Jesus picks up on a theme from earlier in this chapter. In Matthew 12 Jesus says, “for the tree is known by its fruit” (v33). Jesus is emphasizing the kind of fruit we produce again. The courts of the temple are cleaned out because they are to be a ‘house of prayer, not a den of robbers.’ The courts of the temple are the kind of fruit that the religious leaders were producing. What was taking place was part of their leadership and was flowing from their practices.
A fig tree is withered because it has no fruit. Two sons are compared based on their words and actions. Jesus seems to be suggesting that what a person does when they are on their own is more important than what the promises they make. The one who does the will of the Father is not the one who says the right things, but who actually produces fruit in their lives that reflects the Father’s will.
Jesus expresses this emphasis on bearing fruit most clearly in verse 43, “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruit of the kingdom.”
What I hear Jesus asking me in this passage is what kind of fruit am I producing. I could be running around, looking busy, feeling busy, saying a lot of good things, but am I producing the fruit of the kingdom. Are the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control being produced in my life? Are the fruits of mercy, justice, and humbleness flowing out of who I am?
If not, perhaps I need to re-evaluate what I am doing, and what it takes to bear that kind of fruit. Maybe I need to examine the parts of my life where I say yes Lord, and then don’t do it. Maybe I need to do some tending to my soul, changing some of my inputs, so that good fruit is produced.