This You Must Do

For August 23, 2021 Live@5

Matthew 7:12–20 (NKJV, also appearing in Luke 6:43-45)

¹²Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus here states a version of the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This, according to Christ, sums up the law and prophets. They all point to treating others as you would want to be treated. Do this and fulfill the Law and Prophets!

¹³“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

This section of Scripture speaks of the path of life. There are two: one leads to death and one leads to life. One is easy now, but torment later. One is restricted and tough now, but glorious and perfect later. Few will choose the straight and narrow, but they will inherit heaven. Those who take the easy path will find destruction at its end. You must choose right now to flourish later!

¹⁵“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Finally, the Christian must pray for and learn discernment. Don’t fear false prophets if you can tell they are false. Inspect their fruit. If the fruit is good, eat it. If the fruit is bad, turn away and keep looking for good fruit. If something does not seem right, stay away until you know for sure. Don’t accept someone’s witness or ministry just because their stories make you cry. Don’t believe that every spoken tongue is a heavenly language. God is still working, moving, speaking in the earth today. Just make sure that you know it is Him speaking. He will bring forth fruit in those who serve Him. Then you will know them by their fruit! You must know Him and be able to tell the difference between Him and those who are merely claiming to be Him.