THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW - THE POWER OF WORDS

Matthew 12:22-37 - What the Heart Speaks - Heaven Hears

Last week we started chapter 12 of Matthew and the discussion about the Sabbath and it wasn’t about restriction — it was about renewal. Jesus doesn’t just give us rest from our burdens; He gives us rest in Himself. When we choose relationship over ritual, mercy over judgment, and hope over hype, we step into the kind of life the Sabbath was always meant to bring — rest for the soul and restoration for the world.  We are called to embrace the heart of Jesus — the Lord of the Sabbath who restores the weary and renews the broken. He invites us to:

Rest in His presence - rather than strive for His approval.

Serve with mercy - rather than guard our comfort.

Live with hope - rather than chase hype.

This week we continue in Matthew chapter 12 and Jesus’ teaching about the Holy Spirit, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and you will know a person by the fruit they grow, a tree is known for its fruit, so are people.

So as we begin, let us pray!

The Power of Words – What The Heart Speaks, Heaven Hears - Matthew 12:22-37 – Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. “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. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Big Idea:

Our words reveal the reality of our hearts. Jesus reminds us that speech is never neutral — it reflects what’s within. When our hearts are full of faith, gratitude, and truth, our words bring life; when they’re filled with pride, unbelief, or bitterness, our words bring destruction.

Point 1: The Heart Behind the Words

Matthew 12:22–30 – “A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.”

After Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, the people marveled — but the Pharisees accused Him of using Satan’s power. Jesus exposed the contradiction in their logic: a divided kingdom cannot stand. The issue wasn’t just what they said — it was why they said it. Their words revealed hardened hearts unwilling to recognize the truth before their eyes.

Illustration:

A cracked foundation will eventually show through the walls of a house. You can repaint the surface, but if the foundation is damaged, the cracks return. Likewise, our speech is the visible evidence of the invisible state of our hearts.

Counter-Cultural Illustration:

Culture says, “Speak your truth.” Jesus says, “Let your words align with The Truth.” In a world obsessed with self-expression, Jesus calls us to Spirit-expression — to speak not what feels right, but what flows from a heart shaped by God.

Key Idea:

Words don’t just express what’s in your heart — they expose what rules your heart.

Hearts concerned with power and control – not God’s Will – did not deny the power of the miracle – appropriated it to evil – but if evil casts out evil then the Pharisee’s who were performing exorcisms would be guilty of the same

We have to be careful of developing a Pharisaic heart – I can do ____ but if others do it then its not godly

Would satan work against himself and lose a person, lose control?  Jesus states a house divided cannot stand

Someone stronger than satan, stronger than evil has to be the one casting out and cleaning the house – the person. 

Only 1 is stronger than satan – God, Holy Spirit in us

Jesus states there is no Switzerland in the spiritual world – you are either for Him or against Him – on His team or on the opposing Team.  There is no middle ground – you either gather with Him or you are scattering

What are our words and actions doing? 

Gathering or Scattering?

On His team working for Him or opposing team against Him?

Working for His Will or working against His Will?

Supporting Scriptures:

Luke 6:45 – “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

James 3:9–10 – “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. What do your words this week reveal about what’s in your heart?

2. How can you guard your heart so that your speech reflects Christ’s character?

3. What influences or voices shape your heart the most — God’s Word or the world’s noise?

Point 2: The Power in the Words

Matthew 12:31–32 – “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, except the blasphemy against the Spirit.”

Jesus warns about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit — a persistent, willful rejection of God’s truth even after undeniable evidence. This wasn’t a slip of the tongue; it was a settled posture of rebellion. Our words have power because they align us either with God’s Kingdom or against it.

Illustration:

Think of a power line. It can light a city or destroy it — depending on how it’s used. Words work the same way. They can build up or burn down, heal or harm, depending on the heart behind them.

Counter-Cultural Illustration:

Culture teaches that words are harmless — “just opinions” or “tweets that don’t mean much.” But Jesus teaches that words carry eternal weight. The modern world trivializes speech; Jesus dignifies it as a spiritual force that echoes in eternity.

Key Idea:

Words are never wasted — they either build up the Kingdom or strengthen opposition to it.

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit – attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to satan, to evil – Jesus told them –

Had they rebuked Jesus Himself – that blasphemy would have been forgiven but to attribute it the work of the Holy Spirit – God Himself – unforgivable

David Turner says that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit “is to look at the miraculous works of the Spirit present in Jesus’ ministry and ascribe these works to Satan.”  Basically attributing to satan the work and power and activity of God.

Holman describes it as a hardness of heart that one consciously and willfully resists God’s word and saving grace – which we can also see in the lives of the Pharisees.

Baker Dictionary combines both – w/c resisting while attrib Gods work - satan

We should also be careful not to attribute the actions and decisions of fellow believers to evil, to satan – even calling out some spiritual gifts

Supporting Scriptures:

Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only what is good for building up.”

John 16:8 – “The Spirit will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. When have your words brought life to someone who was struggling?

2. How does understanding the power of your speech change how you speak at home, work, or online?

3. What steps can you take to ensure your words align with the Spirit rather than your emotions?

Point 3: The Accountability for the Words

Matthew 12:33–37 – “By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Jesus drives the point home: we will give an account for every careless word. Our speech will testify either to a redeemed heart or a rebellious one. Like fruit reveals the health of a tree, our words reveal the health of our soul.

Illustration:

A courtroom records every statement during a trial. Nothing is lost; every word can be used as evidence. In the same way, our words are spiritual evidence — revealing whether Christ truly reigns in our hearts.

Counter-Cultural Illustration:

Culture thrives on sarcasm, gossip, and “harmless jokes.” But Jesus calls us to speak as those who will one day stand before the Judge. Accountability isn’t restriction — it’s reverence. The fear of the Lord refines our speech.

Key Idea:

Our words today will echo into eternity — they are both a reflection and a record of our hearts before God.

Remember Isaiah 5:20 - Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

This is what Jesus is saying –

Jesus is the tree – His fruit is good –

We are called to be like Him

Our words matter and they indicate what is in our hearts –

Love or unforgiveness

     Pride or humility

      Control or surrender

It is not that we cannot change but its our heart that must change in order for the fruit to be good

Supporting Scriptures:

Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.”

Psalm 19:14 – “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You.”

Romans 14:12 – “Each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. How might your conversations change if you remembered they’re recorded in heaven?

2. What “careless words” do you need to surrender to Christ for cleansing and transformation?

3. How can your words become a daily offering of worship to God?

Closing Idea:

Words are windows to the soul. What we say reflects what we truly believe about God, others, and ourselves. Jesus doesn’t just want us to speak better — He wants to transform our hearts. When His Spirit fills us, our words become vessels of grace, truth, and life.

Final Summary:

In Matthew 12:22–37, Jesus shows us that every word we speak matters because every word flows from the heart.

The Heart Behind the Words: Our speech exposes our inner condition.

The Power in the Words: Our words build or break, bless or curse, align with truth or oppose it.

The Accountability for the Words: Every careless word will be weighed before the righteous Judge.

The remedy isn’t silence — it’s surrender.

Let Jesus cleanse your heart so your mouth becomes a fountain of life.

When the heart is healed, the tongue is redeemed. When the Spirit rules, words restore. When Jesus reigns, heaven hears.

Psalm 19:14 “May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to You, O Lord, our Rock and Redeemer.”