18-2-11, Mt. 12:33-37, Where Our Words Come From, Words of Life
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INTRODUCTION
This morning we begin a series on words. Words are immensely powerful and they are a two-edged sword.
With words you can eviscerate another person, cutting a person to the core of his or her being. (Maybe you keep locked in your heart that one thing that one person told you which injured you.)
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
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With words you can also edify a person to feel full of life and joy. (Maybe you also treasure in your heart that one thing that one person told you which made you feel you could conquer the world.)
With words you can edify a person to feel full of life and joy. Maybe you also treasure in your heart that one thing that one person told you which made you feel you could conquer the world.
24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
You have probably at times spoken words across this entire spectrum, maybe even in one day!
You have probably at times spoken words across this entire spectrum. In your household, you’ve probably covered this spectrum even within the same day!
You have probably at times spoken words across this entire spectrum, maybe even in one day!
If you are a Christian, you will have in internal desire to speak more life-giving words and you will come to deeply regret uttering life-stealing words.
This is because the Spirit of God resides within us. He is conforming us to the image of Christ (). This includes our words.
In the kingdom of God, there will be no more life-stealing words, only words of truth, love, and justice.
13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
Since the Spirit lives inside of us and empowers us to speak life-giving words, we have an opportunity to change the world around us with our words. Think, what would happen in your family if you grew out of using cutting words and you said only words of truth, love, and justice? How would that change your workplace? How would it change our church?
24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
In the weeks to come, I will get more into the types of life-giving words we can speak by God’s grace. Today, I want to reveal to you what the Bible says about the origin of our words
So, as God shapes us into conformity with Christ, he's going to reform our words so we can impact this world for Him.
Jesus teaches that words come from the abundance of our hearts.
Before we get into the types of life-giving words we will speak as we follow the Master, I want to reveal to you what the Bible says about the origins of our words.
Before we get into the types of life-giving words we will speak as we follow the Master, I want to reveal to you what the Bible says about the origins of our words.
, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Let me show you an example
Jesus teaches that words are the overflow of the heart.
BOOK
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.
CONTEXT
This means
In Chapter 12, the Pharisees really start having a problem w Jesus.
They reject His teachings that He is the Son of God. In there eyes Jesus can't do anything right.
They reject His teachings that He is the Son of God. In there eyes Jesus can't do anything right.
The problem happens when He Jesus heals people. What now?
They pick it apart.
Sabbath
He does it in the name of the devil.
Their crux happens when Jesus heals people. What now?
They pick it apart.
They try to call Jesus out for healing on the Sabbath (v. 13). Healing is work.
They try to call Jesus out for healing on the Sabbath. Healing is work.
Then this:
He does it in the name of the devil.
Obviously these are proud and sinful men. They had already crossed the line, but now they were accomplishing irreparable damage to themselves. They commit blasphemy
With this, they crossed a line and Jesus confronts them on it.
Then this happens...
In this new series we are going to talk about our words. Words are how we reveal to others how we are thinking and feeling. Speech an expression of ourselves.
This is where the term came from...
Eureka
In this new series we are going to talk about our words. Words are how we reveal to others how we are thinking and feeling. Speech an expression of ourselves.
Words have consequences. They have weight. As much as we would like to think of words as light and airy and without substance, this is simply not the case.
Words matter and they have an effect in our lives socially and theologically. Something we will see today is that God cares deeply about our words. He’s actually recording every single utterance we give.
Today we are going to look at the origin of our words. They come from a place inside of us. You can tell a lot about the insides of a person by the words they speak. The Bible tells us that your words reveal your heart.
Etymology- study of the origin of words
Where do words come from?
CONTEXT
The Gospel According to Matthew was written by Matthew Levi to persuade the Jews to recognize Jesus as their long awaited Messiah.
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.”
Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ ministry by linking together Jesus five major teaching passages with the actions of His ministry.
Jesus perfectly dovetails His words and His actions.
This passage takes place in Galilee between the second and third teaching.
There is clear and harsh opposition to Jesus by the religious leaders. They are frustrated because Jesus counters their teachings and is usurping them.
Miracles
In chapter 12, Jesus performs two miracles and the religious leaders are at a loss to explain them.
Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (v. 13). When they should have worshipped Jesus for performing a miracle, they criticized Him for doing work on the Sabbath.
Then this happens...
Healing the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, 12.13
13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.
22 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. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”
22 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. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
Desperate to explain away Jesus’ words and miracles, the Pharisees say a very bad thing...
