Jesus says we should discern good people from evil people by their fruit (Matthew 7:16-20, Matt 12:33). Every seed bears fruit according to its kind (Gen 1:11) so this is how we can see physical evidence of what they've planted in their hearts.
But what fruit does He mean?
- Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 6:22, 2 Cor 9:10, Eph 5:9, Phil 1:11, James 3:18, 2 Peter 1:5-8
- Fruit of righteousness is a "tree of life": Prov 11:30
Fruit of labors: Psalm 1:3, Psalm 92:14, Prov 12:12 (the root yields fruit... eventually I assume), Prov 31:31, Romans 15:27-28 (those who sow the gospel reap material provision), Phil 1:22, Col 1:10 (seems like good works are blessed to
- produce
- fruit, not that they are the fruit in and of themselves) Fruit of financial seed: Phil 4:17 (sowing finances to spread the gospel reaping fruit from the same) Fruit of trust = blessing: Jeremiah 17:7-8, Hosea 14:8 Fruit of wisdom/ good choices: Prov 8:19, Isaiah 3:10, Jeremiah 17:10, Jer 32:19, Matt 12:33, Luke 6:43-44, James 3:17
- Fruit of the Word / Kingdom: Matt 13:23, Matt 21:43, Mark 4:20, Luke 8:15, John 4:36 (including souls to eternal life), John 15:16, Romans 1:13 (souls), Romans 7:4, Col 1:6, James 5:7-8 (with patience)
- Fruit of discipline
- by
- the Word: John 15:2-8, Heb 12:11
Fruit of repentance: Matthew 3:8 (a changed heart/ways?), Luke 3:8 - Fruit of words ("you can have what you say"): Prov 12:14, Prov 13:2, Prov 18:20, Prov 18:21, Isaiah 57:19
- Includes praise: Heb 13:15
Negative fruit:
Fruit, or consequences, of poor/evil choices: Prov 1:31, Isaiah 10:12, Jeremiah 17:10, Jer 21:14, Jer 32:19, Matthew 3:10, Matthew 7:16-20, Matt 12:33, Luke 3:9, Luke 6:43-44, Romans 6:21, Romans 7:5
Fruit of negative words: Prov 18:21, Hosea 10:13
Fruit of negative thoughts: Jeremiah 6:19
No fruit of the kingdom (when their should be --those who profess to be believers): Luke 13:6-9, John 15:2, Jude 1:12