Matthew 3:8 (Repentance; It’s Not An Anathema. It’s Relational!)

Bear fruit [the result of two life lines; Vine and branch] that is worthy [axios: assigning the matching value] of repentance [change of mind; renewing one’s thoughts to the way God thinks]. 

(Matthew 3:8 NKJV emphasis added by me) 

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3:8 ESV)

Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart] 

(Matthew 3:8 AMPC)

Bring forth therefore fruits meet [tugchanó: hit the mark; spot on; fall in line with] for repentance (Matthew 3:8 KJV emphasis added by me)

• Bear [on going activity] that is worthy of [that initial action].

By the grace of God that continually inspires me, I have written, taught and spoken about repentance many times. This word is paramount to an ongoing and effective relationship with God. Both from the beginning and also to see it through.

Repentance expresses itself, as it were, as a form of relationship. It is relational. All relationships consists of mutual action. Actions that build up and never tear down. However, this word repentance has become an anathema. An action altogether detestable and loathed by those who are in need of repentance before a holy God and before others whom they have hurt and injured. I hear from God and His Word is brought to my remembrance: Bear fruit that is worthy of repentance.

I consider this word “worthy.” To me it seemed oddly placed and from there I began a journey that lasted from yesterday afternoon and finds its completion here in these words.

Bear fruit [the result of two life lines; Vine and Branch] that is worthy [axios: the Greek root word for ‘worthy’, that carries the meaning, ‘assigning the matching value’] of repentance [change of mind; renewing one’s thoughts to the way God thinks]. (Matthew 3:8 amplified for clarity by me)

• OTHER WORD FOR [WORTHY]: “meet” and its root word in the Greek is “tugchanó.” Carrying the meaning: hit the mark; spot on; fall in line with.

Then I considered the word “fruit.” This too, seemed to me oddly placed so I investigated further its contextual meaning.

• OTHER EXPRESSION FOR [FRUIT]: on going (seasonal) activity.

Initially “on going activity” seemed appropriate but as I thought of it more, even now as I think about it, the word ‘seasonal’ is necessary. For it properly lends itself to the word repentance as it pertains to a relationship with God. We should not find ourselves in need of a continual repentance from sin, hurts and injuries to God and others. This would prove disastrous and reveals great immaturity on our behalf.

However, seasonal repentance just like fruit that a tree bears seasonally, is proper, for ‘though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get back up.’ That is to say, there will be sin, hurts and injuries incurred by us, and when it does, repentance should become that immediate action [that we see yielded just like we would a fruit from the branch of its tree].

• OTHER WORD FOR [REPENTANCE]: that initial action.

Again, repentance is necessary for any properly functioning, on going relationship with God and others, if indeed we desire for such a relationship(s) to be healthy or better yet, fruitful. Therefore, someone who sheds tears through emotions for their failure to keep seeking after God or for the hurts and injuries they have incurred from not upholding a fruitful relationship with God and remains in that course, has not beared fruit that is worthy or in line with repentance that ‘leads to salvation [without regret].’ Theirs is a grief that leads to death—the total decay of relationship with God and the intimacy that they can have and experience with God and others.

If there is any room for emotion when it comes to repentance it is the detesting and loathing of your sin and those hurts and injuries you have caused to God and to others. And if there is any more room left after that for emotion, let it be the desire to repent!

As always…YOU ARE LOVED.