What Does “Bear Fruit In Keeping With Repentance” in Matthew 3:8 Mean?
Has this happened to you? You are reading the Bible and you come across and interesting phrase, like “sons of the resurrection”, “the salt of the covenant of the LORD”, or “bear fruit in keeping with repentance”, and you wonder what it means. Well, you are not alone. So, let’s look at one of those phrases today, “bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”
To bear fruit in keeping with repentance means that our life and our actions reflect the belief that we are forgiven of our sins. The power of the gospel changes our lives. We turn away from sin and turn toward Jesus. This turning around leads us to act and behave differently. It leads us to act more like Christ and live biblically.
So, let’s further explore the phrase and the meaning of the phrase found in Matthew 3:8–“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”
The Story Behind the Phrase of Matthew 3:8
A long time ago, beside the riverbank of the Jordan, a crazy prophet could be found. His name was John. He proclaimed a simple yet challenging message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2).
On one occasion he was confronted by a group of Pharisees and Sadducees–religious scholars who often held their righteousness over others in a “look at me, I’m better than you” attitude, while nitpicking other peoples’ observance of the law.
On this particular occasion, John turned to them and said, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:7-10).
He certainly gave them a lot to think about and get upset about. But let’s focus on the phrase, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” What does that even mean? What does it look like? Let’s find out.
The Bear Fruit Analogy in the Bible
The bible is filled with verses that talk about people bearing fruit. But last I checked people aren’t fruit trees. So, what is this analogy all about? What does it mean to bear fruit? Where does our fruit come from? Does everyone produce fruit?
What does it mean to bear fruit?
First, what does it mean to produce fruit? In the bible the word fruit is often used to describe a person’s actions that reflect the condition of the heart.
So, our fruit is how the world around us sees us. It’s how we relate to and act toward our neighbors, friends, family, and community. Our fruit is how other people know us. They can’t know the condition of our heart, but they can see how we treat others.
So, when the bible talks about us bearing fruit or it’s calling us to look at our actions and behavior. So, where does our fruit come from?
Our Fruit comes from our worldview
We’ve already touched on how our fruit comes from the condition of our heart. Luke writes in his gospel, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45). In other words, our actions are rooted in what we believe.
Today, we would call it our worldview. A worldview is a way of looking at and explaining life. It can be defined as as a collection of values and perceptions that bring meaning to our conception of the world and influences our thoughts and actions.
In other words, how we view the world affects how we treat others in the world. Everyone has a worldview and everyone produces fruit.
Everyone Produces Fruit
Because everyone has a worldview and everyone makes actions based off of that worldview, then everyone produces fruit. We all act, and it’s our actions that show the world who we are. Some people do good things and others do bad things. Often, it’s a mix of the two. People do both good and bad things.
People can produce bad fruit
If our heart and our worldview are full of sins like lying, scheming, deception, gossip, etc., then we are going to be lying gossiping deceivers. If everyone lies, then it’s okay for us to lie too.
Luke also writes in chapter six, “an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. ” A sinful heart leads to a sinful life. But just like people can produce bad fruit, they can produce good fruit as well.
People can produce good fruit
People can produce good fruit. Luke writes, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart.” Good people usually do good things. If our heart is full of kindness and love, then we are more likely to show love to others.
So what does it mean to bear fruit in keeping with Repentance?
But we quickly run into a problem. It’s the same problem the religious scholars of Jesus’s day had. It’s why people were coming in droves to hear John’s message of repentance. It’s a heart problem.
The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, writes, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Our heart is sick. How we view the world is broken, because sin is so bad it distorts our worldview. This means that if left to our natural inclinations, we all will produce bad fruit, and more bad fruit than good fruit.
Now, I’m not much of a fruit eater, but rotten, squishy fruit is not good. I like grapes, but I don’t like squishy grapes. So, we all are producing bad, rotten, squishy fruit. Bad and rotten actions. This brings us back to John’s overarching message: Repent.
What is repentance?
John’s overarching message was one of repentance (Jesus’ was too). So, what is repentance? Is it just feeling sorry about something we did wrong or is there more to it?
We often talk about repentance as a turning away from sin and turning to God instead. And that is true, but it’s also simpler. Repentance is simply a change of mind.
We change our mind about sin, Jesus, and salvation. Before we repent, we see nothing wrong with sin and no need for Jesus or salvation. But after the Holy Spirit convicts us, we have a change of mind.
This changing of mind does and should lead to a turning away from sin and toward God–ultimately resulting in a change in behavior. Or as John would say, “bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.”
True biblical repentance will always lead to a change of behavior, but they are not the same thing. So, now that we know a little more about repentance, what does it look like to bear fruit in keeping with repentance?
