-god-no-3/
[3] Keener, p. 137.
[4] “H1897 – hāḡâ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 4 Apr, 2022. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1897/nasb20/wlc/0-1/>.
[5] Wikipedia contributors. “Date palm.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 3 Apr. 2022. Web. 5 Apr. 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_palm
[6] Forney, Julie Martens and Meagan Francis. “How to Plant, Grow and Care for a Fig Tree.” HGTV, 18 June 2021, https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/trees-and-shrubs/twig-newton-how-to-grow-a-fig-tree
[7] “Flora.” The Anchor Bible Dictionary: Volume 2. Editor-in-Chief, David Noel Freeman, et al., Doubleday, 1992
[8] “Flora.”
[9] “Flora.”
