Matthew 12:33–37
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, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 36“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Focused Thinking:
How do you know if someone is a disciple of Jesus?
“The tree is known by its fruit.”
No “ifs,” “and,” or “buts.”
- This isn’t supposed to be COMPLICATED.
- This isn’t supposed to be CONFUSING.
- This is supposed to be CLEAR.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad;”
If you change the roots; you’ll change the fruits.
Change always occurs from the inside out.
You make the tree good by REPENTING.
You make the tree bad by REJECTING.
- The issue here isn’t whether or not you are religious.
- The issue here isn’t whether or not you are children of God.
How easy is it to discern if Mark and Annika are my children?
If that is true on a human level, how much more true is it on a spiritual level?
What does Jesus say about the Pharisees?
34“You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”
How could He be stronger? How could He be more clear?
He couldn’t, “brood of vipers” is as strong as it gets in that day and time.
The Pharisees are saying that Jesus is of the devil, but Jesus responds by saying that they are acting like their father, the devil. Remember, the serpent often portrays the devil.
Jesus doesn’t stop there, He says, “how can you, being evil, speak what is good?”
How can anyone trust what you say? You are evil.
How radical was it to call the religious leaders evil?
Jesus continues by showing the source of their evil, when He says, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”
You can’t hide the evil that is in your heart.
You can’t hide your evil behind your religious exterior.
You can’t hide your evil behind your robes and rituals.
Your evil will be revealed by your words.
What do your words reveal about you?
- What does the consistency of your speech reveal about you?
- What do you say when circumstances don’t go your way?
- What do you say when you face adversity?
- What do you say when someone criticizes you?
- What do you say when someone makes fun of you?
- What do you say when someone gossips?
What do you say about your superiors?
What do you say about your co-workers?
What do you say about your neighbors?
What do you say about your friends?
What do you say about your parents?
What do you say about your spouse?
What do you say about your children?
Are you usually optimistic or pessimistic?
Are you usually positive or negative?
Are you usually encouraging or discouraging?
Are you usually complimenting or criticizing?
Personal Application:
What do your words say about you (your heart)?
You can fake it for a while; but you can’t fake it forever.
You can hide your true feelings for a while; but you can’t hide them forever.
What is the consistency of your words?
Your words do not lie over time; your words reveal your heart.
Your words originate in your heart.
Your words flow from your heart.
We must change our heart in order to change our words.
You change your heart by confessing the selfishness in your heart.
You change your heart by repenting of the selfishness in your heart.
If you renew your mind; you will renew your mouth (Rom 12:2).
Focused Thinking:
35“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 36“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The saved and sanctified heart produces what is good.
The selfish and sinful heart produces what is evil.
Why is Jesus so serious about words?
It isn’t about words; it is about hearts.
Words simply speak what the heart feels and thinks.
How serious is Jesus about words?
36“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Every careless word…
You may think your words are careless, but God doesn’t see them as careless.
Your words aren’t careless; your heart is careless.
- Nothing bothers God as much as a heart that doesn’t love.
- Nothing bothers God as much as a heart that doesn’t care.
You will be judged by your words, because your words reveal your heart.
- By your words you will be justified.
- By your words you will be condemned.
Personal Application:
What is it for you? What is the evidence? What is the verdict?
Justified or Condemned?
Why don’t we consider our words as important?
We don’t want to look at our hearts.
We evaluate our hearts by evaluating our words.
WOW—We must do a series on WORDS.
Interactive Prayer: Prayed offline.
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