“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus introduced another wise principle, and the counterpart to judging. If we are not permitted to judge others, especially when they attack us, criticise or judge us, how can we react in a godly way to what they say to us or about us that is unfair or untrue? 

Jesus said, “It’s not your role to judge but it is your responsibility to inspect their fruit.” What did He mean? When people attack us for whatever reason, we can either counter attack by judging them or we can stand back and recognise that the words they speak are a revelation of who they are. needing not response but pity. 

The hallmark of a true believer in Jesus is non-retaliation. Our sinful old nature cries out for revenge when we are attacked. Our old nature reacts against unfair criticism or unjust treatment. Hence, even the law of “an eye for an eye…” which was intended to damp down this reaction to retaliate more violently than the original attack, is not appropriate. 

Consider this…

The Bible tells us that Jesus’ temptation and suffering were concentrated in one specific area, injustice. Injustice…the greatest expression of rejection. Rejection reduces a person to nothing, of no consequence in the world, fit only to be eliminated. 

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Hebrews explains that Jesus’ suffering lay in His temptation. 

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Temptation to do what? Retaliate!

The Bible also teaches us that Jesus overcame His natural human nature, the part of His humanity that could have sinned and forfeited His own life and our salvation, by refusing to retaliate. In  the face of the worst injustice any human has ever suffered, He did nothing but forgave!

Peter adds that He overcame temptation in the flesh. 

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body (flesh), arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body (flesh), is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This translation, ”in the body”, unfortunately misses the true meaning of “sarx”, “flesh”. Flesh can mean either “the physical body” or “human nature” which is, in humans, the sinful nature. In the context, with the reference to “sin”,  a better translation would be that Jesus suffered in His human nature. 

Again, Peter clearly identified the nature of Jesus’ suffering…injustice! 

“But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How does Jesus’ non-retaliation in the face of injustice tie up with His teaching about inspecting fruit? 

When we are unfairly criticised or judged, our natural response is to take offence because we apply the spoken words to ourselves. Jesus teaches us rather to look at the source. Words are the overflow of the heart. Words expose what is inside the heart. Therefore, what another person says about us is actually a revelation of who he/she is, not who we are. Conversely, when we retaliate in response exposes what is in our own hearts. 

When we recognise this truth, we have no need to retaliate because we retaliate when we are offended. Retaliation only compounds the sin. We can brush off anything said to or about us without reacting because the words of the accuser have nothing to do with us. Words are the overflow of who the accuser is. 

So,Jesus would say to us, ‘Watch your own heart!!” 

To be continued…