Matthew 12:33-37, A Tree is Known by Its Fruit

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.”

Comments

Jesus tells us that what we say and do depends on and reveals who we are. We are his sheep who know his voice and imitate it, or we are a “brood of vipers,” meaning children of Satan. What the Pharisees said and did revealed their true nature, which was not a product of good fruit.

Furthermore, at the day of judgment, our spoken words will be the basis for judgment because they reveal who we are. Of course, we can all be careless in our words, but when our words are consistently unfruitful for others, it demonstrates our inability to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Prayer

Lord, your word says, “If anyone things he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” I desire my speech to be gold for others. Through your Spirit, help me to be pure and holy in all that I say and do.