Bearing Fruit. Devotion Matthew 13

St. Matthew 13

September 13, 2022

Bearing Fruit

Fruit is sweet.  In a time with no refined sugar, fruit was dessert.   But for many of us, talk of “fruit” in the Scripture makes us pucker up as though we are eating something sour. 

We hear John the Baptist thundering: You brood of vipers!  Bear fruit in keeping with repentance….Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.  Every tree therefore that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  (Matt. 3:7-8, 10)  St. Paul describes the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and we scan frantically to see whether any of this heavenly fruit is growing on the limbs of our lives.

In the parable of the sower Jesus describes the good soil which “indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and another thirty.”  (Matt. 13:23)  But where is this abundant fruit in us after all our years hearing the Word of the Kingdom of God?

Don’t be afraid when the Lord talks about fruit.  He wills to bear abundant fruit in you.  Fruit grows from the plant that grows from the seed.  The seed is sown by Jesus the Lord.  All the parables in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew describe the mystery of the Lord planting His kingdom in the world.  His kingdom is invisible.  It comes as a little non-descript seed, small, like that of a mustard plant.

Jesus plants in the world the word of His Kingdom, established by His death and resurrection, the Kingdom in which there is nothing but the forgiveness of sins.  It seems small and invisible, but it grows into a great tree.  It spreads throughout the world like yeast in dough.  And it produces much fruit, all on its own—in some one hundredfold, in some sixty, and in others thirty.

In whom does it do this?  In those who understand it and remain in it.  Those who understand the Gospel are those who believe its message—that for Jesus sake alone they are righteous before God.  Some believe this with joy and then fall away from it when hardship comes.  Others are choked by love of the world and its pleasures and do not bear the fruit of the kingdom.  But those who bear much fruit simply remain with the Word of the Kingdom, hold fast Jesus’ Word of His cross and resurrection.

Have no fear.  As you hold fast to Jesus alone, His Word is bearing fruit in you—in some one hundredfold, in others sixty, in others thirty.  Abraham believed against hope God’s promise that His offspring would be like the stars of the night sky, and it was so.  Jesus tells you, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.”  (John 15:5)  Whoever receives the Word of His justification receives the seed that bears much fruit.  And the abundant fruit He bears in you will abide forever.

As I pray, dear Jesus, hear me;

Let Your Words in me take root.

May Your Spirit e’er be near me

That I bear abundant fruit.

May I daily sing your praise,

From my heart glad anthems raise,

Till my highest praise is given

In the endless joy of heaven.  Amen.  LSB 589 st. 4