Making Trees

Scripture Reading

Prayer

Review

Matthew summary

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

Notice the focus was on words

Matthew 12:32 ESV

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.

Remember, the blasphemy is the rejection of the truth revealed by the Spirit and calling it evil rather than good.

Intro

Today, we will continue to discuss what Jesus has to say to these Pharisees about words and their importance.

Their importance is not wrapped up in the sounds and syllables but in what they reveal.

Roadmap

We will have 3 points today (33, 34-35, and 36-37)

Let’s begin with verse 33

Begin Point 1

Matthew 12:33 ESV

“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.

“make” strange word to us. Probably was an established figure of speech at the time.

“make” essentially equals “suppose a tree is good”

But it also emphasizes action, showing the tree is not captive to its nature.

The illustration is simple

Good trees can be identified by good fruit

Rotten trees can be identified by rotten fruit

This concept illustrates people, who similarly, can be identified by their fruit. (What they produce)

I. You are either good or evil (33)

Which are you?

Truth, like the trees, we all start out captive to our nature, yet that nature can change. We don’t have to remain captive. We can “make” ourselves into a good tree rather than a rotten one.

Or, more specifically, we can be “made” good.

Ephesians 4:22 ESV

to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

But we can be made good

Romans 6:6 ESV

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Jesus is talking to people who think they are “good” but He has already told them that they are bad. Let’s look at the evidence Jesus sites.

Begin Point 2

Matthew 12:34–35 ESV

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.

Perhaps the phrase “brood of vipers” sounds familiar.

It should, 3:7 John the Baptist used it to address the Pharisees.

Jesus questions their words.

The assumption that is behind this text is that the Pharisees have been thinking or saying that they are good but Jesus instead says “How can you speak good, when you are evil?”

Jesus states it simply, the Pharisees are still evil, lost in sin, and in need of repentant faith.

Jesus then justifies His accusation.

“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.”

Basically, the heart, good or evil, invariably, overflows into speech, and the Pharisees have just shown their hearts through evil speech, ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit through Jesus to Satan.

There is a helpful principle here.

II. Your speech reveals your heart (34-35)

Begin Point 3

Matthew 12:36–37 ESV

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.”

III. Your nature does not provide an excuse and you are liable for the acts commited by your nature (36-37)

APPLICATIONS:

Evaluate your speech. Does it reveal that your heart is good or evil?

If your heart is evil, allow God to make it good through repentance and faith.

If your heart is good, realize the value God places on your communication and live accordingly!