“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, – Luke 6:43 ESV

GREEK
σαπρόν/sapron: rotten; useless

CONSIDER
On the surface, Volkswagen appeared to be a company deeply rooted in both innovation and environmental responsibility. Their clean diesel vehicles were praised worldwide for reducing emissions, winning accolades and the trust of millions. But in 2015, a shocking truth was discovered – Volkswagen had secretly installed software to cheat emissions tests, allowing their cars to pollute far beyond what they claimed. In reality, the vehicles were emitting up to 40 times the legal limit of pollutants. The company had deliberately deceived regulators and the public for years, all while maintaining an image of ethical innovation. The brand looked healthy and “green” on the outside—but inside, there was deliberate deceit and moral decay.
Jesus’ words in Luke 6:43 remind us that appearances can deceive, but true character cannot be hidden forever. He tells us that “no good tree bears sapron (rotten, useless) fruit, nor again does a sapron tree bear good fruit.” Before its fruit is produced, it can be tough to tell if a tree will produce good fruit or bad. Jesus’ use of sapron calls us to examine our own lives—are we cultivating roots in God’s transformative Word, or are we more concerned with how other people are living? Eventually, the fruit of our lives will reveal the truth of our hearts, not only to others but to ourselves as well. May we seek not just to appear righteous but to be truly transformed by the gospel so that what flows from us is good, lasting, and pleasing to God.

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This is what repentance will look like this week:

for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. – Luke 6:44 ESV

GREEK
γινώσκεται/ginōsketai: is recognized, is identified

CONSIDER
As a church, Centerway holds a deeply held belief in the power of being genuine. In fact, we value this trait so highly that it is the subject of one of our Because & Therefore statements:
Because we’ve been awarded grace… we value AUTHENTICITY… therefore we honestly do life together, don’t try to hide our mess, and don’t lead second rate versions of our one and only life.
And while being authentic doesn’t give us a pass to treat people poorly, it does help create a safe environment for people to be honest with themselves, others, and God. To be known, then, is an important step in being shaped into who God has genuinely made us to be.
We can try to hide our mess, but covering up the truth is not sustainable in the long run. Jesus said it perfectly when he taught “each tree ginōsketai (is recognized, is identified) by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.” An apple tree could pretend to be a mango tree until its fruit ripens. A peach tree could try to convince others it was a lemon tree, but before long it will be betrayed by the fruit it bears. The Greek phrase used here implies personal experience; a tree is known by the close familiarity those around it have with the fruit it produces. So, as a community, we have a choice – keep our distance and hope people are fooled into thinking we have it all together, or risk vulnerability and allow others to see our authentic selves. The good news is that our Creator knows us so well that he proactively sent his Son Jesus to atone for the rotten fruit of our depraved hearts. May we experience the freedom that comes from repentance and joyfully lean into gospel-centered community, unafraid of being transparent as we honestly do life together.

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This is what repentance will look like this week:

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.- Luke 6:45 ESV

GREEK
περισσεύματος/perisseumatos: excess beyond the expected boundary or limits

CONSIDER
In Mark 8 we read of a time when Jesus was teaching a group of over 4,000 people. Desiring to feed them, Jesus instructed his disciples to distribute seven loaves of bread and a few small fish to the enormous crowd. Miraculously, this small amount of food not only fed the people until they were satisfied, but the disciples also collected seven baskets full of leftovers. This good gift of mercy could not be mistaken for anything short of a miracle – Jesus provided an abundance of food where there was once only meager provisions.
The beauty of the gospel, in part, rests in the truth that we are simultaneously more wicked than we could imagine and yet more loved than we ever dare dream. Left to our own devices, we are unable to earn the perfection of a sinless life, and therefore all deserve the penalty of death and eternal separation from God (see Romans 3). But Jesus paid the penalty for our sin on the cross and rose victorious out of his borrowed tomb! Now our new hearts can be filled with his goodness, and a mark of whether this transformation has gripped us is how we use our words. Jesus said it this way: “Out of the perisseumatos (excess beyond the expected boundary or limits) of the heart his mouth speaks.” This greek noun is the same one used by Mark to tell us that the disciples collected seven baskets of leftovers. Perisseumatos is the result of being unable to contain the excess of what a person has, so the condition of our hearts will spill out through the words we say. Much like fruit reveals what type of tree is being cultivated, the things we say are a dead giveaway for our spiritual health. Jesus’ point isn’t that good people will never say bad things. Rather, he is saying that one way a changed person will recognize their need for repentance is by of the words coming from their mouth. As we reflect on what repentance will look like this week, let’s take the time to examine what our words reveal about the condition of our heart.

