Bible Study Matthew 12:36-37
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Do words matter?
Do words matter?
I actually want to start a few verse earlier so as to give some context to verses 36-37.
Let’s read Matthew Chapter 12 verses 1-35.
These accounts are recorded in the synoptic gospels through verses 32 (Matthew, Mark and Luke).
Verses 33-37 are only found in Matthew.
When we read the Bible, it is important that we use the correct method when interpreting what we read.
There are three terms I would like you to remember:
a. Exegesis: Exegesis is a Greek word and it means to lead out. Biblical exegesis involves understanding the original author's meaning within his original, ancient cultural setting. In other words it involves extracting meaning from the text itself. .
b. Eisegesis: Is a Greek word and it means to lead into. Thus the word refers to the act of a modern reader of the Bible who has a preconceived view of what he or she wants scripture to say and then proceeds to take this view and "read it into” the biblical text, even though it was not intended by the biblical author.
c. Hermeneutics: Hermeneutics comes from the Greek word “hermeneia” which means 'interpretation' or 'explanation'.
There are some guidelines or rules that we must follow when interpreting the Bible:
The Holy Spirit Element
The Grammatical Element: Follow the rules of grammar in the Hebrew and Greek languages and realize that some things are lost in translation.
Quotes: Thesis: "Every translation involves interpretation"
or
"Every translation is a commentary in disguise"
Italian Proverb: "Traduttore traditore” ("The translator is a traitor")
Swedish Bible Translation Committee: "The art of translation is the art of compromise"
Haim Nachmam Bialik (1873-1934: Jewish poet): "Reading the Bible in translation is like kissing your bride through a veil."
The Literary Element:
Types of Genres in Scripture
History: Genesis, Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Acts
Letters: Paul (13), John (3), Peter (2), James, Hebrews, Jude, Revelation 2-3
Poetry: Psalms, Song of Songs, much of prophetic material
Wisdom: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job, some Psalms, James
Apocalyptic: Revelation, Daniel 7-12, Zechariah, parts of Ezekiel, Mark 13
Legal: parts of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Parables: Four Gospels, parable of Nathan to David (2 Samuel 12:1-4)
The Historical Element:
The Bible did not fall from heaven in the King James Version, with red letters, and a concordance along with maps in the back!
Instead every passage in the Bible has a historical context--a specific historical situation which caused the text to come into existence.
Knowing the historical context is crucial to interpreting any biblical text properly.
The Theological Element:
"Hermeneutical practice involves both an exegetical and a theological component if it is to be carried out to its completion. The exegetical part of the interpretive process examines the grammatical, historical, and literary aspects of the individual text of the Bible. But once these tasks have been concluded, they need to be related, by way of summary or conclusions, to the overall thought of the individual book being studied and to the whole canon of Scripture. It is at this juncture that the theological component of the interpretive enterprise comes to the forefront"
Meaning of the Term "Theological Element"
God is the primary author of the Bible.
The Bible is the only book whose author is always present when you read it.
"Scripture contains a great deal that does not find its explanation in history, nor in the secondary authors, but only in God as the Auctor Primarius [primary author]... In view of all this, it is not only perfectly warranted, but absolutely necessary, to complement the usual grammatical and historical interpretation with a third. The name "Theological Interpretation” deserves the preference, as expressive of the fact that its necessity follows from the divine authorship of the Bible" (Louis Berkhof, Principles of Biblical Interpretation. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1950, pp. 133-134).
The Bible as a Unity
One unified message from the single primary author (God) conveyed through multiple secondary authors.
Interpreting Scripture with Scripture
"The infallible rule of interpretation of scripture is the scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any scripture, it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly” (Westminster Confession of Faith I.9, 1643-1648).
The "Analogy of Faith"
"The analogy of faith ... requires us to interpret all Scripture so that it is in agreement with the entire teaching of the Bible. It presupposes the coherence of Scripture" ((Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. and Moises Silva, Biblical Hermeneutics. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994, 2007, p. 240)
Progressive Revelation
God did not reveal his whole plan of salvation in one single moment of history but did so progressively over time so that we get a clearer picture from the end of redemptive history (that which is recorded in the NT) what God had all along intended to do.
On to the lesson.
On to the lesson.
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.”
My pericope is labeled “Words Reveal Character”, What is your heading? Your pericope/heading gives you an idea of what the passages are going to be about.
The old adage “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names never hurt!” well first off that is a lie. Second name calling may send you to hell!
I have to ask. Do you use more uplifting words or more sarcastic, mean, empty, hateful, loathsome, repugnant, abhorrent, unpleasant, malicious, cruel, vicious, nasty, spiteful words? I think you get where I am going.
In verse 36 the word careless can also be interpretated as useless.
As Christ followers our words do matter.
Did you hear what Jesus said previously in verses 33, 34 and 35”
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.
Listen to what James has to say:
6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
Listen to this from the Bible Knowledge Commentary:
3:6. The tongue is not only powerful; it is also perverse. It is small and influential but, worse by far, it can be satanic and infectious. The tongue … is a fire (cf.
And Jesus warns us again about our tongue:
11 “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
18 “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.
Jesus had to repeat this saying because Peter asked Him to explain verse 11 to him and the disciples. Don’t give them to hard of a time though. I know I can be a little slow to understand some things as well.
You may sitting there thinking “Well God knows my heart” and you would be correct.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
This saying I believe gets abused quite often by Christians and by those that call themselves Christians. I have abused it in the past. God know your heart better than you know your own heart and this should scare the dickens out of you.
First off your heart is deceitful.
9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? 10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind,
Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.
When we rely on our hearts we will fail every time! We must, we have to rely on Jesus.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Now the Kicker
Now the Kicker
37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
A quote from Stuart Webber:
Matthew G. The King Responds to Slanderous Accusations (12:22–37)
Again Jesus emphasized the seriousness of what he was about to say, introducing it with I tell you.
Not only do a person’s words demonstrate his inner character in the present day, but they will be either his defense or his incrimination in the day of judgment. Words are so easy to produce that we can forget how powerful they are. They have great potential for building up as well as tearing down. They can be used to advance God’s kingdom, or to attack it, sometimes subtly, in ways even the speaker does not realize. Words must be used with care, Careless words are like loaded guns that are handled recklessly. Just as the handler of a gun would have to explain any damage done by his weapon, so every person with a tongue (cf.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
The parable of the talents as Jesus told in Matthew chapter 25 verses 14-30 shows that we will give an account of our deeds. Now to the Christ follower we will not have to worry about judgement. Because by our Faith (using it as a verb), our words should show that Christ has knocked and we have let Him enter. Our deeds/Talents should show that we are growing the Kingdom of God.
6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:
7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
We may be able to fool one another but we will never be able to fool Jesus.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
