He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. Matthew 12:33-37 In-Context 31 "There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven. They will be condemned by their words. The evil person only has evil words to pick from. 36I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned., 33Either make the tree good and its fruit is good, or make the tree bad and its fruit is bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. (1-2) The Pharisees condemn the disciples of Jesus for supposedly harvesting grain on the Sabbath. They would later receive the woe curses and forever be lost. We have been given the testimony of Jesus written down for us in the pages of the Holy Scriptures that the Holy Spirit has preserved for us, and authenticated to us by the inner testimony of the Holy Spirit Himself with respect to the truth of these things. They are a chip off the old block. He means, You cannot say that I am evil, that I am satanic, if what I am doing is good. And they recognized what He was doing as good because their own sons, according to verse 27, were casting out demons. I believe Jesus was pointing to the fact that they couldn't cast anything out at all. Things to think aboutSome people talk too much. Jesus reproves the blindness of the Pharisees concerning the Sabbath. You now must choose! What Happens When Christians Don't Know Ecclesiology? Matthew 12:33 MSG - Bible.com (22-30) Blasphemy of the Pharisees. 34-37You have minds like a snake pit! And if doing that is evil, then your own disciples are doing evil. So they were trapped. This brings us to our text for this morning. You can tell something about a person by the words they say when they communicate with others. Exposing the Heart - Matthew 12:33-37 | Grace Bible Church Rotten, useless, corrupt, depraved. In Matthew 10:32-33, He has said, Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. If you grow a diseased tree, youll pick worm-eaten fruit. I did my best to summarize for them how I understood the whole matter of the unpardonable sin, and then sent my note off to them. Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content Matthew 12:33 English Standard Version A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit 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. The Message 33 "If you grow a healthy tree, you'll pick healthy fruit. There was no possibility of a third kingdom being formed by the Pharisees. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Instead, they hardened their hearts against Him. 7 Beautiful Ways We Can Reflect on God During a Commute, Surround Yourself with the Right Team to Weather Lifes Storms. Notice the fleshly list includes things that are in the realm of false joy and manipulation and frustration. This was a play on the name of a false god; and the Jewish people altered it to mean, lord of the flies or lord of dung. It's important to understand what a lost opportunity this was for the leaders of the Jewish people. 9-10When Jesus left the field, he entered their meeting place. Or make a tree rotten, and then its fruit will be rotten. Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Matthew 12:33, Tested and Approved: 21 Lessons for Life and Ministry, Jesus Exposes The Heart - Disciple Makers Series #13, The One Year Pray for America Bible Reading Plan: Pray for Peace, Gospel-Centered Leadership: A 12-Day Devotional, A Time to Keep Silent and a Time to Speak, Devotions Inspired by the Fresh Start Bible, Daily Bible Reading - September 2020 God's Life-Giving Word of Wisdom, Reading The Bible In Historical Sequence Part 10. But Matthew tells us that he was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. This, then, was a remarkable miracle; and it was also a great act of kindness and mercy on the part of our Savior toward this poor man. And Jesus takes this principle and applies it to the argument of the Pharisees against Him to show how absurd it was: If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. And that means that, strictly speaking, this is NOT a sin that can be committed by anyone today. Matthew 12 MSG - In Charge of the Sabbath - One Sabbath They were actually seeking to stifle belief in Him. 34You snakes! And it's important to understand what a decisive reaction to Him it was. You nest of poisonous snakes! 35The good person from his good treasury brings out good things, and the evil person from his evil treasury brings out evil things. Matthew 12:33 "If you grow a healthy tree, you'll pick healthy fruit. The works of the flesh are constant turmoil and worldly substitutes with real negative consequences. No thief would dare to break into the house of a world-class bodybuilder, or a professional wrestler, or a holder of a black-belt in Karate, or a champion rifle-marksman, without first making precautionary use of duct-tape and a chair! There was no middle-ground. I have known and do know people like this and you probably do to. Parallel Commentaries Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural. Theme: The Holy Spirit's revelation of Jesus forces each person to make a decision to either receive Him as good or reject Him as evil. 35The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. Matthew 12:33-37 In-Context - Bible Study Tools Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. Map to the Church Prayer Requests Enhance your daily reading of God's word. But evil people do the evil things that are in them. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? They always beat around the bush. It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. Pick it up carelessly, and somebody is bound to get hurt by it. So, this underscores the deep hardness and sinfulness of the hearts of the Pharisees. What do they reveal about our hearts? A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. 34 "You have minds like a snake pit! 34Brood of vipers! 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" 24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not . What does Matthew chapter 12 mean? | BibleRef.com 3. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. (38-45. https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-25335,00.html, https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/2294/exposing-the-truth-about-mens-hearts, Disciple Hour: Set Your Minds on Heaven Our Wealth in Heaven (Week 6), Sermon: The Judgment of This Generation Matthew 12: 38-42. As we consider the context and Jesus focused on words and speech showing the true nature of our hearts uses a very interesting Greek word. The ministry of the Holy Spirit, you see, is that of 'shining the spotlight' on Christ (John 16:14). I'm all for casting out demons! For some reason they think silence is bad. On judgment day, people will have to account for every careless word they have spoken. The, the definite article. First, Jesus warns them that there is no neutrality with Him. Those sins are the fruit that their diseased lost heart produces. But He has put everyone at the fork of a decision. These mostly involve the ultra-legalistic, tradition-minded Pharisees. Join PLUS Login PLUS Bible . 