9337. 'Until you become fruitful' means in keeping with the increase of good. This is clear from the meaning of 'becoming fruitful' as the increase of good, dealt with in 43, 55, 913, 983, 2846, 2847. The fact that a removal from evils and falsities is accomplished in keeping with the increase of good is evident from things that have often been shown before. The Lord flows in with a person through good, and arranges truths into order through it, but not vice versa; and to the extent that truths are arranged into order through good, evils and falsities are removed. Various places in the Word liken a person to a tree; and in those places his truths of faith are meant by 'the leaves', 885, and forms of the good of love by 'the fruit', 3146, 7690. From this it is evident not only that 'becoming fruitful' means the increase of good but also that the most important feature of a person is good, just as the most important feature of a tree is the fruit. The leaves, it is true, grow first, but they do so for the sake of the fruit as the end in view. That which is the end is not only last but also first since it is the one and only thing in view within the means, making it the be-all. The situation is similar with the relationship of the good of love to the truths of faith.

[2] Such was meant by 'the fig tree' referred to in Matthew,

Jesus returning to the city was hungry, and seeing a fig tree by the wayside went to it but found nothing on it but leaves only; therefore He said to it, Let no fruit from now on ever be born from you! Therefore the fig tree withered at once. Matthew 21:18-19.

And in Luke,

A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; therefore he came seeking fruit on it, but did not find [any]. Consequently he said to the vine-dresser, Behold, for three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, but do not find [any]. Cut it down; why must it make the land unfruitful? ¹ Luke 13:6-7.

Again in the same gospel,

Every tree is known by its own fruit; people do not collect figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble-bush. A good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, but a bad person out of the bad treasure of his heart brings forth bad. Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? Luke 6:44-46.

From these quotations it is evident that the fruit of faith, as it is termed, is the most important aspect of faith, and that faith devoid of fruit, that is, of the good of life, is mere foliage, and that therefore when a person, who is a tree, is covered with leaves but devoid of fruit, he is the fig tree that withers and is cut down.

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