How Can Evil People Speak Good Things - Matthew 12:34

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” Jesus continued, “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”. In chapter twelve and verse thirty-four of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus asked, “how can you, being evil, speak good things?” where we read:

O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things?

for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

The verse reads, “O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things?” Matthew began with the words, “O generation” which means “O fruit, offspring and progeny” “of vipers” or “pertaining to and like cunning, malignant and wicked poisonous adders or snakes”, “how can you” which means “in what way or manner can the generation of vipers”, “being evil” which means “existing with a bad nature, disease or wicked sense”, “speak” or “utter, declare or proclaim” “good things” which means “useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful and happy things”. Matthew shared how Jesus called the Pharisees and the obdurate crowd an “offspring of snakes” as He questioned how they could “say” anything good because they were “evil”.

The verse goes on to say, “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew continued with the word, “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “out of the abundance” or “from that which fills, remains and delights” “of the heart” which means “belonging to the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors” “the mouth” or “the orifice in the face used for eating and talking” “speaks” which means “utters a sound or articulates through a voice”. Matthew shared how Jesus said it is from what is in a person's “soul and mind” that their words are spoken.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we discover Jesus' appraisal of the Pharisees and those who believed as they did. God's purpose in sending Jesus was to establish a loving relationship with people, and those who align themselves with His plan have their “souls and minds” altered and speak “good things”. Those opposed are as “poisonous vipers” who are “evil” and cannot “speak good things”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus declares, “a good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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