URC Daily Devotion Wednesday 19th November 2025
St Matthew 7: 15 – 20
Jesus said: ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad 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.
Reflection
When I was growing up, if there was something I really wanted to do, it was drive a car!
I remember when preparing for my driving test I studied the Highway Code avidly! I recalled learning all the road signs in case I was asked about them. The triangular shaped signs as drivers know are the “warning” signs.
In this part of Matthew’s gospel, coming at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offered three warnings to his listeners. Today’s reading is a warning about false prophets. Jesus wants to prepare his listeners for the journey of discipleship they are embarking on. I fear that we are sometimes reticent or resistant in churches to grapple with texts such as these. Jesus offers a stark warning here about those who might sound wise but actually aren’t. Those who sometimes want to actively control the direction in which a church feels God is leading. Jesus warns those who follow him that we need to be mindful of such people.
If we wonder how we recognise these people, Jesus suggests that we will know them by the fruit of their lives. Jesus uses a helpful analogy of a garden. When we moved into our current manse we did so in early December. I was told at the time that we have raspberries growing in the garden come Spring. When the fruit came on the fruit bushes, I noticed the raspberries were yellow not the usual colour. I had never seen yellow raspberries before. They looked and tasted the same as the red ones. Some plants produce berries that look lovely and very appealing but actually taste awful! And no amount of sugar will make them taste any different.
It appears from what Jesus says that this can also occur within the Church. We need to be people of prayer asking that Jesus will lead us in the way he wants us to go following him and being nourished by him.
Prayer
Loving God,
may we recognise the way
we are called to go as individuals and as churches.
May we follow Christ obediently,
recognising the warning signs
that you place in front of us
when we are travelling in the wrong direction.
May those in leadership be wise and discerning
in leading your people
so that your Church and Kingdom may grow
through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Amen.