Make Tree Good or Evil
We are told by Christ to make distinctions based upon fruits. A tree is either good or evil based upon fruits.
A tree is known by its fruit.
Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Many view this as a Christian doesn't sin, but we know even the chief Christians sinned, Peter denied Christ and Paul arrested Christians dragging them out of their homes. A Christian has to be judged long term based upon what they produce over time. Individual events don't always condemn, but long term rotton speech does.
The Greek words good and evil are actually words describing work such as speech. Good describes productivity and evil describes being idle.
σαπρός
sapros
sap-ros'
From G4595; rotten, that is, worthless (literally or morally): - bad, corrupt. Compt. G4190.
Total KJV occurrences: 8
Either the fruit is useful or it is not. Corrupt speech that opposes Christ is what is in view. Blaspheme of Christ or blaspheme of the Spirit.
It is the same word where Christ finds idle workers in the kingdom and sends them into his vineyard to work. Idle or useless workers end up having idle speech. Rottonness describes their heart and Idleness their speech.
Mat 12:36 ButG1161 I sayG3004 unto you,G5213 ThatG3754 everyG3956 idleG692 wordG4487 thatG3739 G1437 menG444 shall speak,G2980 they shall giveG591 accountG3056 thereofG4012 G846 inG1722 the dayG2250 of judgment.G2920
The word idle describing our words is the same as those standing in the market and doing nothing. Their speech had no useful value and brought them no monetary reward. It is using our speech in an unproductive and destructive way. The same word is used by Peter to speak of being barren.
2Pe 1:8 ForG1063 if these thingsG5023 beG5225 in you,G5213 andG2532 abound,G4121 they makeG2525 you that ye shall neitherG3756 be barrenG692 norG3761 unfruitfulG175 inG1519 theG3588 knowledgeG1922 of ourG2257 LordG2962 JesusG2424 Christ.G5547
What is the difference between barren and unfruitful. One speaks of land that produces little or no vegetation, the other of plants who produce no fruit.
Even though the Pharisees upheld a moral law, by speaking against Christ and his doctrine they were lifeless and barren, their speech produced none of God's fruit, which was obedience to Jesus.