Be careful with your words

Matthew 12:33-37

a. Our words reveal our heart (12:33-35)

b. Our words will either justify or condemn us (12:36-37) 1. INTRODUCTION

2. BODY

a. Our words reveal our heart (12:33-35)

i. This is the third time Jesus brings to surface this topic of a tree and its fruit. The first is found in Matthew 3:7-10 and the second time was in Matthew 7:16-20. But this section connects to the immediate context found in verse 31 where Jesus speaks of a sin where people will be forgiven and a sin or blasphemy that will not be forgiven.

ii. This section spoke of when we attribute the work of God to a demon, when we speak and say that the work of God is the work of a demon, this will not be forgiven. Then Jesus follows that up with verse 32 that states that if anyone speaks against the son of Man, it shall be forgiven him but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him.

iii. The difference between speaking a word against Jesus and the Holy Spirit is important. Why does Jesus say that a word against the Son of Man is forgivable but not a word against the Holy Spirit? I mean aren’t they both God? Well, I think it should be understood as what has been revealed to the people. Up to now, yes Jesus has made clear that He is God. The works He has shown reveal that truly He is God. But there could still be some confusion which is why people are forgiven if they speak against Him. But to attribute the work of God to a demon is unforgivable because it is to confuse God to a demon. It is to call evil good and good evil. It is a fundamental distortion of who God is.

iv. The reality is, this is true for us too. In the heat of the moment, we can forget God’s goodness in a situation. But, to deny God completely, to attribute the work of God to Satan is a totally different issue. When we face trials, we can be upset with God, but to completely blame God and stop believing in Him and call Him Satan is another total different issue.

v. This is what was at stake here in Jesus’ statement. Therefore anyone who would curse God and say that He is Satan, this person will never be forgiven.

vi. This section then leads us to our section for today. Jesus opens verse 33 with an interesting statement. He says either make the tree good and its fruit good or make the tree bad and its fruit bad. It’s interesting because Jesus says make the tree good or bad. One thing we understand and Jesus is making it clear is that there are only two types of people in the world. There are only two families. A good tree and a rotten tree. The family of God and the family of Satan. Let’s make that absolutely clear. But Jesus’s statement here adds to that. Make the tree good or bad. Make here sounds like it is provoking people to action.

vii. Jesus is making it clear that if a tree is good, then the fruit will be good. If a person is good, then their actions will be good. If a tree is bad, then the fruit will be rotten. Again, if we borrow from the context, Jesus is asking the Pharisees and their accusations to be consistent. He’s saying allow the casting of devils and healing to be good in result, and attribute those works to the Holy Spirit, or allow the casting of devils to be a bad result and attribute those works to Satan.

viii. Jesus ends this verse by stating, for a tree is known by its fruit. You can only know truly who a person not by their words, but by their actions. Again, this does not mean that we know people if they are saved by their actions. No, a saved person will not be perfect. But a saved person, because he is apart of a good tree, will produce good works. A Christian must produce good works.

ix. One of the most dangerous doctrines in the world is the carnal Christian. I believe this is one of the problems with the American church. It is this doctrine that teaches a born again person can be saved and yet, be like the world. It is a born again Christian that has not changed inwardly and does not produce fruit but somehow, because of a profession they make, they are Christian.

x. This is not taught in the Bible. All those who have been born again are not perfect, but their inward person has changed. It is like in Ezekiel 36:26 where God says a new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

xi. All true believers in Christ are not the same and can’t be the same. Again, we are not teaching moralistic perfectionism, but what the Bible is saying is, if you are truly saved, you are no longer the old, but a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

xii. Jesus makes it clear here as well. A good tree will bear good fruit. Why? Because the Christian is in Christ and God will bring about good fruit. It might take some time, but the inward heart has changed. It is a new heart. Please don’t be deceived. We are not saved by our works. But we will be judged by our fruits. The heart of what Jesus is stating is that a tree is known by its fruit. We will be known by our heart.