Examples of Bearing Fruit in Keeping with Repentance
Zacchaeus: A Wee Little Man
I was thinking about that question earlier, trying to come up with an example, and remembered a wee little man. If you’ve grown up in church or spent any time as a child in church, then you’ve probably come across the song of “Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man.”
Zacchaeus was a wee little man,
And a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see.
And as the Savior passed that way
He looked up in the tree,
And he said, “Zacchaeus, you come down, For I’m going to your house today!”
For I’m going to your house today!
Zacchaeus was a wee little man,
But a happy little man was he,
For he had seen the Lord that day
And a happy man was he;
And a very happy man was he.
It’s a great song, but the story is better. You can check it out in Luke 19:1-10. The song leaves out the best part of the story. The moment Zacchaeus repented.
He said, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” (Luke 19:8). Jesus responded, “Today salvation has come to this house… For I have come to seek and save the lost.”
Zacchaeus’ repentance wasn’t just a simple, “Oops, Jesus, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” By giving back what he had previously stolen, he produced fruit in keeping with repentance. He produced good fruit and his repentance was genuine.
How Can we Remember to Bear Fruit in keeping with Repentance?
Zacchaeus produced fruit that kept with repentance. His actions reflected his salvation. How can we remember to produce fruit in keeping with repentance in our own lives? Well, here are some ways we can do just that:
Reflect on the gospel daily
First, we can reflect on the gospel daily. It is the gospel that transforms our lives. So, we should meditate on the gospel daily. Doing so, will remind us of Christ’s work on the cross and keeps repentance at the forefront of our mind.
If we reflect on the gospel and God’s grace toward us, we will be more likely to show grace toward others. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)
Stay humble
Second, we can stay humble. Humility recognizes that we don’t always know what someone else is going through. It allows us to view ourselves in the other persons shoes.
Humility is vital to the golden rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated (Luke 6:31). Humility helps us see ourselves in another person’s circumstances.
Forgive continually
Third, we can forgive continually. To forgive someone is a fruit that is consistent with repentance. Peter once asked Jesus how often he should forgive someone. Jesus replied, “Seventy times seven times.” In other words, all the time.
As often as we are wronged, we are to forgive. That’s radical forgiveness, but God did nothing less for us. So, just as we love because He first loved us, we are to forgive, because He forgave us.
Study the bible
Fourth, we can study the bible. Regular and consistent Bible study is what helps us build a new worldview. Studying and applying Scripture to our everyday life leads to a more biblical worldview and results in more Christlike behavior.
If you want to learn how to study the Bible for yourself and build a more biblical worldview, then this free “How to study the Bible” guide will help. It will help you choose a bible study method that works best for you. Then, we’ll walk through it together, step by step. That way, the next time you are reading the bible and come across an interesting phrase you can discover the meaning for yourself.
Serve selflessly
Lastly, we can bear fruit in keeping with repentance by serving selflessly. Our fruit has to do with our actions. So, to produce fruit in keeping with repentance means that our actions should reflect a repentant life. A Christian life without service is simply unbiblical. James writes that faith without works is dead (James 2:26).
Everyone produces fruit, and throughout the Bible good fruit is reflected in a life of service to others. Whether that is the constant command to care for the poor, orphan, and the widow in the Old Testament or Jesus challenge to live more righteous lives than the religious scholars of the day in the Sermon on the Mount, we are called to be people who serve God and others.
Conclusion
To bear fruit in keeping with repentance means that our actions are consistent with a repentant life. Zacchaeus is a great example of what it looks like to bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
We, too, must bear fruit in keeping with repentance. The good news is that the Holy Spirit will help us. If our repentance is genuine we can rest assured that we will bear good fruit. Maybe not immediately, but progressively–it is inevitable.
Go back and read Matthew 3:7-12. Take a moment to join John on the riverbank. Let his voice echo in your ears. Ask yourself:
- Do I bear fruit in keeping with repentance?
- In what areas of my life do I need to repent? How can I bear fruit as I repent?
- Does my life (words, actions, and thoughts) reflect a changed mindset?
When we produce good fruit in keeping with repentance the world can see the gospel at work in us. God works through us to share that good news with others. So, take the time to experience the Bible in a way that you encounter God.
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Building a Bible Study Routine Guide
Want to build a Bible study habit? Sign up for our monthly newsletter and we will send you our free Building a Bible Study Routine Guide. You’ll discover your ideal Bible study method and create a customized schedule. Plus, much more.
Here is what you can expect as a Bible Wonderlife subscriber:
-Welcome email with your Free Guide right now!
-Monthly emails with a brief devotional.
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