Good and Bad Fruit and Disfellowship

Matthew 7:17-20

17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

The bible says here and in other parts of the gospels, that bad fruit, which is people who are disfellowshipped, will not gain salvation dying in that state.  Of course, though, myself, I disagree with traditional ideas of hell, seeing it as a type of purgatory (when examining Bible translations, motives of certain church officials).  Otherwise, the whole situation is simply inhuman and not consistent with God’s nature.

Anyway, this verse seems to be mostly addressing false prophets but really is addressing anyone sinning against God (to the degree of disfellowship).   That’s what’s seen if you compare it to the rest of Jesus’ sayings.

1 Comment on “Good and Bad Fruit and Disfellowship

  1. I think the verse tells us that whatsoever we sow, we shall reap. It’s as simple as that. And it doesn’t take so much effort to spot a false prophets because you shall know them by their deeds.

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