Good & Evil Fruit

12. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning: 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 12:33 ”Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  

Our text for today flows out of yesterday’s context.   The issue on the floor yesterday was the Pharisees claiming that the healing of a demon possessed boy by Jesus was of the devil and Jesus indicated that their accusations were blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 

After this incidence Jesus uses the analogy of a good tree and a bad tree to describe the nature of people who could say something or be so evil. 

Jesus teaches us in this analogy that if a tree is made bad only bad things can come from it and nothing good at all and vice versa, make a tree good and its fruit will be good.  Jesus called this Pharisaic group vipers (snakes) indicating that they were evil to the bone and could never say anything good.  It takes an evil person from the heart to really in their minds see a miracle and know that it is a true miracle and rather give glory to God pronounce that it is a work of the devil.   I’m talking about a genuine proven miracle not tricks or falsehoods.   

Jesus goes on to say that a good man brings good things out of the good that is stored up in him.  

Jesus closes out this analogy by warning us that on the day of judgment, we will have to give account of every careless word that we have spoken.  Our words will either acquit or condemn us.   

So let me close with this text from Philippians and all of us can do better with the loose things that come out of our mouths.  Let’s us be quick to hear and slow to speak.   

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Whatever we think on will be what comes out of our mouth. 

Stay encouraged. 

All is well, everything is safe, and everything is as it should be. 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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