Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ⁴³  “For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.

 ⁴⁴  “For each tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.

 ⁴⁵  “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good;  and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil;  for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”  Luke 6:43-45.

There is an important distinction between judging for the purpose of condemnation and judging for the purpose of learning.  According to verse 37, we should not judge for the purpose of condemnation.  But, according to verses 43 to 45, we should judge for the purpose of learning.

I think examples can best show the reason for this distinction. 

We can too easily judge people and withhold the Gospel and goodness to them, which in effect, condemns them.

We are commanded to broadly preach the Gospel to everyone, and in this chapter, we are even commanded to love our enemies.  We should not judge those who appear to be reprobates for the purpose of condemning them.  We could too easily withhold the Gospel and withhold doing good to those that we judge to be reprobates.

I am quickly and clearly reminded when I use to hand out Gideon Testaments to public school students on the public sidewalks (not on school grounds) surrounding the school.  As I would see the students approach, I would see students that seemed good and receptive (that is, dressed well, groomed well, and polite) to receiving such a Testament. I would also see students that seemed bad and rebellious (that is. T-shirts with offensive messages on it, unkempt, loud, and cocky).  I was tempted to give Testaments to only those who seemed good, and not risk being offended, rejected, and wasting my time. 

However, I was often surprised to see the apparently good students flatly and coldly reject the Testament.  I was often also surprised to see the apparently bad students warmly receive the Testament.  

On the other hand, we should judge for the purpose of learning.  Every day, we need to judge to what we will listen and learn and accept as truth. 

It is easy to do this with some people.  We will not go to another religion’s place of worship and sit down and listen and receive as truth that speaker’s teachings.

However, it is trickier to do this with wolves in sheep’s clothing.  We need to be a good judge of that person’s true character and true beliefs.  We can’t just accept as truth that person’s teachings, because he says some things that are pleasant and true.  We need to judge and determine whether that person is a good tree or a bad tree.  In other words, we need to judge and determine the character of that person and the beliefs of that person before we decide whether or not “to pick that fruit”, which is a descriptive way of saying “to accept as truth”.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”  I John 4:1.