On Line Bible Study - For the Week June 14-20, 2010
Lesson 444
Luke 6: 43"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
I have had the opportunity to visit some vineyards in France, and sit with a sommelier whose family has been in the business of making wine for generations. To be invited into the "cave" and spend an hour with someone who talks about a glass of wine as if it were a work of art, and to hear them explain the intricacies of the grape, the barrels, the bottling ... Well, it's like going to the symphony, a fine restaurant, a history lecture and stepping into a time machine all at once!
Perhaps wine is not of interest to you; then think of a peach or plum. I've heard it said time and time again by people how disappointed they were in the flavor or texture of a piece of fruit. We know the difference between a cantelope that is sweet and juicy, and one that is not.
This word from Jesus about fruit explains the previous verses - it tells us why it is so important to be openly and honestly self-reflective. Ultimately, what comes out of us in terms of our speaking and doing is the direct result of our thinking and believing. We can push this analogy hard. Wine is directly dependent upon the grape and how it is treated. But the grape is directly dependent upon the soil and weather - the intricate combination of sand, water, sunshine and cool. Our exterior life is the result of what is going on under the surface, at the very roots of our existence.
Unlike the grapevine that has no choice or control with regard to the soil it grows in, we have much more control of our inner lives. We decide every day whether we are going to nourish our spirit, and what we are going to feed our soul. Recalling Jesus' teaching about teachers, specks, and inept people attempting to lead other, the meaning here is clear. The gospel writer wants us to place Jesus at the core of our lives and the center of our hearts. The next verses in the gospel speak of one who chooses to build their house on a rock-solid foundation. It's our choice - to be deeply rooted in Christ, or to live lives that are superficial and shallow.
We all bear "fruit"; it's just a question of what kind.
Perhaps wine is not of interest to you; then think of a peach or plum. I've heard it said time and time again by people how disappointed they were in the flavor or texture of a piece of fruit. We know the difference between a cantelope that is sweet and juicy, and one that is not.
This word from Jesus about fruit explains the previous verses - it tells us why it is so important to be openly and honestly self-reflective. Ultimately, what comes out of us in terms of our speaking and doing is the direct result of our thinking and believing. We can push this analogy hard. Wine is directly dependent upon the grape and how it is treated. But the grape is directly dependent upon the soil and weather - the intricate combination of sand, water, sunshine and cool. Our exterior life is the result of what is going on under the surface, at the very roots of our existence.
Unlike the grapevine that has no choice or control with regard to the soil it grows in, we have much more control of our inner lives. We decide every day whether we are going to nourish our spirit, and what we are going to feed our soul. Recalling Jesus' teaching about teachers, specks, and inept people attempting to lead other, the meaning here is clear. The gospel writer wants us to place Jesus at the core of our lives and the center of our hearts. The next verses in the gospel speak of one who chooses to build their house on a rock-solid foundation. It's our choice - to be deeply rooted in Christ, or to live lives that are superficial and shallow.
We all bear "fruit"; it's just a question of what kind.
posted by Mark D at 4:16 AM
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