35A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. If you grow a healthy tree, youll pick healthy fruit. Another trick of the gossip is to tell just enough to slander another person but not enough for you to go to them to straighten things out. 33If you make a tree good, its fruit will be good. 33If you grow a healthy tree, youll pick healthy fruit. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. So it goes. The demon that oppressed him had effectively closed him off from the way of life. Try it FREE. 19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. An evil man says evil things. Valuable or virtuous. What does Matthew chapter 12 mean? The fruit of a tree manifests whether or not the tree is healthy. He lived at the time when Jesus walked the earth; and there were blind men in that day who cried out to Jesus for mercy (Matthew 9:27). It was an act of profound hardness of heart. (1-8) Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the sabbath. For from the fruit the tree is known. Then there are the people who just cannot tell the truth. It also has in mind our definition a storehouse of words or a treasure chest of words.Our Lord is telling us that when we speak its as if we go into our storehouse of words and pick from the treasure chest of words. If you grow a diseased tree, you'll pick worm-eaten fruit. Probably from the base of harpazo; fruit, literally or figuratively. 43-45When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. You can't get by with simply saying, 'Well, it's a good thing that this Man who claims to be the Messiah casts out demons. The New American Standard Version translates it best: This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?, And it was right then that the Pharisees jumped into the picture! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? The dynamic is that doing good things doesnt make you good, doing good things shows you already are good through the work of the Holy Spirit has made you righteous so the righteous person does righteous things. Well; this was much easier to deal with the second time around! These were some of the absolute worst evil words a human could utter. You can tell a tree by its fruit. That could be a result blindness. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. They keep secrets when the secrets protect them but never to protect anyone else. What do you do when telling the truth causes someone to not like as much or maybe not at all? how can ye speak good things, being wicked? How are you able to say good things. 34You brood of snakes! For Out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth Speaks. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (a) Conscious and wilful opposition (vers. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. 36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. Matthew 12:33-35 In-Context - Bible Study Tools May that be the way that each of us personally responds to the testimony of the Holy Spirit concerning Jesus! I read of one commentator who said he believed this morning's passage has done more harm to people than good; and that he even wondered why God chose to include it in the Scriptures. There was an error while trying to create your account. Fruit has been used in the Bible to explain the condition of people. ver. He said, He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad (v. 30). (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. If you had any idea what this Scripture meantI prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritualyou wouldnt be nitpicking like this. 30This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you grow a diseased tree, youll pick worm-eaten fruit. 37The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you., 33Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. The person who obeys my heavenly Fathers will is my brother and sister and mother., Copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. 34You brood of vipers! Words can be your salvation. But this poor man was not only unable to see the Savior, but he wasn't even able to cry out for mercy. Read full chapter Matthew 12:33 in all English translations Matthew 11 Matthew 13 The Message (MSG) Copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson The setting of this passage is very important to noticethat is, the opposition Jesus was receiving from the religious leaders of the day. Words can be your salvation. To do that would be a notable miracleone that would immediately verify whether or not that the person truly had the power and authority to cast out demons. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! When we pour information into our minds, we process it. Sure, weve sinned with our tongues, weve sinned with our mouths, but ours are under the covering of Christ. Their words exposed a person who was already bound for hell. But I am, at the very least, doing nothing else than what they claim to be able to do. The people who saw it were impressedThis has to be the Son of David!, 24But the Pharisees, when they heard the report, were cynical. 37By your words you will be declared innocent, or by your words you will be declared guilty., 33Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Or how can one enter a strong mans house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? By registering for an account, you agree to Faithlifes. for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. These are my mother and brothers. Obviously, you're not going to make the claim that your own 'sons' cast out demons by the prince of demons! They will tell a half-truth or an outright lie even if the truth works better. If you grow a diseased tree, youll pick worm-eaten fruit. . He said, Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit (v. 33). Luke 3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. We realize that salvation is by grace through faith not of works and at the same time our works and our words reveal whether we are saved or lost. The fruit tells you about the tree.. Read verse in The Message Bible If you grow a diseased tree, you'll pick worm-eaten fruit. There was a man there with a crippled hand. The fruit originates from the tree and manifests the condition of the tree.