IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

A Tree and Its Fruit

Date: May. 19, 2021

Passage

Matthew 12:22-37

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Matthew 12:33

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.

1. Signs of the kingdom of God (22-32)

Jesus performed an extraordinary miracle by healing a demon-possessed man who was both blind and mute. When the Pharisees heard people asking whether Jesus might be the Son of David (the Messiah), they accused Jesus of driving out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons. In their pride, the Pharisees were trying to deny that the kingdom of God was among them in Jesus, but by doing so they were in danger of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

2. How to judge a tree (33-37)

Jesus continued by teaching the principle that a tree can be judged by its fruit. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit, and vice versa. It means that the condition of our heart determines whether our life produces blessings. Whether someone is really doing the work of God's kingdom is shown by the influence they have on the people around them. Those who carelessly criticize and judge will be held responsible for their words in the judgment. We need to pray to have a pure heart.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me humility to see the work of God among us. Create a pure heart in me by your Holy Spirit.

One Word: A good heart produces good fruit.

Daily Bread

We Are Your Sheep, Lord

Psalm 79:1-13

Key Verse: 79:13

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

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