In this sermon, Pastor Gary Caudill explains that the green tree points to Christ Himself, pure, righteous, full of life, mercy, and truth. The dry points to hearts left in unbelief, rebellion, and religion without repentance. Luke 23:31 says, For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? Christ’s question exposes what sinful men do when righteousness stands before them.

The message shows that Jesus was not speaking casually on the way to Calvary. He was warning that if men would mock, scourge, and crucify the sinless Son of God, then the same spirit would show itself even more plainly where hearts remained dry and unbroken. The sermon presses the hearer to see the seriousness of rejecting truth while holding onto religion.

Pastor Caudill answers Christ’s question by looking first at what men did to Jesus. They resisted Him, lied on Him, mocked Him, scourged Him, crowned Him with thorns, and nailed Him to a cross. 1 Peter 2:22-23 shows His spotless character in the midst of that suffering, and Isaiah 53:3 shows that He was despised and rejected of men.

The sermon teaches that Christ’s question reaches beyond Calvary. John 15:20 is used to show that the servant is not greater than his lord. If men persecuted Christ, they will also oppose His servants. The message applies this to preachers, teachers, and faithful laborers who come in Christ-likeness and yet are resisted by proud religious hearts.

Pastor Caudill describes religious bullies as people who reward evil for good, answer service with suspicion, answer humility with hostility, and answer correction with resistance. Proverbs 17:13 is central here: Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. The sermon warns that this spirit can sit in church, quote Scripture, and still hate being crossed by truth.

Hebrews 13:17 is applied as a warning against making the work of spiritual oversight grievous. The sermon explains that faithful leaders watch for souls and must give account before God. When people trouble, wound, or resist those who are trying to help them spiritually, that spirit is unprofitable and dangerous.

Yes. Acts 7:52, 1 Samuel 24:6, and 2 Timothy 3:12 are used to show that God takes seriously how men treat His Son and those who bear His message. The sermon warns that judgment waits at the door of the one who rewards evil for good and persecutes what looks most like Jesus.

The closing appeal is a plain call to self-examination and repentance. The hearer is asked whether he is truly saved or only religious, whether he has been born again or merely learned church ways. The sermon ends by urging sinners to come to Christ, lay down their pride, quit playing church, and be converted.