33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:33–37 (ESV)
Today’s text is not the first time Jesus used the metaphor of a tree and its fruit to illustrate the distinction between true believers in Christ and those who are not. He did so in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:15-20). He also used the image of a treasure to do the same to evaluate the human soul (Matt. 6).
Jesus taught that what an individual truly is evidenced by what they say and what they treasure as valuable. The words people speak and the values we hold reveal our heart and soul.
“Words, even carefully spoken words, are eternally important. Scripture condemns verbal sins such as lies, gossip, or insults as severely as it condemns adultery and murder (Matt. 5:22, 37; 2 Cor. 12:20; I Tim. 1:10; James 3:6; Rev.21:8),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
The Epistle of James has much to say about the believer’s speech (James 3:1-12). 8”But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.” (James 3:8–12 ESV)
“Men’s language discovers what country they are of, likewise what manner of spirit they are of. The heart is the fountain, words are the streams. A troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring, must send forth muddy and unpleasant streams. Nothing but the salt of grace, cast into the spring, will heal the waters, season the speech, and purify the corrupt communication. An evil man has an evil treasure in his heart, and out of it brings forth evil things. Lusts and corruptions, dwelling and reigning in the heart, are an evil treasure, out of which the sinner brings forth bad words and actions, to dishonor God, and hurt others. Let us keep constant watch over ourselves, that we may speak words agreeable to the Christian character,” states Puritan commentator Matthew Henry.
Take care to monitor every word you speak. This is because the Lord hears and remembers every word we say. Believers in Christ should not think there is such a thing as a throwaway phrase. We must think before we speak, and consider what our jokes and whispered comments say about the condition of our heart?
Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 