By His Word
A person can speak beautifully about kindness and still leave others feeling diminished. Another may speak quietly, without much polish, yet consistently point people toward Christ. Jesus gives us a way to look beyond the first impression: “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit” (Luke 6:44, NIV). His words invite us to consider the kind of life a person’s teaching produces—and to examine the fruit growing in our own lives.
In Luke 6, Jesus is teaching His disciples how to live among others. He warns about blind guides, asks why we notice a speck in someone else’s eye while overlooking a plank in our own, and then speaks of trees and fruit. The setting matters. Discernment begins with humility. Jesus does not give us permission to inspect everyone around us while refusing to let His words examine our own hearts.
The picture of fruit is simple enough to remember long after we close the Bible. A tree reveals its nature through what it produces. We would not identify an apple tree by the confidence of the gardener describing it; eventually, we would look at its branches. In the same way, a teacher’s eloquence, knowledge, or popularity cannot by itself tell us whether that person is guiding others well. We need to listen to what is taught and pay attention, over time, to how the teacher lives.
Jesus develops the picture in the following verse: “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45, NIV). A careless sentence may call for an apology and a fresh start. A settled pattern of contempt, dishonesty, or self-importance calls for closer attention. Likewise, patience, truthfulness, mercy, and willingness to admit wrongdoing tell us something meaningful about the heart. Fruit takes time to grow, and it is often best seen across ordinary days rather than on a platform.
Paul gave Timothy closely related counsel: “Watch your life and doctrine closely” (1 Timothy 4:16, NIV). Both matter. A person may behave warmly while teaching ideas that draw us away from the gospel. Another may explain a passage accurately yet treat people in ways that contradict its message. Paul urges Timothy to attend to his life and his teaching together. That counsel serves those of us who teach, and it helps all of us choose whose guidance we will receive.
We can ask straightforward questions. Does this teacher help me read Scripture in context, or ask me to rely mainly on the teacher’s claims? Is Jesus becoming clearer to me? When correction is needed, is it offered truthfully and with care? Does the teacher welcome honest questions and remain accountable? No pastor or mentor answers every question perfectly. We all need grace. Yet grace gives us room to repent and grow; it does not require us to ignore a harmful pattern.
Jesus also tells His disciples that fruit grows through remaining in Him: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NIV). That keeps our attention on the source of a faithful life. We cannot manufacture Christlike character by admiring it in someone else or by trying harder to appear good. As we remain close to Jesus—hearing His words, bringing our failures to Him, and obeying what He shows us—His life shapes ours. Paul names the Spirit’s fruit in Galatians 5:22–23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
This gives us encouragement as well as a warning. Perhaps someone once taught you the Scriptures with steady kindness, and you still hear that person’s wise counsel when a difficult decision comes. Thank God for that gift. Perhaps a teacher you trusted disappointed you. Jesus’ words can help you acknowledge what happened without giving up on His Word. The teacher may have failed you; Christ continues to call you to Himself.
John writes that believers have received the Spirit’s anointing, which helps them recognize the truth (1 John 2:27). He is not telling Christians that they no longer need anyone to teach them—John is teaching them as he writes. He is assuring them that they need not surrender their judgment to someone who draws them away from what they have heard about Christ. We can prayerfully test what we hear against Scripture, seek counsel from mature believers, and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom.
Today, consider one voice that regularly shapes your faith: a pastor, author, friend, or online teacher. Read the Scripture passage behind something that person has said. Look at its surrounding verses. Then ask God to help you receive what is true and good, and to recognize what needs closer examination. Finally, let Jesus turn the question toward you: What fruit is growing in the people who spend time with me? His invitation is to remain in Him, where a life of love and truth can continue to grow.
Continue receiving similar Scripture-centered reflections through Pastor Hogg’s Substack: https://substack.com/@pastorhogg.
FEEL FREE TO COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE OR POST SO OTHERS MAY KNOW