Matthew 12:33-37

Matthew 12:33-37

Either make the tree good and its fruit good or make the tree of little value and its fruit of little value.  For out of the fruit the tree is being known.  You offspring of vipers!  How are you able to say good things while being evil?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good man casts out good things out of his good treasure; and the evil man casts out evil things out of his evil treasure.  And I say to you all that every thoughtless word that mankind will say, they will give an account regarding their word in the day of judgment.  For out of your words you will be made righteous and out of your words you will be found guilty.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The opening statement in today’s passage should be seen as a transitional phrase from what we spoke about yesterday and what we are going to speak about today.  Jesus is not saying that we can “make” the tree good or bad.  What Jesus is doing is telling the Pharisees from yesterday’s passage to decide for themselves if the tree is good or bad.  Jesus is telling them to decide if He is worth listening to because of His fruit or if He is not worth listening to because His fruit is bad.  This is the fundamental question that we all must face.  Is Jesus worth listening to?  Is He worth following?

What do you think?  Is Jesus worth following?  What will you give up to follow Him?  What is your final opinion on Jesus?

Second Thought:

Then Jesus gives us a really good teaching.  It is out of our heart that our mouth speaks.  We could also add that it is out of our heart that our actions come.  It is not our words and our actions that make our heart corrupt.  It is our corrupt heart that leads us to harsh words and poor actions.  If I strive for goodness to live within me through God, then it will be goodness and God that comes out of me.  If we treasure righteousness and God’s ways, then it is righteousness and God’s ways that will be modeled coming out of me.

What comes out of you?  Are you a fountain of good because God dwells within?

Third Thought:

Notice the emphasis of Jesus on the words that we say.  Jesus tells us that it is thoughtless words that will get us in trouble.  Another translation of the Greek word argos (ἀργός) is careless.  Jesus tells us that it is when we speak without thinking that we get into trouble.  It is when we speak without intention that we get into trouble.  Jesus is cautioning us to measure the words that we use with care.  Our words should be about godliness and drawing people into a relationship with God.

What do your words say about you?  How often do you speak without thinking?  How often do you regret things that you say?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 12:38-42