Those Who Know Better Must Do Better

There is an old saying that "those who know better should do better," and from the Christian perspective, this is sometimes known as "bearing fruit," good fruit, because even the finest looking tree, if it bears not good fruit, may find itself one day good only for firewood.

"In the morning, as He was returning to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside He went to it, and found nothing on it but leaves only. And He said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once." (Matthew 21:18-19 RSV) (figs on a fruitful fig tree are shown in the photograph)

"Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit that befits repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 3:7-10 RSV)

"You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. Not every one who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and do many mighty works in Your Name?' [see I Did It My Way...] And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you evildoers.'" (Matthew 7:16-23 RSV)

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of Mine that bears no fruit, He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." (John 15:1-6 RSV)

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