When you look at a tree, the leaves can tell you what tree it is. The bark of a tree can also tell you. When it comes to a fruit tree, the fruit determines the tree. The tree already knows what kind of tree it is. A cherry tree can’t produce oranges. Neither can a fig tree produce olives. A tree is known by its fruit. When it comes to us, only spiritual trees can produce spiritual fruit. Only fleshly trees produce fleshly fruit. One thing that a tree doesn’t do is eat its own fruit. Others get the pleasure of partaking of the fruit.

Luke 6:⁴³ “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴ For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. ⁴⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Inside of the fruit that is produced is a seed to multiply itself. Each seed produces after its own kind. Each tree knows what tree it is. It’s easy to produce its fruit. What kind of tree are you? Are you a spiritual tree or a fleshly tree? But what comes out of you and how you live reveals what kind of tree you are. This isn’t to condemn you, but to reveal what is happening. Jesus did say that if you make a tree good, its fruit is good. There is hope for everyone that a tree can be made good and produce good fruit.

Genesis 1:¹¹ Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. ¹² And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ So the evening and the morning were the third day.

John 3:⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”