33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
We come to a parable that demonstrates the authenticity of belief (12:33-37). The Pharisees accused Jesus of doing ministry through Satan; at this point He demonstrated how they contradicted themselves.
12:33
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
Fruit reflects the tree that produces it. A “good” tree is a healthy tree and a “bad” tree is a diseased tree. A diseased tree cannot produce good fruit. The “fruit” here is the words of the Pharisees. They attributed to Satan the authentication of the Spirit about Jesus’ ministry.
12:34
Brood of vipers!
Jesus called the Pharisees a bunch of snakes in the grass. His cousin John the Baptist called them the same thing. Their venomous ideas poisoned the people who followed them.
How can you, being evil, speak good things?
People diseased in belief cannot say anything that reflects what God is about.
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
The mouth of the Pharisees signaled the poison that was in them. The more people believe something (abundance or overflow), the more they will speak what they believe. The “heart” represents the total person, not simply emotions.
12:35
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
To promote one kingdom is to oppose the other. A person with proper belief will draw on the treasure (box where treasure is stored) of his belief system. The same is true about a person with unbiblical beliefs. Speech is an index of belief.
12:36
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
Religious leaders poisoned the people with words; they will have to give account for every idle word they spoke against Christ. Someone may say, “I did not mean to undermine Jesus; it was just light talk.” Light talk about serious matters is a solemn issue. Everyone will have to explain the words that did others harm.
12:37
For by your words you will be justified,
Words are evidence of what we believe; they vindicate belief.
and by your words you will be condemned.”
Words justify or condemn the person who speaks them.
PRINCIPLE:
Conduct and talk reflect character.
APPLICATION:
Deeds always reflect our character; our character is a reflection of what we believe.
Verbal abuse is a reality for those in ministry. Every ministry faces gossip, envy, and spite. Jesus Himself faced this problem, so should we in ministry deem ourselves to be exempt from criticism?
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Eph 4:29
