[Addison West]

This passage really reminds me about the difference between just being religious and truly following God. When John the Baptist spoke in Matthew 3, he called out the Pharisees and Sadducees because they were proud and thought that being descendants of Abraham made them right with God. John made it clear that God doesn’t care about titles or family lines, He cares about what’s in our hearts and whether our actions show true repentance.

The example of the tree and its fruit shows that God expects His people to live in a way that produces good fruit. That means showing kindness, love, and obedience that come from a real relationship with Him. If I try to depend on my good works or think I’m righteous on my own, my “fruit” becomes spoiled, just like what happened with Israel.

This challenges me to look at my own life and ask if I’m producing the kind of fruit God wants. It’s easy to act like I have it all together or to think going to church or doing good things makes me right with God. But real righteousness only comes from trusting Jesus and letting Him change me from the inside out. When I rely on Him and turn away from my sins, my life begins to show true spiritual fruit that honors God and helps others see His love through me.