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This is what repentance will look like this week:

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
– Luke 6:37 ESV

GREEK
ἀπολύετε/apolyete: release from deserved consequences; let die one’s right to punish

CONSIDER
We all know what it feels like to be wronged by someone. Whether intentional or not, suffering from the consequences of another person’s poor choices can easily consume us. It’s as if our unforgiveness is a living, breathing thing that feeds off of our anger, grief, and frustration. And the more we feed it with these emotions, the bigger it grows. Over time, we even become accustomed to having this living being around, comfortable with how big it’s getting, and even enjoying its company. Left unchecked, it becomes a beast so large that it cannot be tamed. It controls us instead of us controlling it.
This language is similar to how Jesus speaks of forgiveness. In Luke 6:37, he says “apolyete (let die your right to punish), and you will be forgiven.” Notice that Jesus doesn’t make an exception for whether forgiveness is deserved or not – the Greek verb used here assumes that a person has the right to punitive action! Instead, we can starve the beast of unforgiveness by refusing to dwell on our need to be right or harboring bitterness toward the one who wronged us. Jesus finishes his thought by telling us that if we let our right to punish others die off, we will experience personal – and even relational – freedom.
While we were sinners, God released his right to destroy us by sending his only son to die in our place. When we recognize how much we’ve been forgiven of, we will be far more likely to forgive those who have wronged us.

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How will God’s grace toward me transform my response?

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. – Luke 6:40 ESV

GREEK
κατηρτισμένος/katērtismenos: completely assembled

CONSIDER
It’s safe to say that when it comes to vehicles, there are as many opinions as there are people. One person prefers the classics, while another likes the modern. To some, trucks are clunky gas guzzlers. Others refuse to get behind the wheel of anything but a four-by-four. The list could go on, but the point is that vehicle preference is as varied as we are. However, it’s safe to assume that no one would be interested in a vehicle that came with brakes missing! That’s what happened to cars that were misassembled in the Nummi plant in Fremont, California. A series of small issues developed into a serious problem, resulting in cars with no brakes, steering wheels, or engine parts. The average vehicle may have nearly 30,000 parts, but it turns out each one is vital to make it run the way it’s designed to.
In Jewish culture, a disciple was someone who dedicated themselves completely to their Rabbi’s teaching and way of life. Because the disciple was so connected to him, he could not be expected to be different or better from his teacher. So if the rabbi started heading down the wrong road spiritually or philosophically, the disciple would be traveling in the wrong direction as well. This is Jesus’ point in verse 40: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is katērtismenos (completely assembled) will be like his teacher.” This verb points to the truth that disciples are formed by their masters. And much like a faulty manufacturing element on an assembly line, there is no chance that the finished product will be complete if the leader isn’t complete. Katērtismenos references only a finished product, not a perfect one. So who we follow matters significantly. The good news is that the perfect, sinless Son of God is calling us to follow him today! And though we all come to him with our own broken parts, his grace extended to us will consistently transform us into his image.

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How will God’s grace toward me transform my response?

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. – Luke 6:42b ESV

GREEK
ὑποκριτά/hypokrita: actor under an assumed character

CONSIDER
The Greek theater relied on a series of understood assumptions to convey a story. Everyone knew that importance was portrayed by height, so actors would wear boots known as cothurnus and headdresses called onkos to show stature. Athenian characters were easily identifiable by their elaborate costumes, while foreigners were portrayed in shabby attire. And because Greek theaters prioritized acoustics (which would cause the audience to be seated far from the stage at times), all actors would wear masks to clearly depict character and emotion. These masks were oversized and would be switched out several times throughout the performance. These hypokrinomai – stage actors – could take on multiple roles throughout the play by simply changing their masks to fit the scene.
If the concept of wearing a mask to play different roles sounds familiar, it may be because of how easy it is for us to metaphorically do the same thing. This is what Jesus warns about in Luke 6, when he said, “You hypokrita (actor under an assumed character), first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” In effect, Christ is telling us that when we are unwilling to acknowledge our own issues and instead fixate on others, we are like actors who say one thing but do another. Masking our true need may fool those around us, but it’s senseless to be inauthentic with the Lord. Not only can he see beyond the mask into our true selves, but because of his sacrifice on the cross, we have been awarded grace for our brokenness. His goodness toward us when we were “plank-eyed” has changed our true identity. Our lives can now be singularly focused on His glory, reflecting his grace to those who need it as desperately as we do.

