Luke 6:43-49 Scripture Study
By Pastor Chris Simmons – Trinity Lutheran Church, Paso Robles CA
A reinforcement/supplement study to our Sunday service meant for “Building up the body of Christ… the manifold Wisdom of God made known” (Ephesians 4+3)
For Sunday, September 7, 2025
We begin our theme verse for this school year “Encourage one another and Build each other up” from 1 Thessalonians 5:11. When taking on a “Building Job” we want to look at the foundation and the materials. Is the foundation solid and level? Will it be able to bear the load of what we place upon it? No sense in building on silt or sand! No matter how good the materials are, if they have no good foundation to sit upon, they will all sink into the abyss. What about the quality of the materials we are using? When we find that rock solid foundation, why use shoddy materials? They would blow away in a storm or strong wind, and we would be left sitting on the sofa with no walls around us… These questions don’t just address building jobs for structures or work projects but building people and a household of faith as well. Thanks be to God, that Jesus has provided us with His solid foundation, and as He used His Words to forgive and build us up unto eternal life, we too look to build others that same way. Let our words be bricks of Life on a solid foundation, rather than a wrecking ball and tearing others down.
Prayers for a blessed study.
Pastor Chris Simmons.
Discuss: What characteristics do you associate with something that is "built with quality"? Share some examples.
Luke 6:43-45
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 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.
As we look at what it means to “Encourage one another and Build each other up”, we examine the materials that we are using. According to relationship researcher John Gottman, there is a “magic ratio” of 5 to 1. That for every negative interaction it takes five (or more) positive interactions to overcome/outweigh it. It’s a ratio repeated often by psychology and supported by studies at Purdue at the “Department of Child Development & Family Studies”. Again, that for every ONE negative interaction, it takes FIVE positive interactions to just get back to “neutral”. That “neutral” for your relationship with that person, for their confidence, self-esteem, belief in themselves. As we begin to look at what it means to build each other up, Jesus calls for us to examine ourselves. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. The question is this… is our fruit adding to the 5 or the 1 in that ratio? 45 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.
In a world that bombards us with communication over what we should look like, how we need to improve, and images causing body dysmorphia, we are reminded that whatever our heart is full of will coat our words to others. The fruit of our hearts are the words we give to others. Good words that bring life “Encourage and build up” (not that they always have to be “soft” words… more on that later). Evil words deceive and lead to death…. As mentioned in Proverbs 18:21: “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” and Proverbs 27:6: “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
Discuss: Take a moment now and examine these verses from Proverbs 27.
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
What stories from personal experience come to mind of someone who has openly rebuked you, sharpened you like iron, counseled you earnestly, or been a good neighbor?
Continued Discussion: How do these stories and these Proverbs relate to Luke 6:43-45?
Luke 6:46-49
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete.”
Jesus starts by putting it bluntly… the disparity between verbal commitment and faithful practice always plagues people. It’s something that doesn’t make any sense… and Jesus makes that plain to us in three ways…
People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers - that’s absurd, you wouldn’t do that… You would pick thorns there if you wanted them, not delicious fruit.
A man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete. - that’s absurd. You wouldn’t build a house on ground without a foundation.
A man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. - why wouldn’t you do this? Of course you would build a house on a foundation. It’s a huge investment and you want it to last. It would be absurd not to do this, right?
In those three scenarios, it makes sense what you would or would not do…“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?... We know this should make sense… yet we still don’t follow through on Jesus’ Words… The prophet Ezekiel prophesied the fall of Jerusalem, from there, we read this parallel point.
Ezekiel 33:30-33
30 “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.’ 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
It refers back to what Jesus said in the first section… it is a product of the heart… “hearts greedy for unjust gain”. Their mouths speak of love… but they do not mean it nor follow up with their actions. Those are not Words of Life. As stated before… soft words do not mean that they are Building Words. We consider that ratio again… 5 positives to overcome the 1 negative. Just because they are “soft words” doesn’t mean they add to the 5… Soft words that don’t give life very well can lead to the 1.
Discuss: How can “nice” words and “unfulfilled promises” lead to a negative outcome? What are some examples? When is saying “yes” and not meaning it worse than saying “no” from the start?
This leads to our Theme Verse for the year… Paul writes to the church of Thessalonica what it means to “Encourage one another and Build each other up”.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-18, 23-24 (selected verses, NLT)
9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil but always try to do good to each other and to all people. 16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Discuss: Discussion Activity: Take the time now and circle/underline the directives from Paul on HOW to “encourage and build each other up”. Share with everyone what you’ve found.
Continued Discussion: How does each one “Encourage and build up”? Are they all soft words, or are some topics examples of “speaking the truth in love”?
Throughout your discussion here, I know you’ve highlighted the many instructions from Paul listed at the end of this letter. As earlier with Jesus in Luke 6, I would like to list three things that don’t make any sense…
9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. - as mentioned in Luke 6, this is that firm foundation which we build upon… What doesn’t seem to make any sense is why would God choose to save us, who at times, even though we call Jesus Lord, Lord and can’t seem to do what He says?
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. - Sanctification is the journey of becoming more and more Christ-like. Why would God take all the time and energy to continue working on me? To sanctify me? To build me up, more and more to be like His Son Jesus? That doesn’t make any sense…
24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. - That even though I am unfaithful, God, who calls me, remains faithful. That He chooses to do a great work in us. A Prayer from Psalm 51.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
We see this promise in response to Ezekiel's prophecy as well… from Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. As we look back to Luke 6… Jesus gives us new hearts. That He creates in us a clean heart, so it may be filled with His goodness, His Words of life. In turn, the words we use, regardless of them being compliment or coaching, they are coated with His “goodness” over our “evil”. That our words are no longer the wrecking ball of 1… but the building blocks of 5 that lead to eternal life in Christ.
Prayer
Do you feel barraged by negative words now? How can God’s Word and promises Build you Up?
Encourage means “to place courage into someone”. Who has God placed on your mind to reach out and place courage into this week? How and when will you contact them?
How does your “heart” feel? Are you carrying something that is heavy and burdensome? Confess it to God in prayer and let Him wipe it clean from your soul.
Lord God, we pray that our words reflect your Words. Your disciple Peter once said “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of eternal life”. Jesus, you are that Word. We ask you to grant us clean hearts, so that our words overflow with well-meaning loving kindness. That we seek to encourage and build others up, regardless of how "comfortable" it is at times. Please be that foundation for us to build on, as we seek to build up others, closer and closer to your glory. We pray this all in your name Jesus. Amen.