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
Mt. 12.22-
mt. 12
We are going to see just how bad their words were. They crossed the line and Jesus confronts them.
First, He attacks the logical weakness of their argument: A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
Then
Second, He backs them into a corner. He says,
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Mt.
Third, He finishes by pointing out the self-destruction of their words and accusations.
32 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.
mt. 12
Jesus said in vs. 38 that He cast out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit. These Pharisees attributed the Holy Spirit’s work to the devil. This is blasphemy. These particular men are so blind to the things of God, they will reject all the work of Holy Spirit, even His work in allowing hearts to see that Jesus Christ is the way of salvation,
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
and that the Spirit draws men to salvation.
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
This denial of the Holy Spirit will not be pardoned in the end, for a person who does this will not trust in Christ.
mt. 12
OUR PASSAGE
These have been some life-stealing and damaging words. Now Jesus explains where our words come from.
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.
Jesus refers back to His teaching in 7.15-18 where He warned about false teachers. He explains that certain kinds of fruit only from certain kinds of trees. Words are a kind of fruit in our lives. They reveal what kind of tree we are (they reveal the nature of our hearts). You don’t get apples from thornbushes and you don’t get righteous words from wicked trees.
These Pharisees have spoken the most evil of words in their blasphemy. In doing so they’ve revealed that they have wicked hearts through and through.
Jesus continues,
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.
Jesus overtly states they are evil and false teachers by calling them a brood of vipers. By calling them serpents, Jesus clearly associates them with the devil who is the father of lies ().
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.
Jesus focuses His rebuke on their words with a rhetorical question. “How can you speak good, when you are evil?” The answer to this question is, “they can’t speak good things, because they are evil.”
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.
Here Jesus gives us the primary point of this passage: Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
This means that your words are made up of the same stuff as your heart.
Jesus gives another illustration,
The reason the Pharisees say the awful things they do about Jesus is because their hearts are full of evil.
James revisits this point 3:11-12 when he says a spring can’t pour forth salt water and fresh water. It will be one or the other. Neither can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs.
James revisits this point 3:8-
35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
In another metaphor, Jesus explains that our hearts are like treasure chests, and our words are the presentation of its pieces.
Jesus explains that our hearts are like treasure chests, and our words are the presentation of its pieces.
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.”
Jesus explains that our hearts are like treasure chests, and our words are the presentation of its pieces.
When you go to a museum, the curator selects the best of a collection to put on display. These pieces encapsulate the essence of the collection. So too do our words capture the good or evil essence of our hearts.
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.”
Here Jesus lowers the boom.
Jesus explains to the Pharisees that someday God will judge the world. Every person will be judged according to his or her behavior. Here he explains that their every word will be presented as evidence in God’s court of justice.
Every single word will count. Not just the intentional and thoroughly considered words, but also the careless, useless, casual word they spoke, even those they would say they didn’t mean.
Words and the heart are one and the same. Therefore words are an effective litmus yet of the heart. God uses them as evidence to establish whether a person is righteous or wicked.
These Pharisees will be condemned for being wicked men, and their blasphemies will be used as evidence against them.
Therefore words are an effective litmus yet of the heart. God uses them as evidence to establish whether a person is righteous or wicked.
These words would not be without consequence. Upon examination by the Lord, their words attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to the devil, were condemn-able.
These words would not be without consequence. Upon examination by the Lord, their words attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to the devil, were condemn-able.
These words would not be without consequence. Upon examination by the Lord, their words attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to the devil, were condemn-able.
Word Pictures in the New Testament Matthew 12:31
What is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? These Pharisees had already committed it. They had attributed the works of the Holy Spirit by whose power Jesus wrought his miracles (12:28) to the devil.
This follows up with Jesus’ words in 7:19
These words revealed their wicked hearts which rejected the Son and the Spirit. These are hearts which would reject the work of the Holy Spirit even til their dying day. Such an action would be unpardonable (hence.
This follows up with Jesus’ words in 7.19, that the trees which bear wicked fruit will cut down and cast into the fire.
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
LOOK
LOOK
Our words reveal the condition of our hearts.
Go back to your words. What do they say about your heart? Those life-stealing words on the spiteful side of the spectrum, what's going on there?
Go back to your words. What's going on there?
If we understand Jesus, words which don't fit the life-giving nature of the kingdom of God are the fruit of something dark in our hearts.
If we understand Jesus, words which don't fit the kingdom are fruit of something dark in our hearts.
Cutting, dishonest, and destructive words come from a part of us that isn’t whole.