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How will God’s grace toward me transform my response?

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. – Luke 6:24 ESV

GREEK
παράκλησιν/paraklēsin: comfort, encouragement; the outcome of making peace

CONSIDER
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), quarantining as a result of COVID-19 helped to mitigate the spread of the disease, but it came at an unexpected cost. In 2022 the NIH determined that quarantine was directly linked to an increase in mental and emotional health issues. A summary of the data pointed to a truth we have known for years: without human interaction, our lives aren’t nearly as robust as they were meant to be. It turns out that our relationships keep us quantitatively healthy, happy, and hopeful.
When Jesus gave his list of woes to a crowd gathered to hear him teach, the Gospel writer Luke used a specific Greek word to convey a similar idea. He quotes Jesus as saying, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your paraklēsin (comfort, encouragement; the outcome of making peace).” More specifically, this word relates to the act of bringing someone close to your side to make them feel better. When things aren’t going well, we want someone to provide paraklēsin, a safe place of connection to comfort and encourage us. Jesus’ point is that those who rely on their riches to do that for them are making an idol of their wealth – an idol that does a poor job of providing what it promises to give us. The bottom line is that we are in trouble if we expect anything other than a living relationship with the Lord for paraklēsin because nothing else is strong enough to withstand the crushing weight of our spiritual deficiency. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring us near to the One who provides ultimate comfort, peace, and encouragement (see Matt. 11:28 – 30). As we draw near to him, we will experience the paraklēsin that we so desperately need.

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What is the Gospel compelling me to take action on?

bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. – Luke 6:28 ESV

GREEK
εὐλογεῖτε/eulogeite: speak a word of honor regarding
καταρωμένους/katarōmenous: pray a prayer of evil & hatred toward

CONSIDER
One of the beautiful things about the Gospel of Jesus is that it is simultaneously profound and practical. It’s been known to change lives on seminary grounds, battlegrounds, and playgrounds. There may be no clearer picture of this truth than Jesus’ words to the crowd in today’s verse. At first glance, his command to “eulogeite (speak a word of honor regarding) those who katarōmenous (pray a prayer of evil & hatred toward) you” may simply seem idyllic. It would be easy to nod our heads in agreement with Jesus from the oversized sofa of our local coffee shop. But for many, the idea of using our words to honor the one who just prayed evil to befall us seems impossible. What’s the point Jesus is trying to make? Among others, Jesus’ point is that understanding the Gospel forces us to live a life that stands apart from others. Without knowing the love of Christ ourselves, the most loving thing we could muster up when someone curses us is not to retaliate. And if we chose that path, we would blend in with the millions of other people who would respond the same way. But when we use the very weapon that our offender does (our words) to combat their hatred with kindness, we show just how much the Gospel has changed us. By modeling the truth that God met us in our evil and chose to profoundly bless us instead, we can display how superior the power to eulogeite others is over the desire to katarōmenous.

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What is the Gospel compelling me to take action on?

…for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. – Luke 6:35b ESV

GREEK
ἀχαρίστους/acharistous: people who live without grace

CONSIDER
What is the Gospel compelling me to take action on? This question may require a bit of self-reflection, but psychological research suggests that this isn’t always easy. There are psychological barriers and practical obstacles to understanding our own thoughts, feelings, and motives. One of these obstructions is known as the “introspection illusion.” Simply put, this term means that we think we have perfect clarity on why we do what we do because we have direct access to our own inner world. However, not only is this a false reality, but the introspection illusion also includes the assumption that others must be judged regardless of motive. See the problem? We are likely to assume we are good because we judge our intentions, but we can easily assume others are bad because we judge their actions!
Thankfully, Jesus is not subject to the introspection illusion because of his unique perspective. Being fully God, Jesus was integral in creating us, and being fully human he knows how tempting sin can be. In this position, nothing is hidden from the Most High. God could easily withhold anything good from humanity, and yet Luke records that “he is kind to the acharistous (people who live without grace) and the evil.” This adjective could be translated as the graceless of heart and action. Both inside and outside, these people neither recognize their need for grace, nor award grace to anyone they come in contact with. Unfortunately, the Gospel points to the truth that this describes every one of us! Jesus’ death while we were yet sinners is the ultimate example of being kind to the acharistous. So when considering what to take action on, perhaps the first thing to reflect on should be the kindness of the cross.

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What is the Gospel compelling me to take action on?