xiii. This is why Jesus asks the question which deals with the heart of the matter here in verse 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. This is a strong accusation considering the context here for good and bad is God and Satan. So if we connect the dots, Jesus is stating that the Pharisees are bad, they are of the side of Satan and stating, how do you speak of good when you are not good? Your heart is filled with that of Satan, and that is why you speak what you speak because your heart is evil.

xiv. Verse 35, the good man brings out his good treasure what is good and the evil man brings out his evil treasure what is evil. The good person reveals their true character because he brings his treasure and the evil person, brings out his true character because he is evil. Jesus makes it clear here that the good man is the man of inner excellence, the person who’s heart has been changed by the work of God and therefore, is not merely good externally but internally. He produces good things from his good treasure. What is this good treasure? Well Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 6:19 where He tells His disciples not to store up for yourselves treasures on earth, but treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, your heart will be also. Again, if you love the things of the world, then that reveals where your heart is. Jesus here is speaking of an important truth. He is teaching the Pharisees and also us, what it is that we truly value. What is valuable to us? Is it the things of the world, or the things of God? Do we value our thoughts and feelings and seek to live our life by these metrics or do we truly value God? This is the heart of the matter. What is our heart’s desire?

b. Our words will either justify or condemn us (12:36-37)

i. Jesus now seeks to answer this question and finalize His claims. He opens verse 36 by stating that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. Jesus hints at us. He says “But I tell you.” This means that it is important. We need to pay close attention to this. Every careless word, words that we might think are careless, words that we don’t put much thought into, they will give an account for us. What does this mean? Words that we speak without thinking much of it, well, we might think they don’t mean much, but if it affects others, they are a lot more important than what we thought. Jesus is pointing this back to the Pharisees. Remember, up to this point, the Pharisees have stated that the work Jesus did was that of Satan. They might not have thought deeply about this but their accusation had strong connotations.

ii. They might say things like in today’s vernacular, “I didn’t mean it that way, or that’s not what I meant” is exactly what Jesus is speaking of. We need to be careful with our words and really think through before we speak. I remember being in Kindergarten and being taught this very concept. They always said, think before you speak. Well Jesus is telling us the same thing. Don’t make accusations about other people, because you will be judged for the accusations that you make. Words are not to be taken lightly. We might think our words don’t mean anything, but once it goes out, we can never take them back.

iii. Verse 37, Jesus doubles down what He states in verse 36. He says for by your words, you will be justified and by your words, you will be condemned. This is a very strong statement and a very scary statement. The truth of the Christian faith is that, we are not saved by our works, but we will be judged by our works. Why is it true that we aren’t saved by works, but we will be judged by our works? Well because it goes back to the heart. If our hearts have been changed, and we are no longer the same person, the Bible’s truth is that, those who walk with Christ, will imitate Him and become like Him.

iv. It is impossible to walk with Jesus and not become like Him. It is impossible for your children to be born to you and not become like you. It is impossible to marry your spouse and not become like each other. This is true in the Christian life. A Christian cannot say they are a Christian and not be like Jesus. Carnal Christianity does not exist. It is not a biblical truth. The Church added this because they didn’t know how to deal with so many so called professing Christians who didn’t change inwardly but say they believe so we gave them a new category that is not found in the Bible.

v. But this is what Jesus is saying. You will be judged by your works or condemned by your works. This is Jesus telling us, if you take seriously the things I’ve been saying, then you will apply these things. Jesus is teaching us the severity of our actions, how we should not trifle with God’s grace, and take lightly the things we say. If our hearts are truly in Christ and we have been washed by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, then we will not take lightly His salvation and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4). Again, the point Jesus is making is, if we are truly in Christ, we will obey the words of Christ. We will follow in His teaching. If we don’t, then we were never of Him. There is no in between. There are only two families in the world, the family of God and the family of Satan. It boils down to who do you love? Is it yourself or God?

3. CONCLUSION