Theologically, this must be some remnant of that sin nature that we allow to stick around.
Theologically, this must be some remnant of that sin nature that we allow to stick around.
If we are in Christ (meaning we believe He is the Son of God and that He died for our sins on the cross, and that He is risen from the dead, and that He has the power to forgive us and gives us eternal life in Him) we are justified and there is no condemnation for us ().
Yet, while we’ve experienced a status change, we know this being conformed to the image of Christ is something which is a process. Sanctification is much like a sunrise- the light grows in us but there are still shadowy places.
Through the residence of the Holy Spirit, we sometimes act like Christ and this shows up in our words.
Through our weakness and the remnant of the sin nature, sometimes we act like sinners and this shows up in our words.
We are like a glass of oil and water. Sometimes we speak out of this part and other times we speak out of this part.
Our tree trunks are in transition, going from evil to righteous.
As Christians, we have a choice whether we speak life-giving words or life-stealing ones.
As Christians, we have a choice whether we speak words of life or words that destroy.
We can grow in our speech.
But we know that when we become Christians, we have a new master. By grace we have a new and pure heart.
8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
Colossians
This means we have an opportunity to have life-giving words and to reduce life-stealing words
5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Colossians
TOOK
How can we take hold of this opportunity? What can we do to grow in this?
TOOK
How can we take hold of this opportunity? What can we do to grow in this?
How can we take hold of this opportunity? What can we do to grow in this?
TOOK
TOOK
In many passages we have the encouragement to take hold of this opportunity
1. Agree with Scripture that this duplicity of speech in our lives is not of the Kingdom.
Agree with Scripture that this duplicity of speech in our lives is not of the Kingdom.
James 3
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
What can we do to grow in this
When you find yourself speaking life-stealing words, prayerfully discern why you are speaking out of the sinful part of your heart instead of the Spirit. Are you tired? Are you stressed?
2. When you find yourself speaking life-stealing words, prayerfully discern why you are speaking out of the sinful part of your heart instead of the Spirit. Are you tired? Are you stressed?
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:
3. Pause, repent, and recommit yourself to the Lord.
Pause and recommit yourself to the Lord.
4. Remember, all words are recorded and we will be accountable for them. This is an excellent deterrent.
2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
I remember being interviewed by a police officer who was trying to build her case. As soon as she turned on the tape recorder I was extremely careful in what I said.
This encourages us to be conscious of our words.
5. Learn to hush
Affection toward God
Sowing light
Based on your words, would you describe yourself as a good person? What if I showed you every word you said over the last year, would you be proud of everything you said? The good (encouragements, kindness) words came from something inside of us. The foul (gossip, slander, insults) words did too. How should we understand this?
You’ve got only a few options
Foul wicked words come from our sin nature. 1) If we are unsaved, then it is sin the master, 2) If we are saved, then it comes from sin nature whom we are free of yet we still yoeld too
Good (of course we can only be good if we are transformed by grace through faith in Jesus)
Saved and Sanctified. Our words flow out of a heart changed by God.
Saved but Carnal. Our words are brackish, like the kind of water union of the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico.
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
James
Wicked (our default condition as people)
Lost but trying to fake that we are righteous
Lost but trying to fake it
Like the Pharisees. However, the truth comes out once you get onto the subject of God. Your words will reveal your heart as an enemy of God because you will communicate false things about God even when the Spirit has stated the truth through Scripture.
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Lost and sounding like it.
Lost and
We will be held accountable for our words.
Miranda rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.
Plead the 5th.
According to what Jesus says, words will with justify us, prove that we are righteous through and through (however, this only happens if we are perfect in our speech, ).
Or our words will condemn us before the Holy and True God as they reveal we are indeed sinners in the hands of an angry God.
Just think about all the words you’ve said, what do you think will be the result of your words on that day?
2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
10 “I the Lord search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
This is a good time to reflect again on so great a salvation we have in Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus Christ, His death on the cross, His resurrection, and through repentance of our sins, we become free of the condemnation due to us because of our words.
we must train our words to reflect the Spirit of God living inside of us rather than the old man of the flesh.
we must train our words to reflect the Spirit of God living inside of us rather than the old man of the flesh.
Colossians
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
You can’t expect your words to change without having a divine change of heart.
19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
6. Dream of the changes that could occur around you if you would change your words. I’ve heard it said, Change your words change your world. I think it is more accurately stated: “Change your heart in Christ, Change your words, Change your world.”
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”