Matthew 12
July Memory Verse: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Read: Matthew 12
Today I want us to focus on verses 33-37 in Matthew 12, but in order to do so, we have to zoom out and look at the passage in context.
In verses 33-37, Jesus is making the point that as religious as the Pharisees like to look on the outside with keeping rules, their true hearts are exposed by their own words. Their hearts are so wicked and far from God that they cannot even recognize the presence and work of God in their midst. Instead, they attribute it to the work of Satan! Their words were the fruit and proof of what their true hearts believed.
Our words are one of the greatest indications of the fruit that is present in our lives as well. Often, the fruit of our lives are proven the most in what we say (and how we say it) in moments of stress or weakness. Our families and close friends are often the ones who can gauge this the most. If you pause and really think about what your words reveal about your heart, what needs to change?
In the comments, share about a time that your words revealed your heart, and what it looked like for you to address it Biblically.
By: Graham Withers
Read: Matthew 12
33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” Matthew 12:33-37
Today I want us to focus on verses 33-37 in Matthew 12, but in order to do so, we have to zoom out and look at the passage in context.
- Verses 1-14 cover Jesus doing things on the Sabbath that were deemed as “work” and therefore, unlawful, to do on the Sabbath by the Pharisees. Jesus is essentially showing that the Pharisees look more to the letter of the law and the man-made tradition of it, than to the actual point God is wanting to make through the law. Jesus also plays the trump card by saying that he is lord of the Sabbath (v. 8)
- In verses 22-37, the Pharisees essentially argue that Jesus gets his power from Satan, not God. In this section is the often confusing section on “the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” or the “unforgivable sin.” (Check out the linked articles for further study) This is important for our look at verses 33-37, because they precede the verse that we often focus on: For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (12:34, ESV)
In verses 33-37, Jesus is making the point that as religious as the Pharisees like to look on the outside with keeping rules, their true hearts are exposed by their own words. Their hearts are so wicked and far from God that they cannot even recognize the presence and work of God in their midst. Instead, they attribute it to the work of Satan! Their words were the fruit and proof of what their true hearts believed.
Our words are one of the greatest indications of the fruit that is present in our lives as well. Often, the fruit of our lives are proven the most in what we say (and how we say it) in moments of stress or weakness. Our families and close friends are often the ones who can gauge this the most. If you pause and really think about what your words reveal about your heart, what needs to change?
In the comments, share about a time that your words revealed your heart, and what it looked like for you to address it Biblically.
By: Graham Withers
3 Comments
God speaks to me about this and convicts me regularly of my words - whether careless or unkind. We are accountable for our words. Our words reveal our heart. Praying today… “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14
Thanks Graham. I am sometimes shocked by the words and sentiments that come into my mind at times. And disappointed when they find their way out of my mouth! They hurt those around me, people I care about and love but also they affect my witness. We must be careful what we allow into our mind/heart if we are to control what comes out of our mouth. I pray God will clean the destructive things from my memory and help me focus on the Godly things thus taking me "one step closer to becoming a true disciple of Christ."
I like to encourage people at school,God wants us to be kind to each other.